A short trip to Maharani Community-based Rehabilitation Centre

in the centre; from left, mother and Peah-Ching

Towards the end of year 2010, Peah-Ching, partner of Stephen Tang was preparing hampers for sale just before Chinese New Year 2011. She was hoping to help the underprivileged group before the festival season so she approached Chris Lee Ching-Yong, the Special Officer for the Chief Minister of Johor and seek for his advice.

Chris who is active in charity, told Peah-Ching to help a rehabilitation centre for handicapped children in Muar, where Peah-Ching’s hometown is. It’s Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Maharani (in Malay, Maharani Community-based Rehabilitation Centre). Chris then told her, the centre requires support and attention of the public to maintain its service for the community. Although the centre is supported by the state government, donation of the public could help the centre to provide better study environment and improve the living of the children.

one of the children waiting for the parents to pick up

Chris suggested to Peah-Ching that each of the hamper she sells, she could donate RM5 in helping the children. She would like to know more about the centre so invited me to visit the centre together. After 40 minutes drive from Melaka, I arrived in Muar and met up with Peah-Ching and her lovely mother. Together we travelled to the centre which is not far from her house.

Providing special education to mostly dyslexic children and some with autism, the centre currently supports 54 students. We were welcome by one of the assistants, Ms. Nardia and briefed about the daily function of the centre. From what we were told, the children do not stay overnight at the centre however spend half of the day to attend classes. During weekdays, parents would send their children in the morning to the centre and pick them up in the afternoon. They will have a meal in the morning.

After doing some reading online, I came to understand that parents play a big role in helping their children. Parents usually start to panic after their children fail miserably in Year One or Two as a result of their inability to read. In fact, children with dyslexia need to be taught to read using techniques that are different from those used to teach normal kids. Maharani Community-based Rehabilitation Centre is one of the centres to provide special education to enable dyslexic children to become more successful. It’s also best that parents could sit in during the classes so that they could pick up too the correct techniques to coach their children at home.

It was rather a short trip as the children had gone home when we arrived. We didn’t manage to see how the classes are carrying out regrettably, but we are hoping to visit the centre again in the morning to understand more about the centre and the children.

Hopefully all the children are well and happy. May all beings be happy.

classroom

the students

contact details

dolls of animal

"I love you daddy"

signboard - Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti Maharani

main entrance with Peah-Ching and mother

centre is in Taman Muar

In addition, I have seen the hampers wrapped by Peah-Ching after we went to centre. They are really nice and presentable. If you are getting hampers for your friends or family and do charity at the same time, feel free to browse Peah-Ching’s hampers flyers for great deals. Click to enlarge and download: