It’s our last day at GIFT Foundation today. We will be heading back to Spokane, Washington in the next couple of days. The kids have bonded with Shane and it is really hard for him to say goodbye to them. Shane has established such a bond that these children love to be hugged by him. They trusted him and look upon him as a father figure. One child breaks our heart when she said…
Take me with you. My parents don’t care anyway.
Nora, age 10 Champa undocumented child
She is among many children who can’t go to school and their parents expect them to help with their work. Some of the local village children face similar situation and/or lack of parental care due to both parents having to work for a living. GIFT Foundation become a child care center. It isn’t unusual for a parent to drop a child at the front gate and leave. Sometimes this unidentified child is left for days before he/she gets picked up. Dr. Firdaus has fostered many children. Currently there are three staying indefinitely with her and her children.
Here is link to GIFT Foundation Facebook page with video of the day.
Below are activities update of GIFT Foundation:
- Shane approached Tesco Stores Malaysia, one of the big hypermarkets in the country to provide GIFT with a weekly shipment of leftover produce. Some can be used for human consumption while others like vegetables are only good for the farm animals.
- GIFT continues to receive truck loads of vegetables organized from Angel Foundation and they continue to distribute them to the communities around the neighborhood.
- We have more volunteer teachers to teach English, Science, Mathematics, Mandarin and Quran.
- One of the volunteers from China invite some of the children to the swimming pool every other week.
- Dr. Firdaus has a good discount at the Equestrian Park, Putra Jaya for the children to ride horses and play football (soccer).
- Shane invited some UNHCR officials to look at GIFT and the refugees situation.
- I have set up a Whatsapp Adult Group for learning English. So far 30 adults have signed up. We will start this program in April.
There are more that needs to be done to get GIFT foundation properly off the ground. Dr. Firdaus can’t work alone. She needs volunteers for administrative works and teaching the children 5 days a week. The location of GIFT isn’t ideal since it is situated away from the city. Finding any volunteers are difficult because of the distance. GIFT also needs monetary donations or materials to complete construction of the bakery/kitchen. We are very grateful for vegetable donations thus far and appreciate if there would be rice and meat too.
Shane and I will continue to work with GIFT and we plan to return end of this year to continue our mission.