Fiona Petrocelli sent us this story about her experience volunteering in Malaysia.

Shortly after moving to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I picked up the local paper and read about the street children of the Chow Kit district. I knew at that moment that I wanted to help them during my husband’s two-year posting in Kuala Lumpur. As young as four years old, they roam the streets at night while their parents work. Over 500 street children are homeless in Chow Kit, which makes its streets a virtual candy store for child traffickers, pedophiles and sex tourists.

Unable to secure legal work, many of their parents resort to prostitution in order to feed their children. Drug addiction is rampant. This is not the life they wanted, nor do their children want to follow them, but the unforgiving cycle continues with the children of these adult victims. It starts with an eleven-year-old girl’s exchanging kisses for food. Eventually she turns to sex work to pay for a roof over her head. This isn’t the simple moral issue we may perceive. We can’t always condemn an individual for choices made due to a lack of opportunity, love, support or confidence.

Because their parents cannot protect them, children are vulnerable to kidnapping, sex abuse and child trafficking. Chow Kit is considered one of the biggest hubs for child trafficking in Asia. It’s easier to traffic children here than drugs. Sometimes it even happens with parents’ knowledge when, financially desperate, they are driven to sell their children for as little as twenty Malaysian ringgit ($6 USD). In June 2007, the Malaysian government passed a bill to combat human trafficking, but progress moves slowly. Many children who don’t have birth certificates are unable to enroll in school and are left unsupervised. Others who do have birth certificates cannot attend because their families cannot afford to support them.

Amid all this sadness is a place where innocence prevails. Within the warm embrace of Rumah Nur Salam, a one-stop crisis center and halfway house located in Chow Kit, children are given a hot meal, secondhand clothes and a place to sleep in one of forty beds.

Raza Azizan and his wife, Afidah, founded Nur Salam in 2007. They were familiar with the dangers that lurked in the streets of Chow Kit. With the help of Dr. Hartini Zainudin, a consultant for the volunteer placement agency Yayasan Salam Malaysia, they created a safe haven for vulnerable children. Through varied educational programs, the children they serve can find life paths better than their parents’. Some now have birth certificates so they can go to school.

As a volunteer, I witness the struggles of Raja, Afidah, and Hartini. In the face of mountainous frustrations, they remain calm, focused and professional. Even when confronted by a drug addict father trying to sell his children to some unscrupulous syndicate for a few ringgits, they show grace. I have to remind myself that this father was probably a victim too, and it is Nur Salam’s goal to help him as well as his children. Raja and his team are amazing individuals who expect nothing in return. “Everything is for the children,” Raja says.

The sadness can be overwhelming. Raja tells me stories about the children that seem surreal. It’s difficult to imagine the hardships that these little souls endure when they appear to be so happy. I can leave when I want to, but the devotees of Nur Salam remain in this sewage of endless legal battles, red tape and unconvinced authorities.

What I do for the children is miniscule in the big scheme of things. I sometimes feel hopeless because of my inability to make a noticeable change. I know, however, that it takes many small contributions to make a difference, and we must not underestimate the value of giving our personal time: it’s gold in another currency.

Volunteering at Nur Salam and getting involved with the children of Chow Kit is emotionally draining yet invigorating. My experiences have made me far more aware of the politics behind this sadness. I am grateful for Raja and Tini’s support and feel fortunate that they have welcomed me so lovingly into their home.

Rumah Nur Salam c/o
Yayasan Salam, Malaysia
No 8 Jalan Utara
46200 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 10:58 am and is filed under Reader Involvement, Volunteers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.