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HANG Chuen Wern is a singer, Siti Nur Aisyah Shahmiee a story
teller, Ho Wai Keen a violinist and Charmine Chan is a secondary
school student.
Although all of them are different is many ways, they have one
thing in common.
They are all Down's Syndrome
children.
But these children with one extra 21st chromosome
do not let that stop them from achieving their goals in
life.
On hand to give them that much needed assistance is the Kiwanis
Down Syndrome Foundation Centre (KDSF).
The foundation
celebrated the World Down's Syndrome Day at Damansara Specialist
Hospital last Friday attended by some 50 Down's Syndrome children
"This year's theme -- Aim High Enough -- is to encourage
parents and caregivers that their child has the potential to be
successful," said KDSF chairman Fred Tan, who launched the
celebration.
Psychology students from Help University
College also joined in the celebration.
"Our goal is to
guide and prepare children as young as one-month-old, with hopes
that they will be ready to further their primary education in normal
schools.
"We want to unearth more students like Hang,
Charmaine, Siti and Ho."
Fred believes there's hope for every
Down's Syndrome child and they deserve to be given the opportunity
to learn.
"The initiative has to come from the children's
guardians.
"They need to discover their children's hidden
talents so that it can be nurtured towards the right direction," he
stressed.
Parents, who are under stress because of their
children, are also encouraged to seek the help of counsellors at all
KDSF centres.
"New parents often break down when they find
themselves helpless, often because of lack of information.
"A support group helps tremendously," says Norzattul Syimma,
KDSF's information and resource officer.
"Today, we also
celebrate the success stories of many parents as life isn't easy for
these families."
The children's parents were the most
excited, as they were very supportive during each performance.
Every little achievement brings joy to not just the child,
but the parents themselves.
Fred said the foundation also
wants to help special children in rural areas, but they needed
funds.
"At the moment, KDSF is trying to reach out to these
special children.
"All we need is active and committed
fund-generating clubs in smaller cities.
"If that can be
established, we would be able to set up centres all over."
Fred said KDSF is a "colour-blind" body that accepted
children from any background.
"Parents have to come to us
with their child's medical record and a minimal payment is charged
based on the families financial standing."
Fred said the KDSF
is a non-profit organisation which needs RM1.13 million yearly to
support all the seven centres in Malaysia.
About 30 per cent
of the fund is generated from the Kiwanis Treasure hunt held in
different states once a year.
This year, It will be held on
May 24-26 in Lumut, Perak.
For more information, visit
www.kckl.org.my.
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