From Underprivileged To Graduates: This Rawang Home Transformed Over 500 Kids, Now It Needs Your Help To Save Itself
Facing the sale of their rented home, 54 girls at the Rawang shelter urgently need public support to secure the property that has been their safe haven and educational hub for decades.
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For more than two decades, two bungalow lots in Taman Hijau, Rawang, have been far more than just houses.
For over 500 girls who are orphans or come from broken families and homes, these houses have been the only sanctuary they've ever known.
Now, by the end of this month, the 54 children currently living at Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Saradha Devi Illam (SSDI) are facing a race against time to secure the place that has shaped them into confident and holistic individuals.
Operating since 1998, the home rents two adjoining units.
The owner of the main unit, which houses the kitchen, children's dormitory, activity area, living room, and baking room, is migrating overseas and has decided to sell the property. He has offered it to the charity for RM800,000.
The price is reasonable for the area, but the timeline is not.
Sri Saradha Devi Illam needs to secure the funds quickly because losing this unit doesn't just mean losing bedrooms. It would mean losing their kitchen, the space where daily meals are prepared, and the areas where the girls learn crucial skills that shape their futures.
According to Dr Kumaran Adakalam, the president of the association, Sri Saradha Devi Illam isn't just providing shelter and food; it's a transformational hub for the children residing there
He believes that education and spiritual teachings are the two main pillars for transforming every child's life.
The outcomes speak for themselves: Sri Saradha Devi Illam isn't a place where children merely get by; it's where they thrive.
- Vocational success: 22 girls are currently pursuing Diplomas in Early Childhood Education, 14 are pursuing Level 3 Certification in Early Childhood Education, and 20 have completed Diplomas in Baking and Pastry.
- Champions: Residents train in Silambam, winning state-level medals, competing in SUKMA, and even achieving a Guinness World Record in fire-spinning.
- Skills development: Classes include Bharathanatyam, Veenai, Yoga, and Thirumurai singing.
- Language programmes: Bahasa Melayu, Spoken English, and Mandarin.
- Graduates: A resident recently earned a Psychology degree from UTAR. Others include a degree graduate in Early Childhood Education from UniSEL, and students currently pursuing Diplomas in Nursing and Early Childhood Education at MAHSA University and UNITAR.
"We aim to transform the lives of these children by promoting excellent growth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually," said Dr Kumaran.
Although the home is professionally run and registered with both the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and the Social Welfare Department (JKM), securing a mortgage as a non-profit is extremely difficult
A professional valuation by Henry Butcher Malaysia estimated the property at RM600,000, leaving a significant financing gap with the asking price of RM800,000, an amount banks are unlikely to cover.
With the owner preparing to leave the country, Sri Saradha Devi Illam is urgently appealing to Malaysians to help them raise the deposit needed to secure the purchase.
How to help
The deadline is closing in. The charity home needs to raise the booking deposit immediately to show commitment to the owner and prevent the unit from being sold to someone else.
Find out how you can help here:
You can contact the shelter via WhatsApp:
📞 016-906 7380 (Dr Kumaran)
📞 014-643 5964 (Meena, secretary)
