Serving Children, Malaysian Style

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While in Malaysia last week I visted the Kiwanis Downs Syndrom Center. This was one of nearly 20 centers focused on serving these forgotten children. The money for the center was raised by the local Kiwanis club and they then formed an organization to operate it. They are raising hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to serve these children and the impact is amazing. I watched grown men and women weep as they described their participation in this project. This center is a Young Children Priority One project and is totally focused on the early development of children with Downs Syndrom. We can all be proud of Kiwanis Malaysia for the difference they are making.

So my question is this...What examples can you share where a Kiwanis Club(s) took on a project like this that has grown into a local program with the Kiwanis name on it? Camps, Hospitals, Homeless Shelters, Schools, you name it? Very interested in hearing from you on this.

Posted Oct 24 2007, 03:16 AM by Rob Parker

Comments

Jennlyn wrote re: Serving Children, Malaysian Style

on 10-25-2007 11:16 AM

Our club works with the special needs children in our community by taking them bowling each Friday. As with everything, the program started out very small and has grown into a very large and successful community program. Until recently the program has been completely funded by ink cartridge recycling. We had to add an additional fundraising event last year due to the increase in our special needs population and the popularity of the program.

Lots of hugs, high-fives and a bunch of Kiwanis members make this a successful program.

Thomas B. and MaryLou Crawford, Toledo, Ohio wrote re: Serving Children, Malaysian Style

on 10-26-2007 8:02 PM

You may be interested to know that our son, Thomas E. Crawford, was a Charter member of the All Ohio e-Medina Club in 16W in the Ohio District. Tom had the Down Syndrome condition but it did not stop him from participating in the All Ohio Club. When MaryLou and I were First Lady and Governor during 2001-02, Tom would go to every official function with us. He often was more important to those in attendance than we were, which was just fine with us. He was a very essential assistant to MaryLou during the process of raising $84,000.00 for the her project of the CMN Hospitals and $16,000.00 for the Ohio Foundation. Tom and his sister,Beth began their exposure to the Kiwanis experience at the early ages of 5 and 8 respectively.

Everyone in the Ohio District knew Tom. Tom cherished his opportunity to be a Kiwanian. Tom passed away unexpectedly on the night of February 22, 2007, at the age of 25. His memorial fund was designated for the CMN Hospital in Toledo. Shortly before his untimely passing, Tom and others in the Lucas County MRDD program were going to organize an Aktion Club. MaryLou and I are attempting to complete his wishes.

So you see the exposure to Kiwanis can be a very rewarding event to those individuals in Malaysia, even to the point of standard Kiwanis membership for those of high functioning status.

Thank you for listening about Tom E. the Kiwanian.

Tom and MaryLou Crawford