GEORGE TOWN, January 4 – It gives me immense joy to kickstart the year of 2022 with the establishment of Padang Tembak’s Community Centre. This meaningful effort is a tripartite partnership between the State Government, local council MBPP and Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia.
The Community Centre, located at Padang Tembak market will be managed by Tzu Chi, including the operating of the State’s Pusat Jagaan Kanak-Kanak (PJKK) Padang Tembak, the Digital Library as well as sporting programmes at the Dewan Serbaguna. The contract is valid for 3 years, starting from 1st Jan 2022 to 31st Dec 2024.
Through this strategic partnership, we will be able to provide value added services to our community, by ensuring a holistic approach is adopted for the benefit of our children, youths and also the adults at Padang Tembak. The objective of this project is to encourage inclusiveness, so that no one is left behind, and cultivate a sense of contribution to the community.
It is our aim to provide holistic education support for the students and children which will in return help shape independent and civic-conscious characters from a young age. Not only that, this initiative also hopes to increase the number of women and men, the old and the young, to participate in activities together in the area.
Creating a harmonious community living and families free from domestic violence, this is indeed, in-line with the Penang State’s Safe Family Policy in promoting the element of safe family environment. Apart from that, we will also be able to further enhance and support the current services and initiatives carried out by Tzu Chi for the children at Padang Tembak with the facilities available at Pusat Jagaan Kanak- Kanak (PJKK).
This will provide a safe and comfortable space for the children after school. Penang State Government remains committed to ensure the children’s development is of top priority and thus will continue to financially sponsor the operation of this PJKK. Currently, Tzu Chi is offering tuition programmes for primary and secondary school students as well as the Foster Parents Project within the Padang Tembak vicinity.
Just a short background of Tzu Chi – The association was established in May 1966 as a charity foundation with just 30 women, saving 50 cents everyday to buy food and do charity work for the poor. Little do we know that women power and involvement in charitable initiatives were just as significant back then as it is today.
Fast forward to today, Tzu Chi has achieved numerous milestones and have touched many lives through their noble cause. This gives the Penang State Government a great honour in being able to come into a tripartite effort via Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) and Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merits Society.
I am extremely proud to have MBPP on board with us and for offering the space and opportunity for the children, youth and adults of Padang Tembak the usage of the digital library and the Dewan SerbaGuna. The digital library will be equipped to allow users to access the internet and a place for our children to study.
I am also pleased to announce that MBPP has also pledged to contribute to the rental cost and utilities for this entire project. They will also assist in ensuring the toilets, lifts and corridors are constantly in working conditions.
For your information, the community hall will be available for bookings from Monday – Saturdays (2pm – 6pm) to conduct sports activities for the community. I was informed that Tzu Chi has ready coaches to start
coaching workshops. In the pipeline are plans to conduct robotic classes, cooking classes, reading classes and even music classes.
I look forward to ensuring this project takes off well and perhaps in the near future expand this collaboration model to other locations in Penang.
It is my sincere hope that Tzu Chi, which has a strong foundation on community services, will undertake more future projects with the Penang state government, as both have the same purpose, that is to build strong communities to benefit our current and future generations.
I would also like to thank PWDC for making this initiative possible. It is with their effort in pulling the state government, MBPP and Tzu Chi together, that this collaborative model comes into fruition.
Before I end my speech, I do hope that this strategic partnership will also inspire other NGOs to adopt this model. We can achieve more together as we empower our community in uplifting their lives and as we work towards our Penang2030 vision of A Family-Focused, Green and Smart State That Inspires the Nation.
