It starts with one person

THERE are numerous stories of Malaysians who go to great lengths in order to assist others.

These individuals show selflessness and unwavering commitment, reaching out to those in need with innovative solutions driven by empathy.

To commemorate National Month, we have spoken to three remarkable individuals whose acts of kindness remind us of the profound impact one person can make.

The Organiser

Hayati Ismail, 49, from Kuala Lumpur, has been involved in charity work since 2013 when she found herself with some free time.

After leaving her position as project manager at an interior design firm to pursue freelance work, Hayati wanted to give back to the community and joined a foodbank that serves the poor and homeless.

She soon discovered that many of the underprivileged individuals she encountered struggled to find sustainable employment.

In response, Hayati founded the My Street Interview programme, an initiative focused on matching homeless individuals with job opportunities.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Hayati’s culinary skills caught the attention of friends who enlisted her help in cooking for their families.

From this humble start, her catering business grew, with its profits directed towards the neutering and feeding of stray dogs.

Hayati with pillows that she bought to deliver to victims of the December 2021 floods in Selangor.

After a decade of charity work, Hayati now has a strong network of like-minded friends who collaborate and support one another.

She contributes to various projects as needed, dedicating most of her time to coaching social enterprise owners and advising non-governmental and charitable organizations on resource management.

Hayati emphasizes the importance of good management and is happy to share her knowledge over a cup of coffee.

The Coach

Jennifer Chua from Klang resigned from her nine-to-five job as a deputy chief executive officer in a nursing school approximately 10 years ago.

Feeling overwhelmed, the single mother decided to take a break from the corporate world and engage in some soul searching.

Her journey began by volunteering at a soup kitchen three days a week.

With the experience gained, Jennifer established her own charity group to serve the homeless.

During the pandemic, Jennifer and her team provided over 14,000 meals at temporary shelters in Kuala Lumpur.

Her current focus is on helping families with sick children, aiming to spread cheer and meet their needs.

Jennifer organizes superhero visits to children suffering from cancer and seeks sponsors to provide groceries for their families.

She also played a role in setting up learning centers for undocumented children in Sabah and facilitating connections between donors and disadvantaged students pursuing higher education.

Jennifer is also a certified spiritual/life coach, specializing in reiki, shamanism, and ThetaHealing.

The Distributor

Property agent Philip Andrew De Silva, 57, has been volunteering at the Ave Maria Soup Kitchen run by the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Klang for many years.

When the pandemic hit in 2020 and the soup kitchen had to close, Philip made the decision to continue feeding the hungry.

De Silva (left) distributing food to the poor and homeless during the pandemic period in Port Klang.

Concerned about the homeless individuals who relied on collecting recyclables but had limited opportunities during the movement control order, Philip gathered a few donors and arranged for volunteers to cook from home while he personally distributed the food.

However, the task of cooking for 300 people daily became overwhelming for the volunteers, prompting Philip to secure catering services from a restaurant a month later.

Philip’s focus is primarily on Klang and Port Klang, where food distribution was minimal during the pandemic.

He also coordinated the regular delivery of grocery items to 800 underprivileged families each month during the lockdown.

Today, the Ave Maria Soup Kitchen has resumed operations, serving meals to the poor and homeless twice a week with Philip leading the effort.