Yayasan Chow Kit: Transforming lives, one child at a time

Yayasan Chow Kit (YCK), founded nearly two decades ago by Dr Hartini Zainuddin, has been a beacon of hope for the children of Chow Kit, a community plagued by socio-economic challenges.

Dr Hartini’s journey began 18 years ago when she noticed children wandering the streets due to a lack of safe spaces after school.

These children, often from working-class families, were vulnerable to the dangers of an environment rife with sex work, drug pushing, and gambling dens.

Yayasan Chow Kit providing a safe haven

Dr Hartini’s response was to create a sanctuary for these children.

Collaborating with the Ministry of Women, Children and Community Development and UNICEF, she initiated the first Pusat Aktiviti Kanak-Kanak (PAKK), a government-led effort under the Department of Social Welfare (JKM).

Despite the existence of 131 such centres nationwide, many were inactive.

Dr Hartini took the initiative to fundraise for permanent staff, ensuring continuous after-school activities and pre-daycare services.

This marked the beginning of a journey towards providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children of Chow Kit.

Ananti Rajasingam, CEO of YCK, joined the organisation 15 years ago as a social worker.

She recalls the challenging environment of Chow Kit during that time: “The whole environment was really not conducive for children.

That’s when Dr Hartini said the kids should not be on the streets because they are exposed to all these negative elements, taken advantage of, and exploited.”

Comprehensive support programs

Over the years, YCK has grown to offer comprehensive support programs.

One critical component is the social work programme, which assesses each child’s needs and addresses basic rights such as education, documentation, and healthcare.

Ananti explains, “We ensure that any child who comes into the centre not only gets to be exposed to positive programmes but also has their basic needs met.”

YCK’s impact is evident in the lives of the children they’ve supported. Since its inception, YCK has assisted over 1,200 children, helping them break free from cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

Ananti shares inspiring stories of transformation: “We have a boy who came from a very difficult family. He wanted to be a doctor, and with our support and donors’ help, he managed to attend a scholarship and join USM. Now, he’s a full-fledged doctor.”

Another success story involves a refugee child who was trafficked and ended up in Malaysia’s detention system.

Rescued and placed with YCK through UNHCR, he thrived under their care. Today, he lives in Utah, fostered by a family, pursuing tertiary education, and serving in the US Army.

Ananti proudly notes, “He’s a US citizen now, doing very well.”

The challenge of funding for YCK

However, YCK’s success and continued impact are heavily reliant on funding.

The pandemic exacerbated financial strains, with increased needs for food security and support for families losing their homes and jobs.

Ananti underscores the challenge: “Funding is not easy. We need to reach out to as many people, corporates, government, and individuals, to sustain our yearly operations.”

Currently, YCK is supported by various corporate partners such as Yayasan Sayang Dati and Selangor Properties.

Despite this, the need for additional funds remains critical.

“We have so many things, like our food programme, our back-to-school programme, all those things are still in need of funds,” Ananti emphasises.

To bolster their fundraising efforts, YCK has partnered with Sokong, a crowdfunding platform designed to support NGOs.

Ananti expresses hope in Sokong’s potential: “Sokong can have a local platform to be active in supporting through crowdfunding initiatives, not just for our NGO but for many others.

Malaysians are very generous, and a solid platform like Sokong can really make a difference.”

The vision for YCK extends beyond immediate needs. Ananti envisions a future where community centres are more active and children have safe spaces to play and grow.

“Having these community centres is very, very important. It gives children a space to know that they are safe and that there are trustworthy people trained to take care of them.”

As YCK continues its mission to transform lives, the call for public support is more urgent than ever.

Donations are crucial to sustain and expand their programmes, ensuring that children in high-risk areas receive the care, education, and protection they deserve.

YCK’s work is a testament to the power of community and the difference one can make in a child’s life.

By supporting YCK through Sokong or direct donations, you can help provide essential services, educational programmes, and a safe environment for vulnerable children.

Visit Sokong‘s platform to contribute to YCK’s mission and be part of a movement that changes lives, one child at a time.

For more information, please visit https://sokong.org/

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