Materia Medica Malaysiana

Caring for the disabled

Helping the disabled to lead independent lives, regardless of race or religion, is what the Beautiful Gate Foundation is all about.
In 1993 Pastor Sia Siew Chin (picture), 39, had a vision to set up a "caring ministry" for the disabled and she approached the Chinese Methodist Church in Malaysia for help.
Two years later, the first Beautiful Gate Disabled People Caring Centre in Petaling Jaya was set up. Subsequently, three more centres in Kepong, Kampar (Perak) and Seremban were set up.
Sia is now founding executive director of the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, which was registered two years ago.
Sia said the foundation organised activities, provided employment assistance, counselling and skills training to 1,000 resident and non-resident members and their families.
"We need RM50,000 a month to run the four centres," she said.
The foundation is working on setting up a fifth centre in Batu Berendam, Malacca.
The Petaling Jaya centre focuses on career development where members pick up work and living skills.
The Kepong centre is a rehabilitation centre for those with spinal injuries.
The Kampar centre sticks to education where the young disabled with little or no formal education receive basic education and learn to be independent.
The Seremban centre will be developed into the country’s first performing arts centre for the disabled.
Despite the foundation’s achievement in helping the disabled, Sia hopes for more government aid for the disabled.
"We do not have definite statistics of disabled people but we need to include their family members, who are also affected," she said.
The main centre is at 29, Jalan SS2/59, 47300, Petaling Jaya. For more information, call 03-78736579 or email bgcentre@yahoo.com.