The Korean Connection

We are favored by the visit of the newly appointed pastor of the Korean Church in Seremban, Rev. Lee Hung Sub, to understand our work better. Rev. Lee was here in Seremban to minister to the Korean Christians as well as carry out local missionary works.

Rev. Lee took a keen interest in our work and asked if he can bring Koreans visitors from South Korea to observe our work to which we agreed without hesitation. He further said he would like to bring his wife over to see how she can be of help. We are deeply touched by his gestures, which include possible financial aids later. We see today's visit as a potential beginning to a future tie whose opportunities only God can limit. We are glad to have been given this chance to explain what we are doing to him, as well as let him sample the cake and fried rice our trainees prepared.

The Bakery Section Picking Up Steam

It is heartening to see the bakery section getting more orders of their cakes. Parents of the trainees involved would show or share the cakes baked by their son or daughter to friends and neighbors. Such acts of pride and neighborliness invariably leads to fresh orders. Today I managed to capture these 2 trainees happily preparing ingredients to bake a new cake under the close supervision of Ann.

Securing Welfare Benefits for Qualified Trainees

We work hard to secure welfare allowances for qualified trainees. Presently those who are working are eligible to receive a monthly allowance of RM300 on top of what they earn. This morning two officers from the Seremban Welfare Department came to the centre to interview the trainees and their parents. This is part of their validation exercise and they were impressed by the work at the centre as well as its cleanliness. Even trainees who are now working at Giant and Guardian took time off to present themselves for the interview. We are happy for these trainees as their combined income will help them cover daily living expenses as well as save for their old age.

Ooops! I hope our trainees won't say this to us! Seriously, this little girl has no learning disability.

GCH Retail Accepts PBS Trainees

All 6 trainees who underwent 7-10 days training at various outlets have passed the evaluation and will be employed full time by GCH Retail. Indeed, this is a proud moment for them, as well as for us and their parents. Whereas once we all thought there was little hope of any of our trainees becoming gainfully employed outside of our centre, today these 6 learning disabled people showed that, putting in sufficient effort and not giving up, any learning disabled person can become employed given the opportunity. These 6 dignified people now rank with their other colleagues in carrying out their work, earning the same salaries and enjoying the same terms and conditions of service.

Who says that self-reliance is a term that only belong to the abled and normal persons? Now that these 6 have shown that they can become BERDIKARI too. Thank you GCH Retail for making it possible.

Updates

Shiraz and Khairi have been transferred to the Ampangan Giant outlet. Ying Heng passed his medical and have joined Yoga and Poh Leong at the Terminal 1 Giant outlet. Mee Ling continues at Terminal 1 Guardian outlet. They are are doing well.

We have today opened our banking account at Public Bank, Rasah Branch. From next month we will begin to make receipts and payments through the Persatuan account, effectively activating its work.

PBS Trainees Doing Well in Giant

I did a spotcheck on Yoga, Shiraz, Poh Leong and Khairi at Terminal 1 Giant outlet this afternoon, and later on Mee Ling at Terminal 1 Guardian outlet. Contrary to any anxieties we may have, they are doing quite well and stand very good chance of being absorbed into full employment there. Tomorrow Ying Heng who passed his medical exam will join them.

This morning at PBS I feel the other trainees are spotting tiny wings. The example of the trainees who were selected are giving courage to the others to attempt to fly away and explore the world outside the safe walls of PBS.