10,000 Malaysian Students Receive School Items
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Providing practical assistance to deprived students, Educare 2014 was held on 14 December 2014 at the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. This annual event is organized by the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society of Malaysia through Yayasan Maha Karuna (Maha Karuna Foundation) in collaboration with Siri Jayanti Association. Interfaith cooperation was highlighted at the presentation ceremony with the enthusiastic participation of Ustaz Halim Hafidz, a popular Muslim orator and entrepreneur.
As part of the Educare mission to provide essential school items to children in need regardless of race or religion, a total of 10,000 disadvantaged Malaysian students nationwide received essential school items such as school uniforms, bags, shoes, stationery, and exercise books during the year.
The chairman of the Educare Committee, Venerable B. Siri Wimala, explains, “In the Central Region, the Educare program starts in July, with the distribution of registration forms to all schools in the Klang Valley, followed by the selection of deserving recipients by teachers from the respective schools. Then, from July to October, these students visit the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple on any one Sunday morning to officially register and for volunteers to take their measurements for shoes and uniforms” (mahakaruna.org).
Inspired by the teachings of the Buddha, “with wisdom and compassion, radiate your loving kindness to all living beings,” the Educare program was established not only to reduce the financial burden on parents of purchasing essential school items for their children for the upcoming school term, but also to bring hope to many children and families.
In a message, Educare founder and spiritual advisor to the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society, Venerable B. Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thera, said, “It is a noble deed to be given an opportunity to get involved in this noble charitable project, to rejoice with the needy and simultaneously to enable them to enjoy the utmost happiness and joy of this generous act.” He added, “It also helps these students to build up confidence and encourages them to strive diligently in their studies to become loyal, virtuous and useful citizens and leaders in this multiracial and multireligious country” (mahakaruna.org).
From Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple Facebook
Since 2001, Educare has distributed various essential school supplies to 80,900 students in need in the Klang Valley and other states around the country. The Maha Karuna Buddhist Society also conducts other welfare activities through Yayasan Maha Karuna, including the Maha Karuna Mobile Free Clinic, a medical outreach service to the needy in rural areas; the distribution of essential household provisions to disadvantaged families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities; and financial and medical aid to those in need. The society has also established the Siri Jayanti Maha Karuna (SJMK) Youth Centre (Orphanage, Training & Community Centre) at Delgoda in Sri Lanka and the Maha Karuna Compassionate Home (Senior Citizens Home) in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Further, the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society collects and distributes funds to various international welfare aid and cattle-saving programs, as well as for the construction of wells and water pumps.
The prestigious Yayasan Maha Karuna is renowned for engaging in various social services and for its commitment to social development in Malaysia, regardless of race, creed, or religion.
Source: phathoc.net (Jan. 6, 2015)
