By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Aug 5: Habitat for Indigenous Development and Urban Programme (Hidup) is seeking more than RM300,000 to repair a dilapidated former government quarters in Teng Bukap which has been approved to be used as its centre for the less fortunate.
Hidup president George Young Si Ricord Junior said currently 28 individuals with disabilities have registered with Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PPDK) Hidup Mestra Teng Bukap (PPDKHMTB), a community-based rehabilitation centre.
These individuals include 20 physically challenged individuals aged from about 6 to above 18, one person who is hearing impaired, one person with vision impairment aged above 18 and six individuals with cerebral palsy aged between 7 to above 18. Currently they are temporarily rehabilitated at PPDK Bestari Siburan.
“Our immediate hurdle is to raise more than RM300,000 for the dilapidated building which has been approved as our PPDK, a former two-storey semi-detached government quarters at Pekan Teng Bukap which is in dire need of major repairs.
“We cater to any special individual with the above special needs aged 0 to 45 as mandated by the Welfare Department,” George told DayakDaily today.
He added that the aim and objective of Hidup is to provide opportunities and inclusion for these individuals.
“We are currently looking into suitable cottage industries, cultural handicrafts, and hydroponic farming. We aspire to improve equalisation of opportunities and social inclusion to ensure that these people become assets to the nation.”
He said Hidup was also working towards empowering and enabling these individuals to be self-sufficient by imparting life skills to them.
“We look forward to working with various groups such as Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, the Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation and other like-minded NGOs, government agencies or corporate bodies for cottage industries such as sewing skills/training programmes for t-shirts, uniform, etc,” he said.
George said Hidup is also working with local Village Security and Development Committees (JKKKs) for the betterment of the community and self-sustainability of PPDKHMTB.
“We are looking into e-Kasih and I-Suri programmes and we welcome corporate bodies that are willing to take up the challenge to adopt or sponsor these programmes.
“I am quite enthusiastic. Our committee consists of a former recipient who was a national member of the Malaysian Special Olympics team and he concurred that with proper guidance and initiative, they are quite capable of the tasks.”
George hoped that the implemented programmes through the combined efforts of these individuals, their families and the local community would sustain the development of the centre in the long run. — DayakDaily
