News Straits Times
Written
by ERA Administrator
Tuesday, 03 May 2011 23:28
KUCHING: When all things
seemed gloomy for the hardcore poor in the city, Society for the Kuching Urban
Poor (SKUP) has brought a ray of hope to ensure that these people do not go to
sleep hungry.
SKUP, a non-governmental organisation, is a mobile soup kitchen which provides one free meal a day for needy urban dwellers.
The meals are distributed once a day in six areas where there is a concentration of hardcore poor families -- Taman Desa Wira Market, Poh Kwong Park Roundabout Shed, Unaco Supermarket behind Nanas Road West, Song Kheng Hai Ground Food and Recreation Centre in Padungan, Petanak Wet Market and Pasar Sungai Apong from Monday to Saturday.
On Saturdays, additional dry foods are also distributed to the needy for their Sunday rations.
One of those who benefits from the programme is Stefner Lagan, 8, who lives in one of the slums in Kampung Kudei. Her home in the squatter colony is a small dilapidated wooden shack accessible via a maze of slippery and partly broken wooden walkways connected to the main road of Jalan Nanas.
Born to a single father, Lagan Kapus, Stefner attends school at SK Combined, which is five minutes walk from her home.
She lives with her brothers, Johan, 13 and Braco, 12.
Her father, an odd job worker, is usually not around, leaving the children on their own or with their aunt who lives about 50m away.
Their mother died from an illness in 2006.
Cheerful and giggly when met by the New Straits Times, Stefner said she loved going to school because there were many things to do and learn.
"I will study hard and become a teacher one day. I don't like living in this small, dirty and smelly place, but that's all right for now," she said while eating her fried beehoon given by SKUP.
Housewife Selah Jelapang, 37, said she had been receiving daily food for about six months.
"I'm glad there are still good people out there who take pity on us. Although we only get one packet for each family, we are grateful as it is better than nothing."
With four young children and her husband doing odd jobs, most of the time it is difficult for them to put food on the table.
SKUP secretary Fabian Wong said the society, which was set up in September last year, had identified about 300 poor families in Kuching who found it difficult to get two square meals a day.
"We started by distributing meals once a day at the six centres where poor families can collect them. We provide a different menu every day.
"On Saturdays we distribute bread and eggs. On Sundays, we give dried foodstuff such as instant noodles which they can cook themselves."
Now, SKUP gives out 250 meals every day and its estimated that the number will reach 300 meals by next month.
Explaining the procedure, Wong said SKUP gave free meals to families with three to six children with household income of less than RM500 a month.
"Our ultimate aim is to help them break away from poverty.
"For example, we can teach them to plant crops, rear fish and other livestock or do business so that they can be independent."
Asked how long SKUP will continue the programme, Wong said it would do so as long as it could, with the support of the public.
He sees it as a continuous operation for many more years to come.
SKUP, a non-governmental organisation, is a mobile soup kitchen which provides one free meal a day for needy urban dwellers.
The meals are distributed once a day in six areas where there is a concentration of hardcore poor families -- Taman Desa Wira Market, Poh Kwong Park Roundabout Shed, Unaco Supermarket behind Nanas Road West, Song Kheng Hai Ground Food and Recreation Centre in Padungan, Petanak Wet Market and Pasar Sungai Apong from Monday to Saturday.
On Saturdays, additional dry foods are also distributed to the needy for their Sunday rations.
One of those who benefits from the programme is Stefner Lagan, 8, who lives in one of the slums in Kampung Kudei. Her home in the squatter colony is a small dilapidated wooden shack accessible via a maze of slippery and partly broken wooden walkways connected to the main road of Jalan Nanas.
Born to a single father, Lagan Kapus, Stefner attends school at SK Combined, which is five minutes walk from her home.
She lives with her brothers, Johan, 13 and Braco, 12.
Her father, an odd job worker, is usually not around, leaving the children on their own or with their aunt who lives about 50m away.
Their mother died from an illness in 2006.
Cheerful and giggly when met by the New Straits Times, Stefner said she loved going to school because there were many things to do and learn.
"I will study hard and become a teacher one day. I don't like living in this small, dirty and smelly place, but that's all right for now," she said while eating her fried beehoon given by SKUP.
Housewife Selah Jelapang, 37, said she had been receiving daily food for about six months.
"I'm glad there are still good people out there who take pity on us. Although we only get one packet for each family, we are grateful as it is better than nothing."
With four young children and her husband doing odd jobs, most of the time it is difficult for them to put food on the table.
SKUP secretary Fabian Wong said the society, which was set up in September last year, had identified about 300 poor families in Kuching who found it difficult to get two square meals a day.
"We started by distributing meals once a day at the six centres where poor families can collect them. We provide a different menu every day.
"On Saturdays we distribute bread and eggs. On Sundays, we give dried foodstuff such as instant noodles which they can cook themselves."
Now, SKUP gives out 250 meals every day and its estimated that the number will reach 300 meals by next month.
Explaining the procedure, Wong said SKUP gave free meals to families with three to six children with household income of less than RM500 a month.
"Our ultimate aim is to help them break away from poverty.
"For example, we can teach them to plant crops, rear fish and other livestock or do business so that they can be independent."
Asked how long SKUP will continue the programme, Wong said it would do so as long as it could, with the support of the public.
He sees it as a continuous operation for many more years to come.
Post at: http://www.eraconsumer.org/eraconsumer/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=498:free-meals-for-the-urban-poor&catid=39:hr-in-the-news&Itemid=61
No comments:
Post a Comment