Manjung Orphanage, Malaysia
Introduction
The orphanage was founded in 1996 by the Manjung Hindu Sabha (MHS), when three siblings were abandoned by their parents in Sitiawan. The Manjung Orphanage now provides a loving home for 30 children (orphans and abandoned) and is responsible for their cultural advancement and education.
The orphanage strives to give the best possible education to every child in its care, and to ensure that children who leave it will be able to sustain themselves and their families in a decent and loving way. The Manjung Orphanage likes to think that it is building the foundations of a compassionate society through the love and peace that it offers to the children in its care. The orphanage personnel are striving under harsh conditions to provide joy and happiness for all the children, so they can proudly call Manjung their home.
Facilities
The Orphanage is housed in the Ashram hall complex. The two-story building beside the hall is the temporary home for the children. The top floor consists of two rooms which are the sleeping quarters for the children. They are separated by gender in the two rooms.
With the help of various donations, the Orphanage recently purchased a van, essential for the education travels of the children. It is mainly used to provide a secure vehicle for transporting the younger children to and from nearby schools.
Activities
The children partake in a series of indoor and outdoor activities such as:
1) Weekly lessons on Hinduism:
The lessons include Basic Hindu philosophy, Meditation and and Hatha Yoga, and are conducted by volunteers.
2) Daily Puja and Bhajans.
Every morning the children gather together to participate in a puja. The puja is conducted by the older children. Bhajans are conducted in the evening before dinner.
3) Handicraft Classes.
The creativity of the children is encouraged by making handicraft which will be used in various fund raising activities.
4) Dance Class
Classical Baratha Natyam classes are conducted once a week.
5) Outdoor activities include outings with visitors
Management
Mr Aramban (pictured above) is the President of the Orphanage and has dedicated an important part of his life to the activities of the children. He is assisted by a dedicated team of volunteers in maintaining and managing the orphanage.
President: Mr. Aramban
Vice President: Mr. Jeganathan
Secretary: Mr. Dhanasegaran
Treasurer: Mr. Kaliappan
Finance
The average expenses of the orphanage per month are RM 2,500-00 (US$675). These expenses include food, medical expenses, housing, transportation, as well as costs for a caretaker/cook.
Location
The orphanage is located in the town of Sitiawan in the State of Perak. It is about 90km from Ipoh, the state capital.
Address:
Sanathana Dharma Ashram (MHS)
101, Jalan Astaka Kg Serdang,
32000 Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia
Future Plans
The orphanage personnel have many plans for securing a good life for the children that are living in its premises at the moment and the ones that will be part of the Manjung family in the years ahead. All the plans are subject to the amount of money that can be raised through donations and the fund raising activities in which the children partake.
One of the most immediate and necessary needs is to build a three-story building that will separate the male from the female children, and give them more space and freedom. The orphanage has already managed to purchase a nearby piece of land and has raised RM29,000-00 (US$7,800) to initiate the project. Unfortunately a lot more funds are needed for the building and to improve the standard of living of the children.
Support us
The orphanage is a totally voluntary and non-profit organization and can survive only by the generous support and donations which are provided by kind hearted people from all over the world. We hope you will be able to join them in this great cause of keeping the children happy in a place they can call "home" and build solid foundations for their present and future.
DONATE NOW
Any donation, small or large, can provide an improvement to the living conditions of the Manjung children.The Manjung Orphanage Endowment fund was setup in order to provide continuous financial support for the very difficult conditions that the staff and children in Manjung experience every day. We strive to provide the most secure future for the orphanage and the best standard of living for the children.
As with all the HHE funds a donation to the Manjung Orphanage Endowment fund qualifies you instantly for a US tax deduction.