Page 21 - Mainstreamer Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2023
P. 21
SOCIETIES WORKING TOGETHER
Facilities available at CBR Tanjung
Aru. (Image source: Farhana Yaakub
& Asiyah Kassim)
It is crucial to observe the operation of the with the local community. The centre is staffed by
centres and meet the stakeholders to identify seven teachers who educate four days a week and
the issues CBRs face. Based on a visit to two CBR provide therapy services on Fridays.
facilities in Tanjung Aru and Likas, Kota Kinabalu, A CBR manager who led CBR operations in
these two centres operate with limited capacity Likas, Kota Kinabalu, had a different experience.
and resources. The operation of the centre This rehabilitation centre operates in the Taman
at CBR Tanjung Aru commenced in 2018. This Likas Jaya residential area through a home building
centre’s six-year operation was carried out in a that has been rented and prepared for use as a
decommissioned school building. With limited CBR facility. Because the homeowner sought to sell
funds and assistance from the government, this the house during the COVID-19 pandemic, after
centre was gradually built to be acceptable and 13 years of operation, this facility was relocated
comfortable for all activities involving children from a nearby structure. According to Mrs. Rindah
with disabilities in the surrounding community. Gindol, manager and head teacher of CBR Kota
In addition to everyday activities that promote Kinabalu, the search for a suitable new location
trainees’ self-management and 3M learning to move the centre’s operations has its own set
(reading, writing and counting), this centre exposes of obstacles. Several places have been proposed,
trainees to sewing as well as IT and multimedia but some neighbourhoods are opposed to the CBR
training through the PDKNet programme. centre operating in their area for various reasons.
According to Miss Valentina Sho, the manager Despite the numerous hurdles, the centre’s
of CBR Tanjung Aru, the involvement of residents operations are carried out with team spirit,
in social activities to aid the development of this enthusiasm and openness, regardless of financial
centre is confined to the involved committee and benefits. The positive change in self-management
parents. Regular community participation has skills and other talents of these special children is
yet to be observed. Realising that the public’s an enormous achievement and a spur for them to
awareness of the significance of working together continue to devote themselves to this group.
for developing an excellent CBR centre remains Several individuals and NGOs have come
low, this centre truly hopes that the surrounding to this centre to offer assistance. Much of
community considers its presence. Individuals the community’s support comes from activity
with advantages in terms of finances, assets and materials, labour to repair small problems at the
competencies, in addition to NGOs, are very centre, cleaning the site and getting involved in
welcome to jointly explore the needs of this some of the trainees’ daily activities. The support
centre. It is for this reason that the objective of and energy shown by several young people who
establishing a cohesive rehabilitation centre for had recovered from drug addiction astounded
PWD can be accomplished through hard work the centre’s manager. These young individuals are
Vol. 01, Issue 4 | November 2023 20
