WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH SEREMBAN
METHODIST WOMEN
REPORT on ‘2023/2024 CHRISTMAS CHILD PROJECT’
| # | Group | No. of students | Cost (RM) |
February | |||
| 1 | SK ACS | 15 | 1,229.00 |
| 2 | SMK ACS | 17 | 1,105.00 |
| 3 | SJC SINO ENGLISH | 9 | 678.00 |
| 4 | OTHERS & CHURCH | 9 | 731.00 |
| 5 | SMK KEPAYANG | 11 | 984.00 |
| 6 | SMK ST PAUL | 16 | 1,206.00 |
| 7 | SJK(T) LOBAK | 22 | 1,689.00 |
March | |||
| 8 | OTHERS | 7 | 563.00 |
| TOTAL: | 106 | 8,185.00 | |
Total collection of The Christmas Child project: RM 8,235.00 (Balance RM50.00)
(This project was done in response to the Week of Prayer & Self-Denial Observance.)
First and foremost, I would like to give thanks and praise to our Lord Almighty that through this project HE has provided and enabled us to touch base with the community outside the church. God has also brought light to the needy students and we learnt that we can do more to reach out to them, especially those impoverished and destitute families.
Averagely we spent about RM78.00 per student. Different sizes of uniform are priced differently, ranging from RM34.00 (S) to RM75 (XXL). Shoes cost RM33 a pair, no matter what sizes and the vendor contributed a pair of socks for each student.
Besides that, we added a few students who were not in the original list after learning that they came from very needy families where some have very large family, some are orphans and taken care of by guardians who have children of their own and they have difficulties making ends meet. There were also students under their elderly grandparents’ care without parents’ support, etc.
Here are a few examples of different scenario we encountered:
Case 1
One of the SK ACS guardians sent photos of her children’s torn shoes. Teacher only gave the name of her niece who is an orphan that is under her care. She has her own 3 children besides taking care of her niece. She shared pictures of her children’s worn-out shoes. After further check on her background, we decided to add her 3 children to the list. She only requested 2 more sets of uniform for 2 children but for another, she requested only shoes and a bag because she said he can still wear his old uniform as he will be going to Form 5 in March so he can wear his old uniform for another year. We agreed to her request. She later requested more assistance to purchase other school necessities because they are in very difficult financial state after conducting 2 funerals within 2 months in the family (niece’s parents). A kind and generous church member has agreed to give this extra support to them after meeting the guardian.
Case 2:
From SMK ACS, teacher gave only one name from student A’s family. But when contacted, his mother requested for uniform for another 2 siblings because her husband is not well and unable to hold down a permanent job so he is doing Lala Move service and she is a housewife. Then before she came to the shop she asked if it’s possible to just give 2 children the uniforms and shoes and the other child will not take uniform but instead asked for cash because they ran out of money for food and were surviving on porridge only. We asked her to take the uniforms and shoes for all 3 children and said we’ll follow up on her other needs later. They came as suggested and his mother later informed that for the last 3 years her children didn’t have any new uniforms until that day.
After informing Pastor Yong Wai Yin about this case, we visited this family later that evening and got more details of their situation and shared them with Social Concern to take further actions.
Case 3:
Two students from SMK ACS came and asked if they can get help to buy uniform for Police Cadet and Girl’s Brigade (GB) if they don’t take school uniform. With Angel’s help in gathering further information, we learnt that actually they were both in GB but the elder sister was disheartened when the GB teacher said it is compulsory for them to have GB uniform to remain in GB which she felt they couldn’t afford so she decided to switch to Police Cadet. But her younger sister said she enjoyed GB and wanted to remain in GB but couldn’t afford the uniform. After engaging further with them, Angel was able to persuade them to remain in GB and will help to sort out the issue later. The students didn’t want to take any school uniforms because they said someone has given them.
I was grateful that Angel came to assist us in this project. She took the opportunity to connect and engage with the students, especially the ACS students and encouraged them to look for her at the church office to connect further.
Last but not least, the MW committee would like to thank all donors who have generously contributed towards this project and enabled it to bless the needy students and lighten the burden of their families.
Report submitted by;
Bernice Benedict.
“The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, But the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman.”
Elisabeth Elliot
