Troubled orphan makes good at skills academy
JOHOR BARU: Orphan Cheong Jin Loy lost both his parents to sickness when he was in his early teens.
His life spiralled further down when he started going to pubs, played truant and failed in examinations. He got into the wrong company, too.
His aunt, who was taking care of him, could no longer control him and moved him from Penang to a Christian boys’ home in Johor Baru five years ago.
Since then Cheong’s life has changed for the better, and he even graduated with a certificate in cooking and baking from a skills academy.
“Now I am happy with my life. I have a job at a chocolate factory. I hope to open my own bakery one day,” he said, adding that he loved baking cakes and cookies.
Cheong was among eight students, mostly dropouts from troubled backgrounds, who graduated from Alpha Skills Academy in Taman Sutera yesterday.
Another student, S. Thilaga, 17, who graduated in hairstyling and make-up, said she, too, turned to gangsterism while in school and even got expelled after hitting a boy.
“My studies were badly affected. But after enrolling in Alpha Skills, the lecturers here got me to be disciplined and to have confidence in myself,” she said, adding that she hoped to open her own hair salon in the future.
Principal James Jemiko Tagong said that since starting the academy in 2009, some 41 young people, mostly from troubled backgrounds or from PKK homes, have graduated from the academy.
James said he was the only paid worker while all the 15 teachers were volunteers from Calvary City Church Johor Baru.
Academy director Richard Yap said their academy fees were RM11,760 for two years.
“But most of the students cannot afford it.
“That is why we have been blessed to get sponsors and donors for our students,” he said, adding that he hoped more companies would help take in their students for on-the-job training.
Those interested in Alpha Skills can contact its office at 07-362 6628 or visit their Facebook page https:// www. facebook. com/ pages/ AlphaSkills-Academy-Johor-Bahru.