YAB Dr. Nomee Binti Dato' Radzi Manan and YB Wong May Ing came to launch the KOHIJAU Golden Age Club House on 26 August 2018. Located at Taman Pinji Mewah, the club house will provide senior citizens in Ipoh a place fo fellowship. Also presence include Ex Perak Exco for Women Development, Datuk Rusnah Kassim. It was attended by about 200 people.
The KOHIJAU Golden Age Club House (KOHIJAU-GACH) was mooted by a group of NGOs in anticipation of the need for caregiving services with the expected increase in the rate of ageing society in Perak. According to the statistics from the Perak Family Planning and Development Board, by the year 2020, 15% of the population of Perak or 450,000 people will be in the aged group (above 60 years of age).
KOHIJAU being one of the members of the Coalition of Caring NGOs in Perak took the initiative to start this so call club house where senior citizens can gather and have fellowship. It is run under the Social Business concept where those using the place will be charged a reasonable fee to help fund the operations in order to stay sustainable.
House in a 8-room bungalow with 20 beds, the club house started renovation work in July 2018 with assistance from the generous public in terms of donation in cash and kind. To date we are very pleased to note that over 100 generous people have responded positively towards the setting up of this project. They have contributed cash, beds, mattresses, wheel chairs, resting chairs, dining tables, sofa sets, refrigerators, washing machine, LCD TV, LED lights, office chairs and tables, potted plants, curtains and blankets with a value of approximately RM70,000. However, to run a reasonable good centre, a minimum of RM120,000 is required. I believe our good intention will receive help from corporate companies and individuals. You never know this Golden Age Club House will help serve us one day. We are appealing for contrbution in terms of LCD TV, Exercise Equipment, Potted Plants, Floor Mat.
Some of our dedicated members of KOHIJAU and Ipoh City Watch as well members from the Lions Club of Perak Silver State have also volunteered their free time cleaning up the 8-room bungalow house provided by one of our members on a subsidised rental rate. We need volunteers especially university and college students to come help volunteer to take care of our senior citizens. Our aim is to cultivate a caring society among us and show our love and appreciation to these people. This is especially so with so many senior citizens left alone at home by busy children or society.
The centre will be opened to public effective 1st October 2018 once all approval from the authorities have been obtained. Among the services planned by KOHIJAU-GACH include basic daily rental as guest house for public with first priority for family with senior citizen age above 60, care giving services for senior citizens, transport services for medical check up, fun trip, and day care centre. The centre will also be opened to senior citizens for fellowship and gathering where they can hold meetings, cooking session, BBQ, singing, dancing and use of the mini gym. There will also be a mini library and a pantry to cater their needs for a small fee.
As our country is approaching an Aged Society with more and more people reaching the age above 60, new social problems will emerge. Many senior citizens are left to fend for themselves despite their deteriorating physical conditions.
We hope the KOHIJAU-GOLDEN AGE CLUB HOUSE will be abel to play a small but meaningful role. With the support of 25 NGOs and the publics, we intend to duplicate this effort to reach out to more people who are in need.
KOHIJAU in collaboration with Open University Malaysia is offering Professional Caregiving Skill Course from Level 2 to Level 5 to train volunteers and single mom to be equiped with the required skills to handle senior citizens. 21 volunteers have signed up for the 3-month course starting in Auguest 2018. These volunteers will help manage the KOHIJAU-GOLDEN AGE CLUB HOUSE
I wish to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone who have contributed their free time and money towards the successful setting up of this centre. We welcome Organisations and Individuals to help sponsor senior citizens as part of their CSR programme. We also welcome volunteers and university/college students to come and show their care and love for the senior citizens.
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