A Ramadan like no other for single mother
KUALA LUMPUR: “Mummy, I want new clothing for this Raya.”
However, the child’s request left 31-year-old Noraini Abdul Rahman speechless and sad as she could not afford to fulfill her four children’s wishes for Hari Raya over the last three years.
Just like how they make do without new clothes and shoes for Hari Raya, they also make do with a meagre spead during breaking fast. When others feasted, Noraini and her four children sometimes made do with rice and some salt.
This has been her fate after she left to Batam with her Indonesian husband three years ago before being abandoned at a village without a single sen.
However, the Johor-born woman was adamant to return to Malaysia despite her husband having threatend to divorce her if she stepped foot outside their home. She could not continue seeing her children deprived of schooling.
“It’s important that my children get a decent education and I also want them to feel the joy of celebrating Hari Raya like other children,” she said.
Determined to leave, Ani, as she is fondly known, got on a barge in April this year with her children to reach Johor.
Her hopes to return to the family home were dashed as her parents refused to accept her after she married the Indonesian without their blessings.
With nowhere to go, the five of them took refuge at several mosques initially until Ani’s step sister took them to the Rumah Titian Kaseh (RTK) shelter located nearby Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here.
This home, which housed less fortunate children, senior citizens and single mothers, provided some hope for Ani to continue with her life. Now her children, not only have a roof over their heads but they also have started schooling again.
The knowledge and skills she is picking up at the home will help her get on with life.
“I’m happy here because we are taught to cook, make women’s accessories such as brooches and bracelets, sew and make sweets, crackers and biscuits,” she said full of enthusiasm.
With her newly learned skills, Ani and the other single mothers are able to earn a living by selling their products.
In addition to covering the operations cost of the home, Ani, who will be given an allowance based the sale of what she makes, plans a special treat for her children.
“They told me they want new clothes for Hari Raya and have asked me to go shopping with them at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR).
“I plan to treat them to new clothes and shoes with the money I made from selling Raya cookies. It has been so long since they have had something nice to wear,” she said with a big smile.
Though she knew that the children would not be exempted from Raya contributions, which included clothes, Ani wanted them to wear outfits bought with her own hard-earned money.
Besides, the mother of three sons and a daughter has longed for the chance to take the children out to buy preparations for Raya.
The routine of baking biscuits and making chips begins after Ani and the other single mothers complete their cleaning, laundry and cooking chores.
They usually start in the afternoon and spend three hours a day on the biscuits.
“Those who are good at making something will teach those who aren’t. Everyone shares because we want to see each other get out of the rut we are in.
“We share tips too. For example, why the dough is too hard or why the biscuit’s shape did not turn up. We are like sisters,” she said.
For Ani, life at the shelter home has taught her a lot, including about religion. Though she enjoys an organised life now, her dreams of living an independent life with her children appears achievable at least for now.
“I will save up the allowance that I get from cooking at the stall and selling biscuits and chips to start a new life with my children,” she said.
Meanwhile, after five years at the RTK, another woman only identified as Zara, is among those who have become independent through the skills acquired from the shelter home.
The mother of five used her new skills to set up a business selling steamed rice and spiced fried chicken at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. Interestingly, her earnings were enough to allow them to rent a home at a nearby People’s Housing Programme (PPR).
“I never knew how to make steamed rice. However, I was taught how to prepare the spices and curry, which are two important elements for the whole dish,” he said.
Despite her booming business, Zara would never forget the home that once gave her food and shelter or the friendships she had forged there. She would visit RTK often and join the women bake biscuits and prepare frozen foods.
“When I have the time, I will share cooking tips with them. This is how we keep in touch and exhange stories,” she said.
RTK principal and founder Sharifah Adlan said all single mothers and residents at the home have to learn whatever skills that could help them in their future.
The project, which has run for 19 years, has helped many single mothers to live independently.
Besides teaching them to bake biscuits, make chips, sew and produce handicrafts, the participants are also given exposure catering jobs with corporate bodies and private companies.
Through these sales aimed at funding operations of the shelter home, allowances are also given to single mothers as savings and for expenses on festive season.
“This project is not only carried out during Ramadan, but it is done every day to generate income. Most of the single mothers who come here do not know how to cook, bake, or have other skills.
“However, we give them a bit of help. For each product there is a person in charge. For example, Mak Zizah leads the frozen food products and she teaches the others on this,” she said.
Muruku, mini serunding rolls, kuih siput and tempeyek are only some of the products sold by RTK residents in the compound of their shelter home. - Bernama