SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL CLUB OF PENANG – 2015 ANNUAL REPORT SERVICE/COMMUNITY PROJECTS 2015 International Women’s Day 2015 -­‐ 8th Mar 2015 International Women’s Day 2015, was celebrated at Occupy Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang with other Women’s NGOs, including Women Centre for Change (Organiser), Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign and International Women Association. Lilian attended a press conference on behalf of the club on 12th February at the premises of Women Centre for Change. SIP set up a booth on the morning of 8th March along the theme of “Stop Violence Against Women – Men on Board. 10 members attended the event encouraging men from the street to take an instant photo holding a placard with an appropriate message. 60 photos were taken in 2 hours and were pinned up on a board for public viewing. SIROM Biennial Conference panel speakers Dyana Sofya and YB Steven Sim visited our booth. We also promoted the Education Fund by distributing application forms. Education fund recipients, Kavitha and Yeoh Lai Hoon also helped at the booth. The event costs the club RM637 Blossom Project Sungai Pinang 8 ladies from the Sungai Pinang low cost housing estate started the ribbon embroidery classes on 26th Feb. 10 classes were held twice a week and the last class finished on 26th March. In May, five Sewing Classes were given to 4 ladies to further their sewing skills by moving away from just sewing ‘baju kurung”. They learned to sew a blouse. Two out of these 4 ladies are taking in orders from friends to make “Baju Kurung” for the upcoming “Hari Raya”. Additional 5 Ribbon Embroidery classes were also started with the aim to further improve their skills and to apply these skills to making merchandise that have a commercial potential. They were taught to sew the embroidery on tissue box covers. Ten Beading Classes started at the same time with the aim is to enable the women to sew decorative beads, for example on the “Baju Kurung”. The teachers for all these classes were sourced from the Sg Pinang community. Total costs for this project came to RM4500 for 2015. Advocacy and Communication for Environment ( ACE Program) Malicca initiated the ACE Programme with the view for SIP to work on the programme over the next two years. It was launched on Earth Day -­‐22nd April. Briefly, the objectives of ACE Programme are: 1. To increase awareness among school children on the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment 2. To provide the necessary support to the community, to recycle their garbage. There are two parts to the project: 1. One part is to increase awareness and good environmental practices among school children 2. The other part is to enhance the recycling habits of the community. Both parts will require good advocacy and communication efforts, to be successful. SIP is working on the first part of the project in 2015. SIP selected three schools for a series of environmental awareness projects. A Drawing Contest with the theme, “ALAM HIJAU, KELUARGA SIHAT” (Green Environment, Healthy Family) was held at the schools with 30 contestants from each school taking part. SIP provided drawing papers, prizes and snack/lunch for the contestants (i) SK Batu Ferringhi – on 22nd April, Wednesday (Earth Day) at 1.45pm (ii) SJK (C) Pai Chai – on 29th April, Wednesday 12.30 pm (iii) SJK (T) Azad – on 20th May, Wednesday at 12 noon Best of 10 paintings were selected from each school. The first three received cash prizes of First prize-­‐ RM150, Second prize – RM100, Third prize –RM50. Following the Drawing Competitions last quarter, a Mud ball Making Activity was organised on the 24th June for SJK (T) Azad with 30 pupils participating. Mr Chew, a councillor from MPSP, was the facilitator with MPSP providing all the material for the mud balls. Mr Chew gave a short presentation about mud balls and the students were taught to make mud balls. 1000 mud balls were made and they were left to dry in the school for a week. The 30 students threw the mud balls into a nearby river at the Botanical Gardens on the 30th June at 8 am. SIP members Yvon, Malicca, Caroline, Manjit, Fiona and Paulina were there to help out, with SIP member Joyce providing free transport to move the mud balls from the school to the riverbank. On 8th August , a Beach Cleaning Activity was organised for SK Batu Ferringhi with the help of MPPP, PIBG and RELA at a stretch of beach at Batu Ferringhi. The pupils had breakfast (provided by the canteen operator, paid for by SIP) at school at 7.30am. With the help of RELA, they made their way on foot to the beach front near to the Park Royal Hotel. They were divided into 6 groups and each of the SIP ladies (Anita, Malicca, Caroline, Joyce, Sue-­‐Lyn and Lilian) headed a group. The pupils picked more than 20 bags of rubbish and the MPPP lorry took the bags away at the end of the activity. SIP gave out certificates of participations to all students, teachers, RELA members and PIBG members who came to the beach cleaning. A week after the beach cleaning exercise, a green turtle came onshore to the same area we cleaned up to lay eggs for the first time in 20 years!! In total SIP spent about RM650, mainly on food and drinks for the pupils, for these two awareness activities. International Children’s Day celebrations at Suffolk House on 31st May In conjunction with International Children’s Day 2015 , SIP organized a fun day out at Suffolk House for 70 children (age 6-­‐12) and 11 minders from 6 orphanages, namely St Joseph’s Home, Shan’s Children Home, Salvation Army, Asrama Ramakrishnan, Agape Shalom Home and lastly Children Protection Society. 50 members and friends came to celebrate with activities and games (Pass The Parcel, Pining the Donkey’s Tail, Musical Chairs, Racing to eat Donuts with hands tied and Racing the Move Raisins with a Straw and Lucky Dip) organized for the children and food for the children was kindly sponsored by Suffolk House. Club members and friends of SIP also sponsored popcorn, candyfloss, ice cream, a clown and lots for prizes for the games. Donation towards reroofing material for Women Welfare Council Proceeds from the Good Seconds and Magical Christmas Market events made it possible for SIP to help Women Welfare Council to replace their termites infested roof. Total amount spent on the roofing material was RM31,859 and the project was supervised by our member Lay Ean. SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL CLUB OF PENANG – 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Education Fund – Ongoing Project The Fund was set up in 2010 with the aim to provide underprivileged girls and boys (from single mum household) financial aid to pursue a vocational/diploma course in a local institute. This is the first time SIP is reporting on the fund to SIROM. To date the fund has helped 17 candidates with some who are still pursuing their courses. In 2015, the club disbursed RM36,298 to deserving candidates. The following candidates have completed their courses and are pursuing either higher education or working: 1) Lim Leng San was the club’s first candidate, He completed Diploma in Electrical Engineering in May 2015 . He has started his degree in Engineering and is pursuing an overseas degree in a local university. He took a student loan for this. 2) Kavitha completed her diploma in Business Admin. She worked briefly to save money for her next level of education. She is now pursuing a degree which started in Sept 2015. She took up student loan to cover her fees. 3) Magan has completed his basic car mechanic course in a vocational school. But he has continued his course in Tan Chong Technical Institute on a government grant. 4) Paid Khausalya's final semester fees of RM6170 so that she could graduate. She is now working at the Transactions Dept at Citibank in Penang. 5) Alan Loh couldn't pay for the last 2 years of his fees to complete his medical degree in a Russian University. The club helped to pay the fees of RM31,000. This was an exception to the “local institute” that is stipulated in the criteria. Alan’s mother, who is a HIV positive, was referred to the club by the Russian Consulate in Penang. His father passed away and due to his family circumstances, the club decided to help him complete the last two years of his degree, otherwise he would have to return to Malaysia after having completed 4 years of the 6 years course. The other candidates are pursuing their courses in hairdressing, car mechanic, diploma in computer science etc and there are also a couple of candidates where the club is just assisting by giving them a living allowance. The following is an email that we have received from one of our candidates: “I have finished my course successfully. I would like to take this opportunity to express my
gratitude and appreciation for the support and financial assistance that you provided to me.
Thank you so much miss. Without your support and generosity i could not have accomplished this.
My grandma send her regards to you and she said thanks a lot. I have attached my diploma cert
together with my graduation picture.
Thank You Miss.
With gratitude,”
Kavitha
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL CLUB OF PENANG – 2015 ANNUAL REPORT
FUND RAISING EVENTS -­‐2015 Frankie Lim’s Art Exhibition 29th March 2015 Frankie Lim is an autistic boy who has the talent of drawing and painting. An exhibition was held at Suffolk House to display his art and to raise awareness of autism. Frankie’s sister, Angeline also launched a book of poems about the thoughts of Frankie with illustrations of Frankie’s artwork. SIP benefited from this event as the sole recipient of the proceeds from the sales of the paintings. In total 54 paintings were exhibited and were all sold. The amount raised was RM22,710, allocated to the SIP Education Fund. 5th Good Seconds Sale The 5th Good Seconds Sale took place at the Paradise Hotel at Tanjung Bungah on the 25th, 26th and 27th September. Members worked very hard well before the sale, sorting and tagging prices on the items available for sale. We were given old clothes, new clothes, household items, books, CDs and toys. On the three days, members, friends and family members came to help and we managed to sell thousands of items. In total we raised net of expense RM32,962, breaking all previous records. About RM14,000 were raised before the actual sale dates from designer hand bags sale among members and their friends. Money raised will be allocated to the Office Fund to cover office rental with nearly RM18,000 earmarked for payment towards roofing materials for Penang Welfare Council, a home that houses unwed mothers. Total roofing materials will cost SIP about RM35,000, the balance will come from money raised from the Christmast that is taking place on 12 December 2015. Magical Christmas Market (12th Dec) The Christmas Market took place at Suffolk House between 10 am to 7pm. Anita Pater led the event, working closely with Joyce, Harriet and other members. Some 1,000 patrons came to support the event, browsing and buying goodies from the 67 stalls. Father Chrismas was in attendance, so were the club’s own Santarinas. The members worked very hard to sell RM144,500 worth of cash coupons for the day, of which RM121,331 was reimbursed to the 67 vendors. The SIP Baked Sale and Anita’s Mulled Wine were all a “sell-­‐out”! An amount of RM60,001 was raised of which RM14,551 went towards paying for the roofing materials for Women Welfare Council. The rest went towards the SIP Education Fund. Suffolk House had very kindly let the club used the venue free of charge. Soroptimist International Club of Penang – 2015 Annual Report BIENNIAL CONFERENCE/MEMBERS’ FELLOWSHIP SIROM 11th Biennial Conference -­‐ 20th, 21st,22nd March As the hosting club, it is not surprising that 18 delegates from Penang attended the conference. The conference was graced by Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam as the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony and Penang’s Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, and his wife, Betty Chew, attended the Gala dinner. Also present were Dyana Sofya, YB Stevem Sim and Ms Janathani Arumugam as panel speakers. The event raised RM8,452 for SIROM and RM19,720 for the SIP Education Fund. Malicca’s “Green” Lunch In conjunction with the ACE Programme, Malicca hosted a “Green” lunch at her apartment on 30th Apr. 11 members attended the lunch. Lilian’s husband, Gary, also organized a wine pairing dinner at a local restaurant on 21st May. 12 members attended with 10 spouses. Visitors from SIKK on 4th/5th/6th of Sep Seven sisters from SIKK visited Penang at the weekend. SIROM President Anita hosted them all at her house. SIP ladies took them out for dinner at a local seafood restaurant on the 4th and the SIKK ladies had tea in the office on the 5th Sep. It was a chance for SIP to show the visitors our new office. Trip to Langkawi (13th,14th,15th Nov) 18 members had a bonding weekend in Langkawi, all organized by our member Michele. Some spouses also came along. The members had an excursion to the mangrove swamp and karaoke sessions together. The 10th general meeting of the year was held on the 14th November at the hotel ballroom. SIP Anniversary Celebration (17th Nov) For the club’s 19th anniversary this year, 20 members gathered at 32 The Mansion for a dinner. As it was also time to say farewell to Viti Wilson, the dinner was also a farewell dinner for her. A Feng Sui sharing session led by our member Chok Leng Leng preceded the dinner. Soroptimist International Club of Penang – 2015 Annual Report OTHER NEWS Publicity The articles on the Children’s Day event in Suffolk House on the 31st May was published in The Star on 22nd of June and The Chinese weekly Red Tomato. SIP was not only in the local papers once, but twice in December! The Christmas Market article appeared in the Star Metro 19th December and the second article on the Education Fund candidate Yugeshwariy was in the Harian Metro on 22nd December 2015. NEW OFFICE In May 2015, SI Penang moved to its new office premises at No 2A 1st Floor, Lebuh Lembah Permai 4, 11200 Tanjung Bungah. Prepared by: Lilian Hopkins