Tuesday, February 22, 2011

USJ residents fete the underprivileged

By CHOO WOON LIM 

RESIDENTS of 13 orphanages, welfare homes and drug rehabilitation centres around Subang Jaya were treated to a festive celebration at the Subang Avenue Shopping Centre recently.
The Joy of Combined Festivals, which was held for the sixth time, was organised by the Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) USJ 2 and USJ 6 with support from Subang Avenue Shopping Centre.
Time of giving: Yeoh (centre) and Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) USJ 2 and USJ 6 chairman Ang How Chuan(left) distributing goodie bags to residents of the homes. 
 
Guests were entertained by an energetic lion dance performance, as well as performances from Rishma Thuraisamy, Little Angels, special students from SMK USJ 4, and the residents of Rumah Kids, Beautiful Gate, City Survival Home and Ractar.
KRT USJ 2 and USJ 6 chairman Ang How Chuan said the event was held to encourage everyone to live in peace and harmony under one roof as the concept of 1Malaysia.
“We have organised this event and brought together senior adults and children to enjoy the multiracial festival in this complex,” said Ang.
Smooth act: A team from Beautiful Gate performing a traditional Chinese fan dance on wheelchairs at the fest.
 
Also present at the event was Department of National Unity and Integration’s Petaling District unity officer Beh Sang How and Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh.
Yeoh said the concept of the event was a good way to help save time and resources, besides educating the public on the different festivals.
She pledged RM3,000 to cover some expenses for the event.
She also announced that the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) would install new tables and benches at the park in USJ 2

Source: The Star

Friday, January 21, 2011

Band in wheelchairs

Learning music and forming a band have given four men and a young woman a new lease on life. ANUSHA K has the story...

AS many of us hit the gym after a stressful day, members of Triumphant take up their musical instruments and exercise their vocal chords. The band tackles all genre, from rock songs to harmonious melodies. They sing in Mandarin and English and perform mainly in the Klang Valley but have made it all the way to Bintulu, Sarawak, for a show.

What makes all this unusual is that all the band members are wheelchair-bound.

Triumphant’s story began one sunny day in September 2009. The Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya (RCPJ) took up the idea of forming the band, a project proposed and implemented by past district governor Datuk Dr Low Teong. Because none of the band members knew how to read music notes, Rotarian Johnny Thean taught them to play instruments from scratch and to improve their singing with lots of practice. The musical instruments were bought with donations from Crocodile foundation and various fundraising efforts.

RCPJ collaborated with members of the Beautiful Gate Foundation, a centre for the disabled.

The project was initiated to develop the musical talents of the handicapped, provide them with an opportunity to engage in productive activities and to earn an income. The Rotary International Significant Achievement Award was conferred in 2009-2010.

Because the entire day is spent at Beautiful Gate, band members try to allocate four days each week for practice. On Jan 6, Triumphant performed for the first time in public, at the RCPJ 50th anniversary celebrations, which was attended by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

The band performed You Raise Me Up, Never Give Up, and a Mandarin number, Friend.

Takes the blues away
Triumphant comprises Kenneth Thien, Krishnan Sivasankaran, Vincent Aw, Kelvin Leong and Loh Mei Lee. Except for Krishnan, the rest work and stay at Beautiful Gate in Taman Kepong Baru and divide their time between band practice and work at the centre.

Lead vocalist and band leader Thien says that playing music is therapeutic and a form of escapism.

“The band has performed at many functions for Beautiful Gate, and we are delighted to show what we have learnt so far at our first public performance”, he said.

Before he was confined to a wheelchair, Thien was a very active sportsman in high school. He won gold medals in long jump and distance running.

Unfortunately, when he was 20 and working as a marketing sales executive, he met with an accident while driving the company van.

“I hardly remember anything of the accident. The next thing I knew, I was in a hospital bed and had injured my spine. I have to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I was heartbroken when the doctor told me that,” said the 43-year-old.

Eventually, Thien moved on and developed a positive outlook. At Beautiful Gate, he helps take care of other disabled adults and has learnt vocational skills such as data entry, handicraft and writing newsletters. He is also busy refining his vocal skills and usually sings songs that are motivational and encouraging, which he says energise him and give him an adrenaline rush, something he has not felt since the accident.

Leong, meanwhile, is the guitarist and also vocalist for the band. A committee member of Beautiful Gate, Leong stays in the centre, equipping himself with better communication skills and practicing on his first love, the guitar.

He was disabled in a motorbike accident when he was just 15 years old. His bike hit a stone and he was thrown off.

Leong, the eldest child in his family, used to live with them in Raub, Pahang but he felt it was a burden for his aged parents to look after him, so he came to Beautiful Gate and learnt skills that would help him be more independent.

“I never gave up learning the guitar, I thoroughly enjoy playing songs that I could only listen to previously,” says Leong, whose favourite song is My Love by Westlife.

The only hurdle, Leong says, is that he tends to forget the lyrics because of stage fright. “But I have learnt so much and making mistakes only makes you more determined to improve.”

Aw works as an administrator at Beautiful Gate. A minor spinal surgery that went wrong 14 years ago left him wheelchair-bound. He plays base for Triumphant. Krishnan plays the drums, while Loh, the only rose among the thorns, is on keyboards.

Triumphant performs at functions nationwide and can be contacted at 03-6272 7049.
Source: News Straight Times: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/People_Bandinwheelchairs/Article/art_print

Friday, January 14, 2011

Bazaar in aid of the disabled

By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

WHEN it comes to finding a venue for a charity bazaar, Kelana Jaya MCA division chairman Ong Chong Swen’s pick is always Subang Jaya and its neighbouring areas.
She attributed the choice to its helpful and generous residents.
Last Sunday, more than 100 line dancers took part in the ‘Corner of Love’ charity bazaar held at the USJ 19 Digital Mall to raise funds for the Beautiful Gate Foundation For the Disabled.
In her speech, Ong praised the line dancers, who were mainly housewives, for lending their support and making the event a meaningful one.
“You can dance and I am proud you are using your talents to contribute towards a worthy cause as part of your social responsibility,’’ she said.
She said in November last year, Women Development Organisation of Malaysia Subang Jaya, and Sam and Grace Dance Group together with her office, organised a successful charity line dance event.
“Many of the line dancers who are here today also participated in that event and through their efforts raised enough funds to help 17 needy families.
“We are utilising the remaining RM2,000 for Beautiful Gate,’’ added Ong.
The ‘Corner of Love’ charity bazaar will be held every weekend at the mall and 10% of the sales profit will go to Beautiful Gate.
Currently, there are only 20 stalls but there is space for 30 more.Beautiful Gate residents also gave a wheelchair dance performance to the tune of Village People’s Y.M.C.A.


 

Sources: 
1) The Star
2) Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)

Friday, December 10, 2010

無腿也能起舞障女坐輪椅跳倫巴

(巴生訊)每個女生總會幻想和男伴跳一隻俗稱“愛情之舞”的倫巴(Rumba),在舞池中成為大眾焦點,但這對於雙腳殘缺的女生而言似乎是難以成真的夢想。不過,雙腳殘缺的劉美莉卻能“無腿起舞”,坐著輪椅與男伴擺出曼妙舞姿,在逾千觀眾面前跳起了高難度的倫巴舞。
劉美莉在男舞伴余順榮的帶動下,以輪椅的雙輪取代雙腿。儘管她雙腿無法著地,卻成功將倫巴舞的浪漫、性感與熱情、柔媚纏綿等發揮得淋漓盡致。
美門籌款買貨車
週日(23日)晚在巴生文化街舉辦的“中秋燈海耀皇城”園遊會,除了劉美莉的舞姿令人動容外,美門殘障中心其它成員逾半小時的演出,也掀起全場高潮。
殘障人士衝破肢體的缺陷輪流高歌和起舞,引起觀眾共鳴,連開幕嘉賓馬華總秘書拿督黃家泉也看到不願離場。
八打靈美門殘障中心負責人謝靈霖告訴《光明日報》,其實他們當天共准備了約一個半小時的節目,可惜時間過於緊迫,只表演了半小時即宣告結束。
她說,現場只表演了《Macarena》和《YMCA》群體舞、雙眼失明的葉順利獨唱《愛拼才會贏》、雙腳殘缺的馬瑞雄獨唱《好漢歌》及劉美莉和余順榮的倫巴舞等。
“除了上述表演外,無緣上場的還有燭光舞、傳統文化舞蹈、戲劇、喳喳舞及其它演唱等。”
現場也有三輪車義載活動,特地從馬六甲移師巴生的三輪車,每趟收費5元,作為捐助給美門殘障中心的義款,也成功籌獲約850令吉。
美門殘障關怀基金會是夜也為巴生美門殘障籌款,希望能添購一輛市值10萬令吉的貨車,方便會員出入。
有意者可聯絡美門殘障關怀基金會,電話:03-78736579或03-78758609、傳真03-78762686、電郵:info@beautifulgate.my.diip.net或bgcentre@yahoo.com。
無懼別人眼光
跳舞需要勇氣
謝靈霖本身也會跳倫巴舞。她受詢時披露,不少殘障人士與她一樣熱愛音樂和舞蹈,但基於身體的殘缺而無緣涉足這個領域。她從來沒想過能像今天般以雙輪代步翩翩起舞,令她非常感動,終於實現了這個不可能的夢想。
她說,美門殘障中心每週會有導帥前來教援舞蹈,他們已練習了約半年。其實,殘障人士站在舞台上表演,需付出很大的勇氣和跨越別人的眼光。
“對一個殘障人士而言,由於身體有異於常人,不只是我們本身,連普羅大眾也不敢相信我們可以跳舞。這說明了只要有恆心,甚麼事情都可辦得到。”

首次受邀參與圓遊會‧美門藝術團坐輪椅跳舞

(吉隆坡28日訊)首次受邀參與ntv7圓遊會的美門藝術團,為了這次的演出而準備了約10分鐘的舞蹈表演,包括坐在輪椅上大跳《難兄難弟》及夏奇拉的世界杯主題曲《Waka Waka》。

由ntv7主辦、《光明日報》為媒體伙伴、愛康(Elken)為主要贊助商、天地通(Celcom)協力贊助、OneFM為宣傳電台的第四場圓遊會返抵都門舉行,並獲得美門殘障關懷基金會及峇都區發展華小工委會協辦展開。

此外,此次圓遊會也非常榮幸邀請到馬青總團長兼教育部副部長拿督魏家祥親臨主持開幕典禮儀式,肯定將令活動生色不少。

首次受邀參與圓遊會的美門殘障關懷基金會,今次派出藝術團員包括義工朋友約10人上場;義工除了負責伴舞,也負責在舞台上照顧殘障朋友的安全。

穿成人尿片不麻煩人

美門藝術團團長謝靈霖說,為了把表演做好,在不想麻煩別人的情況下,殘障朋友一般外出表演時,都會穿上成人尿片,連搭乘飛機出國也是如此。

要編排一支可以讓殘障朋友表演的舞蹈談何容易,國內目前根本沒有一名舞蹈老師專門設計方便殘疾人士學習的舞蹈。身為大隊長及舞蹈員的謝靈霖,必須在隊員練習新舞姿時陪伴在側,以便隨時改編舞蹈老師所教的舞姿,方便殘障朋友學習。

對殘障朋友來說,輪椅就是他們的雙腳,如果輪椅出現故障,輕則造成障友行動不便,重則傷及障友身體,因此他們都要懂得基本的修理輪椅工作。

輪椅一旦用作跳舞使用,一般折損得很快,尤其是輪胎及煞車器。每次練習或表演前,他們都必須先檢查並確定輪椅的狀態良好,才能上場表演,否則若突然發生爆胎和煞車器失靈事件,就會帶來很大的傷害。

跳舞輪椅太貴買不起

記者問,難道市面上沒有生產專為障友設計供舞蹈演出的輪椅嗎?謝靈霖點頭說有,但是這些輪椅價格高昂,一部最普通的跳舞輪椅至少要1萬令吉以上,二手的也要3000至5000令吉,他們買不起。

想要一睹美門藝術團振奮人心的精彩演出,記得在10月30日上午親臨增江南區華小舉行的ntv7圓遊會。

100人義騎
喚醒關注障友福利

本月舉行的ntv7圓遊會增設“圓遊會單車行”,預料有100名腳車騎士將從增江南區華小沿著公路騎行28公里,以喚醒人們對殘障人士的關注,打造親和障友的社會環境。

主辦當局負責人透露,今次的圓遊會不但獲得地方團體如峇都區發展華小工委會、美門殘障關懷基金會、內外丹功團體等配合,協助提供各種活動與節目外,圓遊會也吸引了一班腳車發燒友的參與,準備召募100名同好到場支持。

騎行28公里

據稱,這100名來自全國各地的腳車愛好者,將在本月31日(週日)上午8時開始,從增江南區華小集合出發,往甲洞一帶騎行28公里後回到起點。

“圓遊會單車行”是免費參與的慈善義騎,參與者必須年齡滿18歲或以上,並自攜爬山或公路腳車。所有參與者可以獲得主辦當局派發T恤和食水供應,而配戴安全帽是強制的參與條件,以確保騎士的安全。

騎行28公里的路線將穿越甲洞路、白蒲大道、甘榜武吉蘭樟、敦依斯邁花園路、吉隆坡高爾夫球俱樂部中心(KLGCC)、Sprint大道、金地花園、泗岩沫路,最後回到增江南區起點。

有興趣參與或欲知詳情者可上網http://www.ntv7.com.my/yuan-carnival報名和查詢。

輪椅舞
啟發泰青年免尋死

美門藝術團成立7年,希望透過藝術的力量感染所有人,尤其是他們那自強不息的信念。4年前,他們的舞蹈表演令一名泰國青年感觸良多,逐將這名準備尋死的青年拉回人生軌道,靠的就是殘障同胞的韌性。

美門藝術團團長謝靈霖接受本報專訪時披露,2006年,他們受泰國殘障團體的邀請到當地演出,表演所得善款悉數捐給泰國的殘障中心,那位有意尋死的青年也出席觀賞了美門的表演。

用心跳出美好生命

她說,當他們回到大馬後,就收到青年寄來的信件。青年在信中提到,他遭遇了一系列的困難,尤其是面對家庭問題的無力感,令他幾度想放棄生命,走向自殺這一條不歸路。

幸運的是,青年在看過美門的表演後,發現殘障者可以坦然樂觀地看待自己的生命,令四肢健全的他頓時開竅。儘管青年過後沒有再寫信來,但是大家都相信,青年已有能力走出陰霾。

美門藝術團成立於2003年8月,是全馬第一支由殘障人士領導的藝術團,曾在大馬紀錄大全裡創下最多舞蹈員的輪椅舞蹈紀錄。

藝術團的至終目的,是要讓殘障同胞有機會用自己的心,跳出他們最美的心願,唱出他們最美的心聲,讓他們在藝術的國度裡找尋自己的天空,抒發對美好生命的嚮往,也給健全人士帶來激勵作用。

他們相信,肢體上的不完美,並不能阻礙殘障人士對完美藝術的追求。因此,謝靈霖希望用笑容來感染參與圓遊會的民眾,希望民眾能通過表演看到他們的毅力,給他們留下深刻的印象。

◆增江南區華小簡介

改善學習環境
設電子教室

增江南區華小在國家獨立以前的1951年成立,並在1952年正式啟用,當時命名為“增江南區僑民學校”,共吸引了480名學生就讀。

校方在1953年替學校改名為增江南區(標準型)華文小學,不過,隨著當時的教育政策演變,校名再一次更改為“增江南區國民型華文小學”,並且沿用至今。

為了讓學子獲得最好的教育和學習環境,校方各機構過去數十年來不斷爭取和籌建校舍,包括禮堂、草場、羽球場、籃球場、科學園地、食堂、家長棚、腳車棚和停車場等。

教學設施則有科學室、生活技能室、音樂室、輔導室,課程輔導室、牙醫室、貸書室、體育室、圖書館、資料室、教具室、視聽室、兵乓室、電腦室等,可謂是設備齊全。

2009年8月,學校開始進行電子教室教學,為教學邁入電子時代締造新的里程碑。

增江南區華小校地面積達5.5英畝,全校共有6座校舍和56所教室,教職員共有90人,而就讀學生高達1988人。現任校長是陳秀技。

公眾受促車停區外
免塞車

增江南區華小坐落在稠密的住宅區,由於進出的道路狹窄,駕駛者受促把車輛停泊在區外,並以步行方式進入校園範圍,避免大量交通工具湧入造成阻塞。

雖然主辦當局已經委派志願警衛團到場維持秩序,不過為免引起更擁擠的交通情況,當局建議公眾把轎車停泊在距離圓遊會會場不遠的地區,再與家人或親友一同步行進入會場。

駕駛者可以把車輛停泊在增江北區或甲洞路旁的國能甲洞分局,然後越過甲洞進入Jambu Gajus路至圓遊會。

其他適合泊車的地點包括Jambu Gajus 1路、柏年廣場或廣場旁的油站附近,然後取道Jambu Merah路前往目的地。

圓遊會舉辦地點
增江南區華小
SJK(C)Jinjang Selatan, Jalan Jambu Gajus,
52000 Jinjang Selatan, Kuala Lumpur

光明日報‧2010.10.28

Thursday, August 26, 2010

30-hour famine camp compilation

Tomorrow (30 hour Famine Camp Theme Song) 

明天孩有希望 (饥饿30主题曲)

天孩有希望

词:吴以建(中文)
Francissca & Bibiana Peter(英文)
曲:罗忆诗
编曲:郑可恩


小小的眼光
失去了光芒
即使小小的手掌
也有权飞翔

大大的梦想
失去了力量
哪儿有大大的肩膀
温暖他心房

明天孩子们会有希望
会长出耀眼的翅膀
朝着那温暖的风和光
轻轻的飞扬

The world we live in
Can do with giving
A child today
Is a child of our tomorrow

I've seen the children
Who have been broken
By wars and hunger and natural disaster
So broken

When Tomorrow comes
We must have hope
We must reach out
To every single child

When Tomorrow comes
We spread our love
And make it a better day

生活会有悲和喜
We've gotta pray and do our best
只要伸出我们的手
To bring you a better tomorrow

明天孩子们会有希望
会长出耀眼的翅膀
When Tomorrow comes
We spread our love
And make it a better day/让你我都飞扬

明天孩子们会有希望
会长出耀眼的翅膀
When Tomorrow comes
We spread our love
And make it a better day

Featuring 2010...
30-Hour Famine Ambassador: Nicholas Teo
Total famine fightres: ~14,000
Dance Performed by BG arts troupe: "Waka-Waka", This time for '30 hour famine'!!
 



Featuring 2009...
30-Hour Famine Ambassador: A-Mei (most unforgettable one ><)
Total famine fightres: 10,207 
Dance Performed by BG arts troupe: Joy "ching yan, ching yan" dance




Featuring 2008...
30-Hour Famine Ambassador: Micheal Wong (Also memorable)
Dance Performed by BG arts troupe: Famine Camp Theme Song ^^



Flashback for 2007...
Dance Performed by BG arts troupe: YMCA (if i am not mistaken)


Cant get any for 2006 or the years before that...

Sunday, August 22, 2010

30 hours Famine Camp 2010


Featuring the performers of the day...


Getting ready to present with a cheerful heart ^_^



And it all ends well!!

Friday, August 6, 2010

30-Hour Famine 2010 - The Waka-Waka Dance by Beautiful Gate (A Preview)

Featuring 30 hour Famine 2010 'Waka Waka' Camp dance; choreographed by Beautiful Gate Performing Arts Troupe ;)

Counting down...



World Vision Malaysia:
"We were at one of Beautiful Gate's rehearsals recently and they have been practising hard for a dance, specially choreographed for the Countdown event! We hope you'll cheer them on and be a part of the dance. See you on August 22, 2010 at Bukit Jalil! Calling all participants and volunteers, let's dance together!"

30-Hour Famine 2010 - The Waka Waka Dance (Tutorial Clip)

Waka-Waka Step by step Guide:




World Vision Malaysia:

"One of our 30-Hour Famine饥饿30 Beneficiaries, Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, has choreographed a dance for the Countdown event. We hope all participants and volunteers of the event will learn these basic steps up. We will be dancing together! Put on your dancing shoes and groove, we'll see you on August 22 at Bukit Jalil!"