Seri Mengasih's Food Fair 2008

Participated in numerous fund raising over the years. Mostly only involved in setting up stalls in the fair and coupons selling. 

This Seri Mengasih food fair was the first time I went in as an organizing committee (consisting of parents and teachers of the centre) and found out what an entirely different ball game that was! 

From conception to the actual event, it took so much planning, organizing, manpower and most of all, the goodwill and generosity of so many supporters and donors in kinds, cash and sweat. You learn fast on the job as to what are the avoidable and unavoidable pitfalls and to be prepared for all eventualities.  

We started off in February and submitted our food fair permit application to the relevant government authority intending to hold the food fair on the 18th May 2008. 

That was the first hurdle we encountered. When constant enquiries as to the outcome of the permit yielded no response we had no choice but to postpone the event to the 15th June. Without the permit we could not proceed to the next stage, which is to print and distribute the coupons which had to have the permit number issued by the relevant authority. 

Distribution of coupons and collection would required a minimum of two months for the amount we hope to raise. 

Meantime we concentrated on finding donors to set up stalls in the fair.  

We then encountered a gigantic hurdle, the unexpected Sichuan earthquake on the 12th May. Every kind hearted person was donating towards the disaster relief team and we felt very petty asking for donation for another cause at this time with the constant TV news broadcast of the disaster.  

We were finally granted the permit on the 15th May and had the first batch of our coupons out on the 19th May. We managed to let out more than half of the coupons, mostly to the parents in the school. Sales of coupons were slow but looking good.

Then came the next hurdle (the expected but didn't think it would happen that soon), the shocking fuel price increase of almost 40%! That put a real damper on our fund raising activities. When came together with family or friends, it was (and still is) the only topic that came up which made it doubly hard to bring out the coupons to sell or to ask for donation.

The never-say-die atittude of our committee members got to be the only reason the food fair ever got off the ground.  

Despite all the hurdles, it was a very enriching and fulfilling experience. It is heart warming to have met so many big hearted and generous souls. Their kindness and supports truly give meaning to this word 'HOPE' to our children in Seri Mengasih.

Four days before the day. The DBKK were requested to come and help give the school compound a makeover.

Trees pruned, lawn mown, hedges manicured and the school was looking good.

  

One of our biggest supporters for years, Kathy Ong fully sponsored about 20 hugh tents plus 60 tables. The tents went up in one day and gave the school's compound an instantaneous festive mood.

The day before. Donated goods started coming in and with the many hands of  the volunteers, stalls began to sprout like mushroom overnight all over the school compound. 

On the day of food fair, as early as 6 am the volunteers were already busy preparing the stalls for business. There was a very jovial mood with smiling faces and laughters heard from stalls to stalls.

To each and everyone of you out there that was involved (in any way, big or small) in this worthy cause, our sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude. Without you there would not have been such a successful food fair.

Once again, THANK YOU!! 

Note : All the pictures on the day of the food fair was taken early (before 7 am) before the crowd and the rain that decided to pay the fair a visit at about 10 am. Luckily it didn't stay long and it helped to cool down the place. The crowd kept coming at a constant stream right until closing at 2 pm. 

Seri Mengasih - A Centre For The Special-Needs

This 'special-need' means down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and many other conditions that caused learning disability.

Seri Mengasih Centre is a special developmental center for these intellectually disable children.

The aim of the center is to train and educate these children whose special needs are unable to be met by the conventional mainstream schools.

When we found out 21 years ago that Keshia has a condition called Down Syndrome, we didn't have an inkling what that meant except that she would be disabled. We were devastated when the doctor attending to her gave us a very grim and bleak outlook of her future telling us that she might not be able to walk or talk. I cried buckets for weeks out of despair and hopelessness thinking that there was nothing I could do for my baby. I thank God for my husband who was able to balance off my hysteria with his calmness, steadiness and acceptance when told of Keshia's condition. He cared for her no differently from our other children except maybe with even more tenderness. Until today I have never heard him raise his voice to her.

It took a long while but I eventually got out of the nightmare and came to my senses. I did what every mother would have done - sat up, assessed the situation and refused to give up hope. I combed through books in the libraries in town (no Internet then) and found out as much as I could about this condition. What I found was hope. 

I learned that down syndrome children do learn to walk, talk and capable of much, much more. The one most important thing I learned from these old dusty library books was EIP (Early Intervention Program). That is, to give my daughter a head start in learning, to teach her systematically as young as possible. I realized then I needed professional help. Went through some kindergartens and schools but none would take a child with her condition that young (she was about 2 then). Someone mentioned the welfare department might have something. They didn't but suggested I look up a school in Tanjong Aru which might be able to help my child. They gave me the address of this centre called Seri Mengasih and it changed the course of our lives.

At the centre, I knew instintively that I have found the right place for my daughter. The centre was just starting a pre-school unit for early intervention program that year and that was exactly what we were looking for. God's hand had brought us there at just the right time!

Today, Keshia speaks, reads and writes Bahasa and English. She trained at the school's bakery for 2 years in the vocational department of the school which also comprises of a paper recycling and a souvenir-making section for students 18 and  above. The bakery supplies mini suasage buns, egg tarts and doughnuts to other schools and kindergartens. 

Presently, Keshia is doing training in one of the outlets of Southern, a bakery in town. 

 

Making paper from recyclable materials by students from the Seri Mengasih Centre .

The recycled paper produced in the vocational department being transformed into a card with special message by another student. Many of these cards are sold in souvenir stores in leading hotels and shopping malls.  

Washing up time for the student in the bakery.

This centre started off in a changing room in the Likas Sport with a few fiercely dedicated staff more than 25 years ago. Until today, many of these pioneer staffs are still working selflessly in the school.

Today they have the use of two old government buildings at the Tanjong Aru third beach but for how long, that is anyone guess. 

This centre is a non-profit organization. Operations of the centre relies very heavily on volunteers and on funds received from public contributions and donation. There are about 130+ full time students and it takes more than RM5,000 a year to train a student as almost every student's learning program has to be tailored to suit him/her ability. With increasing enrollment each year, cost of running the centre is expected to go up. Fund raising has to be done yearly to keep the centre afloat and operating.

The centre holds a food fair once in two years at its premises. The main aim of this exercise is of course, to raise funds but just as important, is to raise public awareness in our society about the plight of these special children.

This year's food fair 'Pesta Mengasih' is to be held on the 15th June (Sunday) from 8am to 2pm at the centre.   

Do come with family and friends and join in a day of good fun with lots of good food (Malay, chinese, Japanese, Indian, Filipino, Indonesian and Western cuisine plus loads of cakes, pastries, kueh mueh, cookies and ice-cream), live band entertainment, magic show, lucky draw, clowns and games. 

Coupons are now available for sale at the centre. 

Any form of help is welcome; your time, skills, cash donation or just the awareness that this school is available for children that need it. 

With a big heart, give of yourself to this worthy cause. Help to make a difference to the lives of these children. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this acticle and please, please do something, anything to support the centre to help raise the hope for these children and their family.

You can contact the centre for any enquiries:

Address: PWD 75, Jalan Selangor (3rd beach)

                 88100 Kota Kinabalu

Tel no.   : 088-223221 / 014-6793221 

Email     : serimengasih@yahoo.com.my

A day in church

Sunday, a day of rest...but not for these fundraisers. My sister, Catherine, one of the very active members of the church rallied our help for the church charity drive. Another sister, Betty and myself were 'commissioned' to deliver 100 'futomaki' (fat rolls) for her stall. As we do this almost every year, there was not much pressure. Shopped for the ingredients on Saturday afternoon after sending K to the airport. Started preparing the fillings for the maki only after dinner with the help of Mui, yet another sister. (Just in case you are wondering, I have 5 sisters, yes FIVE lovely adorable sisters!).

At five this morning, almost ready to go. Waiting for the last batch of rice to be cooked and seasoned...

Betty, the veteran in maki rolling, would get the filling right in the centre of the maki, prefect roll every time!

The dance troops arrived to give a (many) helping hand(s). The dance instructor got instructed on the making of maki...fast learner too.

Thanks to those many hands, we accomplished our mission in record time - 2 hours. Ladies, thank you!! And our futomaki was sold out by 10am!!

Yummy...

Some of our finished products on display

Our bustling stall that also sold cookies, moon cakes, porridge, trotters in wine (yums), fried noodles, roasted chicken and roasted duck rice, and many more...

Catherine, our super capable team leader...

As we finished early, we went roaming around the many stalls in the parish hall. There was this persistent heavenly aroma whaffing through the whole hall that was so strangely familiar. Followed my nose and found this crowded stall that served...LECHON!!! The famous Filipino roasted suckling pig . A traditional festive dish which my father-in-law would painstakingly prepare for Christmas or new year.

Curry chicken in the making....

The ice-kacang stall...

and chilled young coconuts
emm...perfect for this hot weather.

My two all-time favourites - pickles and cakes

Mouth-watering delicacies....nian kao, tzong tze, curries and khew yoke.

Fruits and vegetables stalls

The many patrons at the parish hall enjoying brunch.

Jo