Seri Mengasih targets RM150,000 from charity run
KOTA KINABALU: The Seri Mengasih Centre will be organising a charity run on April 9 at Maktab Nasional in its effort to raise funds to pay for its operating cost.
The centre’s executive director, Monica Chua said that the run themed “Seri Mengasih’s Amazing Heroes Run 2017” hopes to attract over 2,000 participants and help the centre to raise up to RM150,000.
She explained that the cost of operating the centre was about RM1 million per annum, the bulk of which goes towards paying for the salaries of its 43 staff.
“We spent about RM800,000 on salaries…our staff are not paid as much as they would if they were to work elsewhere, however they are with us because of their commitment and great compassion for people with disability,” she said.
She added that as the staff dealt with children with intellectual disability, each one was only able to care for a maximum of four children.
The centre employs therapists to help children with special needs, including those suffering from cerebral palsy. There are more than 100 people with disability being taught and trained at the centre.
“We accept children as young as five years old,” she said, adding that those at the centre were between five and 35 years old.
Sheltered employment was also provided for the older disabled trainees as according to Chua, seeking employment outside was extremely difficult for those with severe disability.
Work at the sheltered employment centre includes running a canteen, recycling paper workshop, bakery, gardening, laundry as well as car wash.
Nevertheless, about 10 per cent of the centre’s former students were being employed by eateries, bakeries as well as hotels.
“Eight of our former autistic students are also working at a farm that are run by their family members,” she said.
She added that they hoped to get more micro projects started so that the students from the centre would be able to secure jobs once they leave.
At the same time, Chua also said that the centre would probably shift its operation to Sulaman in April next year.
She said that they had been operating at its present site in Tanjung Aru for 36 years.
“We have been sitting on a government land free of charge for 36 years, which shows just how much the government has supported us,” she said.
She added that the government would also build its new building at Sulaman as well as provide the land.
“But we need to raise RM500,000 for the purchase of equipment necessary for the new centre…we will carry out another fund-raising event later,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lonpac Insurance Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPI Capital Bhd, agreed to provide sponsorship of RM20,000 for the run.
“This is the second time Lonpac becomes the main sponsor of the event,” said Lonpac Insurance Bhd’s head of Sabah region, Nicholas Wong.
Those interested to partake in the run can call Melinda at 0128011979.