Friday, April 25, 2008

Drop-in centre for single mothers - The Star

April 25, 2008

THE Society of St Vincent de Paul in Ipoh has set up a drop-in centre for single mothers and their children.

Its national president Dunstan Dominic Augustine said the centre at Maria Villa, Silibin, would be supervised by its members from Our Ladies of Lourdes Church.

Augustine said the premises was now being renovated with day-care facilities for children of single mothers who could not afford to pay.

“Other than day-care services, the centre is also a meeting place for single mothers to meet and discuss issues affecting their daily lives.” he said.

He added that the Maria Villa centre was the second project of the society in Perak.

The first one - Ozanam drop-in centre - in Sungai Siput was launched last year when it started a day care facility for 25 children of single mothers who were given home cooked meals, free tuition and homework supervision.

“The operational cost of the two centres is RM10,000 a month. It is funded by Ozanam Foundation which functions as a special purpose vehicle for the society to carry out its project for the poor and needy,” he added.

Augustine was speaking at the “Friends of the Poor Nite” charity dinner and launching of Perak-level Ozanam Foundation at Tow Boo Keong Hall in Ipoh recently.

Some 800 people attended the functions.

Among them were Bishop of Penang, Rev Antony Selvanayagam, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegeran, Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramanian, Perak Welfare Services Department Director Chong Phaik Kee and the Parish Priest of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Father Bernard Paul.

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