Orphanage stresses education for kids
TELUK INTAN: At the Jaz Home orphanage, its founders believe in empowering their charges with knowledge.
Apart from ensuring its residents are well cared for, the home wants them to focus on education because, as its chairman Datuk Kong Sun Chin said, “nothing else has the potential to change lives as much as education.”
Founded in 2009, Jaz Home currently houses 33 children and young adults aged four to 22.
Kong said every donation the home received has been spent on building the children’s future.
“The kindness of many Good Samaritans and organisations has enabled our children to pursue their education and contribute to society.
“School aside, we also make sure that they attend tuition classes to improve their studies,” he said, adding that tuition costs the home an extra RM3,000 a month.
But to the home’s management, it’s money well spent.
Kong pointed out that the home also funds the living and study expenses of two of their dependants who are currently pursuing their university degrees in another state.
Now, more can be done for the children with a second donation of RM50,000 from Star Foundation – Star Media Group’s charitable arm.
SMG deputy chairman and foundation board of trustees member Tan Sri Kuan Peng Soon handed over a cheque for the amount to the home recently.
Kong, who received an earlier donation from the foundation to the home in 2015, said the contribution would go a long way towards helping the home and its dependants.
“The aid is used to pay the salaries of our seven workers and two van drivers,” he said.
In his speech, Kong shared that the home – a comfortable bungalow lot – was leased to them by a couple who only charge them a token RM1 for monthly rental.