PETALING JAYA, April 20 (Bernama) — The youth branch of the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda Youth), in collaboration with various partners, today handed over the new Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) Child Care Centre worth RM1.4 million, replacing the previous centre which was burned down in 2016.
Rehda Malaysia acting president Datuk NK Tong said the corporate social responsibility project by corporate and individual donors, volunteers and sponsors, is the nation’s first green child care centre, uniquely built entirely with donated materials, sponsored labour and pro bono consultants.
The Child Care Centre incorporated some masonry, wood, and roof tiles from the previously destroyed building into the facade of the new structure.
“It will be the first Platinum-rated child care centre in Malaysia by GreenRE, a green building certification body,” said Tong at the handover ceremony at Wisma Rehda here, today, witnessed by Segambut Member of Parliament Hannah Yeoh.
“This ensures that the running costs of the centre going forward will be reduced, which will be a great benefit to the WAO which operates entirely on donations,” he said.
Tong further said the child care centre, at an undisclosed location for safety security reasons, would be a shelter for child victims of domestic abuse, and will also be a base for WAO to provide specialised child counselling therapy to traumatised children. It expects to welcome more than 20 children.
“Guided by green design principles, such as ensuring sufficient daylight and natural ventilation, the centre promises to be a comfortable and healing space. Its structure lends to this, with a U-shaped courtyard as its centre symbolising refuge from the outside world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yeoh said the use of green technology would lessen building and utilities management in terms of cost.
She also urged the government to invest more for the vulnerable groups, especially children, by establishing a children’s ministry specifically, instead of placing them under the purview of the welfare department.
Yeoh also suggested having more child protectors, adding that based on her 2019 data, there is a need for more than 1,500 child protectors nationwide to handle various cases including abuse, neglect and other childcare issues.
At the event, WAO president Shanthi Dairiam said the centre is a place for children to thrive and heal. It aims to provide an environment for children to process their trauma safely, through counselling, therapy with play in a place where their safety and care is the utmost priority.
She hoped more organisations and government bodies will empower young victims of domestic abuse in different parts of the country with such initiatives as access to quality child care comes at a cost, especially to the marginalised.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency