Contributed by Human Rights Committee
At the Bar Council Human Rights Committee (BCHRC), we believe the human rights journey is a long one.
The Children’s Homes Fundraising Dinner to be held this evening, in conjunction with the celebration of the International Human Rights Day, today, 10 December, is just a step, that follows a thousand steps in the past, that precedes a thousand steps in the future.
The Fundraising Dinner promises fun for everyone. It will stage performances by the children from each Home. Bollywood dance from Gurpuri Foundation, group singing by Rumah Sayangan and Faith Home, Myanmar traditional dance from All Ethnic Group Refugee Children’s Education Center, nashid from Rumah An-Najjah and Rumah Solehah and classical dance from The Pure Life Society.
|
| Myanmar traditional costume |
At the full dress rehearsal, Mohd Azlan Shah Mohd Suhud from Rumah An-Najjah
said, “It's fun and felt happy to be in this besides getting the opportunity of meeting a lot of entertaining new friends.” Karanjit Kaur from Gurpuri Foundation said, "I'm happy that people are helping with the donations. I love the stage with my friends".
Looking out the window to Sunway Lagoon she
said, "I like swimming too." We, at the BCHRC, hope she and
all other children will be ecstatic to know that Sunway Lagoon has donated
tickets to the Homes.
We also organised Arts Day at each Home prior to this event with stationery supplies donated by UNICEF.
The paintings produced by these children will be auctioned with reserved
price starting from RM50 and will also be sold at a price starting from RM10
at a section in the Dinner hall called “Art from Heart”.
We also received donation of two painting from Emila Yusof titled “Teddy Bears” and “Friends” which
will be auctioned together with the children’s paintings. Reserved prices are
RM400 and RM300 respectively. Each painting comes with a certificate of authenticity
signed by the artiste. All proceeds from the paintings will be given to the Homes. Emila's
artworks are mainly inspired by, in her own words, “my husband, son, mom,
her garden and her cat”.
In line with the children’s needs for education, healthcare, food and play the
children will also receive books from Oxford Fajar Bakti, vitamins from CCM Pharmaceuticals, food hampers from Nestlé, goodie bags from AmAssurance and AmStar Vision and fancy wristbands from UNICEF.
On behalf of the children, BCHRC conveys our deepest gratitude to all donors and other individuals who helped to pull this event together. It is our hope that the event makes human rights more relevant to the people of this country.
Happy Human Rights Day!
Messages from some of the Organising Committee members:
BRENDAN NAVIN SIVA (Co-Deputy Chairperson of BCHRC), Sales and Marketing
- "We don't do enough for the underprivileged children of this country. We know that we have to but we do not. I only visited a children’s
home for the first time this year after much persuasion from my colleagues in
the Human Rights Committee. Apart from funds to support their daily needs, what
they need most is support and encouragement that they are valuable members of
society and that they have a place in our Malaysia. They need to know that there
is hope. We also need to let the caregivers of these children know that they
are not alone and that their contributions are noble and appreciated. I was inspired
to roll up my sleeves and get more involved with this project when I witnessed
the sheer passion, commitment and amazing generosity of heart of my colleagues
in the HRC. Far younger than me in age but light years ahead in spirit and kindness."
ROGER CHAN WENG KENG (Co-Deputy Chairperson of BCHRC), Children Homes Liaison & Transport - “The child has a right to be helped. The concept of rights has too often been very lop-sided in favour of adults, when the child has no say at all in the matter. Adults push for limitation on States as to their civil and political rights and how much they can interfere in their freedom of speech, assembly and movement et cetera. Adults
push the limits of positive action by the States in terms economic, social and
cultural rights like provision of food, housing, and education. In this the child
is seldom involved or consulted. The stereotyping against them is they are too
young for this to articulate their values. But I do not think so.
The adults are highly presumptive and judgemental about the child, and usually
without knowing it. They made policies and rule over them. The most grotesque
aspect of this is the reality of the child becoming a helpless victim of war,
child labour, child abuse, prostitution, 'honour killings' and other form of
violence whether perpetrated by the State or individuals. But how
many adults have communicated with them at their level, read their books, eat
their food, spent time and understand their behaviour? Relatively few, I would
say.
The picture of the child in a children's home today is a consciousness raiser.
That not enough is being done for the child in terms spelt out in the Convention
of the Rights of Child. The child, in Hans Christian Anderson tale of the Emperor
New Clothes, that the Emperor is naked as against the view of a thinking but
muzzled adult population, is a reflection of the child who dares to speak the
truth in all his innocence, when nobody dare to speak out.
That is a reason strong enough to say why the child is our hope and our future.”
SITI KASIM, Organising Committee Chairperson - “How does one manifest one's love? It is not enough to feel it, one must act on it. As a mother, I have always felt this tender feeling that I feel arising within whenever I see children or the unfortunate. Hence
this idea to help the children through this fund raising dinner.
It started when Dara and I visited one children's home beginning of this year. We came out thinking we must do something in order to help these children. By
showing love to these kids who receive none from their families, or who have
no family to love them, we are breaking the cycle of despair, that drives so
many to drink and drugs, thereby decreasing the likelihood that further generations
of children will end up on the streets.
The way we get meaning into our life is to devote ourselves to loving others,
devote ourselves to our community around us, and devote ourselves to creating
something that gives us purpose and meaning.
We proposed to the Human Rights Committee and here we are, well on the way to
make this dream a reality. There is great strength within our committee in generosity, gentleness, empathy and compassion. Without
these qualities, this event would not happen as we are all busy earning our bread
and butter whilst spending time to visit the homes and organising the event.
Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.”
ADIBA SHAREEN AL-AYUBI, Floor Manager & Trouble-shooter - "Children's
rights were enshrined as the theme for this years Human Rights Day event on the
10th of December. As we made our way to each home and watched the eyes of the
children gleam with excitement one can't help but to feel a sense of worth and
belonging. Their laughter and energy, inspires. The BCHRC committed to helping
7 homes this year, by raising much needed funds. Amongst others, art work masterpieces
were also created by the children, each spelling out their own experiences, hope
and aspirations. The results have been overwhelming. More awareness and change
has to be created by all to take a proactive stance in caring for the needs and
rights of our children. With the amazing, dedicated and larger then life colleagues
I work with in the HRC, undoubtedly, this event will be made exceptionally memorable
for all."
NOOR ARIANTI OSMAN, Press, Publicity & T-shirt – “Many agree that children are a country’s
most important investment. But many forget that the chain of society is as good
as its weakest link. Money from the donations will eventually run out. Children
from the selected seven homes will eventually grow up. But the public awareness
of rights of other human beings, especially the unfortunate ones, which I hope
to bring through this event, may form part of values passed to generations. And
the self-empowerment, which I hope to nurture in these unfortunate children through
this effort, may turn them from a weak link to a pillar of the society. Even
if these do not happen in my lifetime, I am contented to know whatever little
that I do today possibly contribute to some improvements in the future to come.”
SYAMSURIATINA ISHAK, Stage & Performance - “Of all Human Right's violations,
violations against children is the saddest and most easily preventable. The children
at the homes we have visited are even more vulnerable since most of them do not
have the comfort and protection of parents to ensure all their rights are catered
for. This event is important to raise awareness on the plight of children at
the fringes of society, mostly neglected and receiving the least attention of
members of society at large who are quite content to live their happy lives without
a single thought to what these children must go through on a daily basis. Let
us all see it from the children's point of view. They're our hope. Our future.
And our children too.”
JOANNA LOY, Hotel & Food - “It's so sad that often times we wait for
things to happen (a typical Malaysian attitude I must say) before we decide to
take action. For this, I am grateful to Siti who spearheaded this event who have
opened our eyes and hearts to these charming and innocent children. We may not
see them as we go about our daily tasks but certainly that cannot be used as
an excuse. We cannot and should not wait for something terrible to happen before
we decide to help them.
These children are suffering needlessly not because of anything they have done.
They clearly deserve better - just like our own children. It is my hope that
by organising this event, not only will more people be aware of the plight of
these children, but they will also rise up and decide to champion their cause
in their own capacity. May this be only the beginning to a systemic change in
our mentality and attitude towards the rights of children.”
Other Members of the Organising Committee:
Andrew Khoo - Chairperson of BCHRC
Dara Waheda - Stage & Performance
Allison
Ong - Children’s Homes Liaison
Saha Deva - Sales & Marketing
Kavitha Sithartha - Paintings & Auction
Chow Siew Lin - Souvenir
Booklet
Khaizan Sharizad - Hotel & Food
Thirunavakarasu
Vijayan - Children's Homes Liaison
Yohendra Nadarajah - Transport
Seira Sacha Abu Bakar - Photography
Farez
Jinnah - Multimedia Presentation
Gaithri Anbalagan - Stage & Performance
Chin Oy Sim - Director, Communications Division, Bar Council secretariat
Lim Ka Ea - Executive Officer, Bar Council secretariat
Ruhil
Amal - Administrative Assistant, Bar Council secretariat
The Children’s Homes Fundraising Dinner, carrying a theme “Our
Children. Our Hope. Our Future” will
be held at Sunway Hotel, Resort and Spa today, 10
December 2009. Guest arrival
starts at 6.30pm. We still welcome donations, in cash or in kind.
For further information, please click here or contact Lim Ka Ea at 03-2031
3003, ext. 127, email: kaea@malaysianbar.org.my, or Siti Kasim at 012-223
3371, email:
sitikasim@gmail.com.
Watch this space for report on the event and see you this evening!
Committees 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 023/2012: Talk on ISO 9001 | 2008 Quality Management System Certification
