The noble idea of a father, Andy Chan. has helped to kick-start a charitable cause to raise funds for a home for abused women in Klang.
Chan, whose 11-year-old daughter, Isabelle recently organised a workshop to teach primary school children how to turn white socks into cute little snowmen, said the fundraising project was intended to encourage young people to think about giving to charity.
“We are not only teaching them some art and craft, where the finished products end up collecting dust or in the waste paper basket,” Chan said. “We want them to think about other people who are less privileged than themselves.”
In the process, Chan said that the early exposure to entrepreneurship will also help the children to become good businessmen in future. They feel proud about their handicraft when people start buying from them.
“The beauty of this idea is that it is duplicable,” he said. “Each snowman is sold at RM20.With each child producing six snowmen, they will be able to raise RM120 each just by selling to family and friends.”
Enthusiastic response
At their home in Kelana Jaya last Thursday afternoon, the Chan family helped some 10 other kids and their parents to make the snowmen.
Eight-year-old Shaun Ng became excited when he managed to sell his first two snowmen to a neighbour, who told him that that the snowmen looked so cute.
“I am going to make more snowmen, and raise more money to help feed the people in the home,” he said, adding that he now has a back order of some 40 snowmen. He is trying hard to recruit his five-year-old sister Alyson as a partner in the project to help meet the demand.
“One generous lady, in particular, offered to buy 20 snowmen,” he said. “RM400 may be a small amount of money for some people, but it will certainly go a long way to help the old folks.”
Another eight-year-old from Becon House Sri Inai International School, Swarnina Poddar, said that after learning to make the snowmen, she now hopes to volunteer herself to help out whenever there is another workshop conducted.
“I enjoy raising funds for the poor,” she said. “This may be the first time I am doing it, but it will certainly not be the last.”
Six-year-old Teoh Enjie said it was fun to make the snowmen toys to sell. “What I like about this workshop is that I can bring a smile to the old people at the home,” he said. His friend, June Mulquiney, five, said she also enjoyed making the snowmen. “Mum will help to sell the snowmen to raise funds for the poor,” she said.
Aerin Tham said it is cool being able to help the needy. The 11-year-old from Nobel International School said that at the same time, he had lots of fun making the snowmen.
Hailing from Puay Chai (2) in Bandar Utama, seven-year-old Chong Ray Shuen said she has learnt about helping othersfrom the workshop which includes overcoming her fears, especially of approaching others to buy the snowmen that she made for charity’s sake.
“That's my greatest accomplishment!” she said.
Together they hope to raise at least RM1,000 to buy foodstuff that can be given to Rumah Grace in Pandamaran, Klang. Last year, Chan said Isabelle came up with another idea of turning trash into cash to buy food for charity.
“This was when we started using old socks and other recyclable materials to make the snowmen,” he said. “However, this year, the idea has evolved into making more snowmen using socks that can be purchased cheaply from the wholesalers.”
Chan, a corporate trainer, said he is happy to share the idea with other non-governmental organisations. “We try to make the fundraising project as duplicable as possible,” he said. “After attending one or two sessions, even a child as young as eight can start teaching her own friends how to make the snowmen. We need to inculcate in them the love for people who may not be as privileged as themselves.”
For more information, contact Andy Chan (mobile: +60 12 214 7558)
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