FGA Support Group - Mothers' Day Thanksgiving

FGA Support Group for Parents of Children with SpecialNeeds is hosting a Mothers' Day Thanksgiving Tea to honour all special mums, details are as follows:

Date : 6 May 2007 (Sunday)

Time : 2.30 - 6.00 p.m.

Venue : FGA, Main Building, Basement 6-9
Lot 689, Taman Goodwood,
Jln Kuchai Lama, Off Jln Kelang Lama
58200 K.L.


We have invited Stella Chan and family as our guest
speakers and they have lined up an interesting
programme for us.


Profile of Stella Chan

Being a parent of a child with special needs and realising the fact that parents are the first and
major support of any child, Mrs Stella Chan-Cheong quit her job in 1995 to dedicate herself to seeing her daughter Charmaine be what and who she is today.

Since Charmaine’s birth 17 years ago, Stella has been actively involved in a parent support group headed by Pn Kamariah Amin which meets once a month. She was also a committee member of the Kiwanis PJ Down Syndrome Parent Support Group and initiated a protem
meeting to form the National Down Syndrome Association of Malaysia. In March 2002, together with Professor Dr Madya Aishah Adam she initiated the formation of KSSD-HUKM (Kumpulan Sokongan Sindrom Down)- a one-stop-centre, so called 'Down Syndrome Clinic', parent support group and resource library at HUKM, Cheras.

Then in August 2005, together with a group of parents, she initiated an informal gathering of all
ex-students and parents of Kiwanis Down Syndrome Centres with the desire to start an alumni to help graduates live productive lives and create an environment and opportunities to develop their potential and abilities to the fullest.

She started' "CHIT-CHAT@TMLC', which is a free community service at Taman Midah Lutheran Church(TMLC) to meet and help other parents of children with special needs put in
that extra effort and walk that extra mile to ensure that their special children lead a normal life.

With the millenium challenge of 'Changing people's perspective of a person with Special Needs’ and turning the upside of 'Downs', together with Charmaine, both mother and daughter volunteer their services every Saturday at TMLC, every working Saturday at HUKM and once a week at the Kajang Children's Special Centre which offers early intervention programs, day training and work skills training programs for people with learning difficulties, workbase at Malaysian Care and supported living weekend program with Dignity & Services.


TESTIMONY
My Story by Mrs Stella Chan-Cheong

Before joining Taman Midah Lutheran Church (TMLC), I was from St Gabriel's Anglican Church in Sungei Besi where I lived and grew up. I attended Sunday School since Primary One. I also heard a lot about Jesus at Bukit Bintang Girls' School but only accepted the Lord when I was in Secondary One.

My youth days found me very active and involved in the Church Youth Fellowship, Music Ministry, Choir, member of The Singing Saints, Captain of the 2nd KL Girls' Brigade Company and a teacher in the Sunday School. As home was very near the Church, you could literally
find me there most of my free time.

I was still very active with Church activities during my working days until I became a tour leader with Reliance Travel. Due to frequently leading tours overseas, I found that I couldn't fit into Church and the people any more. Slowly I drifted away and backslided with a different lifestyle altogether. I had a good career and income. I found that I did not need God then. I was in spiritual silence until 1989 when Charmaine was born. It was a 'turning point' for me and the awakening of my spiritual life.

Charmaine was certainly a blessing in disguise! As the saying goes, 'There is a purpose for everything'. I believe there is also a purpose for Charmaine to be given to us and her birth is no coincidence but according to God's plan.

Not only has she been a joy and blessing to people around her, she has certainly brought our
family much closer and changed our lifestyle and attitude especially towards people with Special Needs and learning difficulties.

You can contact: Mrs Stella Chan-Cheong at
012-2987801 / chitchatsc@yahoo.com

We warmly invite all parents with special needs' children to celebrate Mothers' Day with us. Please do feel free to invite your friends who have special needs children to join us too!

Kindly RSVP by 2 MAY 2007 to facilitate our planning.
For more information, please contact Wai Sze at 016-3400849, Jill at 016-3944206 or email to
kwaisiong@yahoo.com.my


www.fga.com.my
[tags : disability epilepsy autism children pediatric neurology]