Approximately RM65,000 was raised following a charity dinner show organised by Soroptimist International (SI) Ipoh recently.
The show was attended by over 500 well-wishers with the Executive Councillor for Women’s Development, Family, Social Welfare and National Integration, Dato’ Hajjah Rusnah Kassim, as the guest of honour. Rusnah pledged to donate, as well.
Funds raised will be used to expand the organisation’s flagship project, Edufun Centre. The centre currently accommodates some 25 children from deprived backgrounds, aged between 6 to 12 years. The kids attend classes and participate in extracurricular activities from 2pm to 6pm daily.
SI Ipoh hopes a larger centre will enable them to take in ten more children on the waiting list. Funds permitting, a second teacher will also be employed on a full-time basis. “Saloma, our dedicated and selfless retired teacher, can’t handle so many children effectively without being over strained; thus, the urgency to employ another,” said Mrs Lanka Devi Sinniah, SI Ipoh President.
This fund-raising dinner was the first by SI Ipoh for Edufun Centre, which was established in November 2012. After a year, and seeing marked improvements in the children and the spillover effects on their families and the community, the non-governmental organisation is more than determined to nurture these children and to help them realise their dreams, despite the odds.
At the dinner, guests were entertained by an interesting line-up of performances, from zumba dancing and songs from Irene Lim to stand-up comedy by Patrick Teoh and a satirical play by Jo Kukathas of Instant Café Theatre Company.
