Tag archives: Champa

It’s time for us to go back to the US and we spent our last days with GIFT children in Klang, Selangor. We brought along Ah Ping, the Goat mascot after their alpha goat who died last year as a gift. Hopefully it could be used to promote GIFT Foundation. Shane came with a few gifts for the children and he tried to encourage each one to learn and study hard.

GIFT children have learned some basic English and some of them are eager to share their accomplishments by appearing on a video wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. We are so proud of them. We also list down the work we have done in December at GIFT Foundation and update on the 5 Rohingya teenagers.

We are back again in Malaysia and this is our update after spending a week at GIFT Foundation with the children. There have been many changes and it has been hectic and stressful; playing nanny roles and at the same time Shane attends workshops and counsels the refugees. We need to bring discipline and organization to this home.

Today we talk about GIFT Foundation Children and give more faces to them. It is hard for Shane to say goodbye because the children have established a strong bond with him. We have a latest update, share our concerns and hope more volunteers and donations will come through to help these children. We pray for a better future for them.

Shane’s efforts paid off when Food Aid Foundation and Tesco Malaysia answered his calls for food supplies to GIFT Foundation. Along with vegetables from the suppliers at Selayang Market, GIFT is facing logistic and structural issues which need immediate resolutions. Lack of funding and community cooperation is necessary.

Our first Champa wedding at a plantation is filled with curiosity, adventure and warmth of the community. These brothers and sisters earn our respect for their camaraderie, resilience and faith in their daily struggles living as undocumented immigrants. Dr. Firdaus is a woman of courage and kindness fighting for their causes.

Best way to teach children about a new culture is presents! We introduce Chinese new year to GIFT Foundation refugee and Muslim children by handing them ang pow. It’s great to see Shane getting a warm reception from the children. His efforts at building trusts with the children are definitely working. They are more open and seek his attention.

We met up with Dr. Firdaus who is the founder of GIFT Foundation in Klang, Selangor. This NGO offers shelter and assistance to the Rohingya and Champa refugees as well as a safety place for impoverished children in the neighborhood. Shane introduced programs and tools to help and educate GIFT members.