SERI KEMBANGAN: SOME 120 children from five charity homes had a wonderful time at The Mines shopping mall.
The children from Yayasan Sunbeams Home, Ti-Ratana Welfare Society, Pusat Jagaan Baitus Sakimah Wal Wahabbah, Shepherd’s Centre Orphanage Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Mary KL and Good Samaritan Home attended the launch of My Schoolbag Programme at the mall’s Splash Park.
The Mines centre manager Alan Cheong, CapitaMalls Malaysia Real Estate Investment Trust Management Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Low Peck Chen and CapitaMalls Malaysia REIT Management general manager Fern Tan invited five children, representing each of the homes, on stage for a photo session and presented school bags to them to launch the charity programme.
The children were treated to performances by BLS dance company and a magic show by the Amazing Hassan.
They were enthralled as Hassan made a table levitate and pulled coins from the hair of children in the audience.
They were taken for a free eye check and those who needed spectacles were given a new pair from A-Look Eyewear.
The fun continued when they were taken on a shopping spree at Giant Hypermarket and a mouth-watering lunch at Nando’s restaurant.
The Mines marketing communications manager Gary Hor said that each child aged 6 to 12 received a new school bag containing a new school uniform, school shoes, socks, shoe whitener, stationery and colouring set.
“Each set costs about RM250. We also gave each child RM20 to purchase whatever they wanted from Giant hypermarket,” he said.
“About RM30,000 was spent to provide the children with the items to prepare them for the new school year.”
“We at The Mines are happy to see the children having a good time. Some 40 staff from the CapitaMalls Asia group volunteered at the event.
“The programme was carried out under the CapitaLand Hope Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the CapitaMalls Asia group.”
Low said: “We are delighted to bring some cheer and warmth to the communities where our CapitaMalls operate.
“We hope the My Schoolbag programme will give underprivileged children a headstart in their education and a better learning journey ahead.
“I would like to thank staff volunteers, sponsoring partners and retailers for their continued support and commitment to the programme.”
Khalilurrahman Faisal, 9, from Pusat Jagaan Baitus Sakimah Wal Wahabbah said: “I enjoyed watching the performances and the magic show.
“My friends and I are very grateful to receive the school bags and other essentials.”
Jackson Lu, 11, from Yayasan Sunbeams Home said: “I am grateful to everyone at The Mines for providing us with new school bags, new school uniforms and other things, as well as for the wonderful entertainment.
“We enjoyed eating at Nando’s too.”