Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang Selangor

(Note: I have been doing my YW Personal Progress Report for a while now but thought of sharing it on my blog in the hope that it will give other young women ideas on how to accomplish their own.)

13 June 2010

Good Works Value Project - Young Women Personal Progress

"Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves." Helen Keller



Sometime in February of this year while working for my father-in-law’s office, an Indian fellow (Mr. Muru) accompanied by a young man with a Down Syndrome walked in looking for Dad James. Mr. Muru went inside Dad’s office but the young man stopped at my desk and extended his hand. After our warm handshake he asked me politely if he could have some water. I took a glass of water and hand it to him and he finished it in seconds! He was really thirsty. Then I offered him some of my cookies, he took some and graciously thanked me. I was very impressed and quite touched by this young man, whose manners are not what I categorized as mentally disabled. His manner speaks highly of the god in him.

That experience led to many inquiries and Dad James filled me up with a lot of details because he has been a donor for quite a while to a special home that takes care of this special children. The Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang Selangor (Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang Selangor) houses mentally and physically disabled children and young adults ages 3 to 26. It’s a special home where they are given training, education, and proper grooming so they can be independent and contribute to their society. And the young man that asked for water definitely is a testament of how this association really is fulfilling that mission. After hours of planning and corresponding with the Home Coordinator of this facility, I began my “Good Works Value Project” for my Young Women Personal Progress.


I started working on this project mid February and my estimated completion date was 17 April 2010. My project name is “Bear Each Others Burden” (my Mama’s last phrase in her journal when she was saying goodbye to all of us – she died unexpectedly a little over a month after she wrote it). My project is to gather items to meet humanitarian needs specifically old clothes, shoes, toys, books, etc. My plans to carry out my project were: a) correspond with Elder and Sister Smith (Humanitarian Aid Couple Missionary); b) contact managing director or home coordinator; c) place donation boxes at PJ chapel and send the words out through e-mail and Facebook; and d) collect boxes and replenish new ones until April 11, 2010.

I was able to correspond with the Smiths with regards to this project and they were very supportive as well. They took the time to correspond directly with the home coordinator but unfortunately, the home coordinators did not follow-through. Sister Smith was suggesting to put together hygiene stuff for the special home but the home coordinator did not call them back. I will follow through on that. I had about 5 Sundays to collect items from members and I had an overwhelming response from them. I collected a total of 4 big boxes of clothes, toys, shoes, books, etc. The Klang Branch Presidency has been very supportive of my project by securing my boxes before they leave the chapel. I am grateful for the example of the members in KL District who donated generously for this project. After 3 months, the home coordinator was able to pick up all the goods yesterday from my house over to their place. And they were truly thankful.

I felt a great sense of accomplishment because I was able to put in more than 10 hours to complete this project. While doing this project, I became more and more aware of what I could do and give to others – the kind of feeling I got when I was serving as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In addition, I became more and more appreciative of what I have been blessed with. I am grateful for the people who work for special homes because they provide primary care for these children who, most of them, have been abandoned by their parents because they could not care for a disabled child. At the end of the day, I feel more greatly benefited from this value experience because I feel more hope, faith and love towards those who have special needs.

I am planning to bake a lot of cookies to give to this special home. Maybe I can get other KL district members to participate on it too. I thought that when I finish this project that will be the end of it. But as soon as I saw all those boxes leave my house, I want to start on another project again. I am excited! My mind is filling up with a lot of ideas already. A food-drive maybe?! I welcome any suggestion.

Date of Completion: 12 June 2010
Hours spent: more than 10 hours