Here To Give

Agathians Shelter Current Living Condition

2010-07-25T04:42:00.004+08:00

There are questions and feedback regarding about the living condition and our current project for Agathians Shelter. Please find below as my replies:-

What is the current living condition of Agathians Shelter?
We have recently post some pictures (see older posts) of the place but it is just some snapshots of the place. Their current living environment is moderate, however, there are still things lacking in the place. For example, the flooring is dirty, beds are old, mattress are old and torn, and the toilets are not in very good shape.

Why do they need toilets? Or why focus only on building toilets?
The place definitely needs more attention on other areas too, but the reasons why we set the priority of building the new toilets it is because there are about 30 children living in that place; every morning they go to school they have to wake up extremely early to line-up and take a shower and to use the toilet. It is difficult not only for the children but also for the caretakers to wake up early and take care of so many children.
The construction of the toilets was also a request from the caretaker when we spoke to them.

The pictures of the place you have posted earlier looks alright and not as bad as you have described. Do we really need to provide so much for them?
The pictures are just some of the areas we have taken with our camera. The place is bigger than what you see. That is why we want you to join us for the visit to their place on 21st August '10 to witness it and find out more.
To some people it is arguable that the place is liveable and it looks like the children has a bed to sleep and a roof to stay in so there is nothing to complain about. For us, we believe the children deserve to live more comfortably (not luxuriously). We want to help them live more conveniently and comfortably. Since we know we can provide, we will try our best to provide.

Can I donate other things to Agathians Shelter?
Please feel free to be generous and donate things to their place. But, please make sure your items are in good condition if it is used items. However, you should speak to the person in charge of the place to find out more what they truly need. They are receiving donations from other places and people too, hence, the items you want to donate maybe redundant.

If you feel you can do more or have different ideas how to help them, please feel free to speak to the person in charge of the centre. You are totally encouraged to do more than what we are doing. You are also encouraged to join us every week to discuss about how to reach out to people like Agathians Shelter.

Please e-mail me or comment on this site should you have any questions about this project.

Agathians Shelter Background

2010-07-25T04:15:00.001+08:00

I have received some feedback and questions about Agathians Shelter current living condition, and also to know more about the background of the place. Below is my feedback and reply.

Agathians Shelter is a shelter home for children who are orphans, abandoned and poor. Many mistaken they are an orphanage, however, it is not entirely correct. Not all of the children are orphans, hence, the word orphanage does not apply to their centre. There are children living in Agathians Shelter who were found abandoned on the street and some come from extremely poor family background. This is an all boys home and the number of children are about 30 people.

They are not associated with any organizations or institutions; meaning they are not with any religious institutions or organizational group. They have many visitors from various organizations and groups but it does not mean that they are associated with them.

Please feel free to contact them to verify any information.

Agathians Shelter: Pictures of Current Condition

2010-07-24T04:44:00.000+08:00

Below are some of the pictures we have taken from Agathians Shelter.

Front

Backyard

Hall

One of The Toilets

Lower Ground Toilet

Beds (mattress in real bad condition)

This is where we want to build the toilets, which is at the back of the house.

Update II: Agathians Shelter Fund Raising Project

2010-07-22T23:22:00.002+08:00

The cost for the toilet construction is out. We have also included changing their current toilet doors, which the current toilet doors are in bad shape. By prayer the fund raising will be a success and we hope that we will raise more than this amount.

Update I: Agathians Shelter Fund Raising Project

2010-07-22T18:32:00.002+08:00

Last night we have made some progress in planning the fund raising project for Agathians Shelter. There will be a small event (date to be confirmed) to invite friends and family to visit the centre. We aim to create awareness and let our friends understand the situation of the centre.

We have appointed a Project Leader, Melissa Chua to coordinate this event and Stephen Ng and Joon Hui as the assistants. The details of the event will be posted up in this site as soon as the details being finalized. Calvin Ong will be leading the construction of the toilets and the cost of building the toilets has been calculated. Costs and items breakdown will be posted up in this site soon. Please come back in two days.

Preliminary Stage of Fund Raising Project for Agathians Shelter

2010-07-13T23:42:00.001+08:00

Agathians Shelter is a children shelter for the orphans and abandoned children. The centre is not associated with any institutions and organizations. Recently they have moved to a bigger place due to the growing number of children in the centre. The condition of the new house is in real bad shape. The children are not sleeping in the most comfortable mattress, toilet doors are falling apart, floors stained with thick layer of dirt and the place looks like it needs more furnitures.

We have paid a visit to the centre today and seen some progress of cleaning up and walls are being painted. The caretaker of the place, Siva has mentioned that they are currently seeking for ways to continue to renovate the place in order to make it more hospitable for the children. Siva told us that the new place currently need more toilets. Each morning the children are queuing up early in the morning to get to the toilet. We are planning to build two extra toilets for the house, therefore, we need funds to be able to construct and renovate the centre.

This is the first stage we are in for now. Tomorrow will be another meeting for all of us. Pray that God will continue to help us in this project.

Under The Floor Mat

2010-07-13T17:00:00.005+08:00

The notion of charity or doing something selflessly good seems to be almost like a folk tale story only being told when we were children. Local news are filled with the content of political and commercial news, leaving behind the attention for the need of the society. The daily rat race has also drained much of our energy to care more. It has made us to be indifferent about what is happening to our community.

Sitting back and knowing there are children who are abandoned and hungry cringes one's heart.We are always moving so fast and driving ourselves to make a better living consequently leaving us to be oblivious about those who are poor and the less fortunate. At the same time the competitive working world keeps on demanding us to work harder. It has swept our conscience under the floor mat; like the floor mat at our door, we know the dirt is there and as long it is under the mat no one will notice.