Newslink, WCC’s regular newsletter, contains detailed updates on our work and inspiring stories from our clients. This is our latest edition, January to June 2020.
10th Anniversary of WCC Seberang / Pusat Perkhidmatan Wanita (PPW)
WCC Seberang / Pusat Perkhidmatan Wanita (PPW) commemorated its 10th anniversary with the launch of a special 10-year report capturing highlights and achievements over the past decade. This publication was launched by YB Chong Eng, Penang State Exco for Women & Family Development at a press conference on 9 December 2019 at KOMTAR
Opening of WCC Value Shop @ Bayan Baru, 3 December 2019
Shopping For a Good Cause
Shoppers can now eco-shop at Bayan Baru with the opening of the second Value Shop by Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) following the success of its first Value Shop at Island Plaza.
The Value Shop at Bayan Baru was officially opened by Madam Tan Lean Kee, President, Pertubuhan Wanita Mutiara on 3rd December.
Over 50 invited guests including WCC supporters and General Committee members turned up to support the event. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests were treated to a fashion showcase of a range of outfits from the shop and modelled by WCC’s own volunteers and staff. Madam Tan and guests were taken around the shop to view attractive items available.
Congratulating WCC on this milestone, Madam Tan commended WCC on adopting Penang State’s “reduce, reuse and recycle” concept. She added that proceeds from the sales of preloved goods at the shop go towards supporting WCC’s work on abused women and children.
As a non-profit organisation, WCC provides free counselling, shelter, and legal support to
women and children experiencing crises, especially domestic violence and sexual abuse
victims. WCC also runs preventative child sexual abuse outreach programmes in schools
and communities.
Mariam Lim, Chairperson WCC Value Shop Working Committee, attributes the success of
WCC’s Value Shop model to a number of factors, including generous donations from the
public and a growing pool of volunteers who gives invaluable time to support WCC’s charity cause. Ms Lim also thanked the Kuok Foundation for providing a grant to enable WCC to renovate and set up this new Value Shop.
“There is no doubt in our minds that our Value Shop endeavour has provided WCC with
increased community engagement, a sustainable source of income to fund our work and a greater public awareness for our cause,” she added.
Shopper Sarina Teng, 53, said that she loves the WCC Value Shop: “It acts as a platform to
challenge social taboos of wearing used items, as well as protecting the environment by
reducing waste. For a consumer like me, this helps in cost savings while contributing to
charity. It’s one of the best places to look for beautiful yet affordable items.”
The Value Shop @ Bayan Baru stocks a variety of items, such as clothing, household wares, toys, games, and books. Prices start at the unbeatable rate of RM3 only.
To mark the official opening of the shop, there will be a special “Buy 3, Free 1” clothing sale from December 5 to December 9. There is also a December promotion where purchases of RM50 and above will entitle shoppers to Lucky Draw prizes, such as ChinaHouse and E&O Hotel dining vouchers.
WCC Value Shop @ Bayan Baru is located at 2-1-12, Tingkat Mahsuri 1, One Square, and
is open from Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 6pm.
For further information, follow WCC Penang and WCC Value Shop Facebook.
Penang Goes Orange 2019
Event video for Penang Goes Orange : I Stop Violence Against Women & Children 2.6KM Walk in Butterworth on 17 November 2019.
Penang Goes Orange I Stop VAWc Walk
Join our Penang Goes Orange I Stop VAWc Walk to end violence against women and children on 17 November 2019 in Butterworth! Register now at https://howei.com/event_details/istopvawcviolenceagainstwomenandchildren
Newslink : January – June 2019 Edition
Newslink, WCC’s regular newsletter, contains detailed updates on our work and inspiring stories from our clients. This is our latest edition, January – June 2019.
Read it here.
Escaping domestic violence during the Movement Control Order
Ayu* was married and had three young children. Shortly after her marriage, she discovered that her husband had a bad drug addiction. He would hit and abuse her verbally. The violence got worse when he was in the midst of a drug binge. He would fly completely out of control. Ayu realised that her home was no longer a safe place for her and her children.
One night during the Covid-19 Movement Control Order (MCO), Ayu was beaten up badly by her husband. She decided to leave the house with the children. She contacted her sister in the Klang Valley for help as she had no other relatives in Penang. Ayu searched online for assistance and contacted a women’s organisation. She was immediately referred to WCC. When her husband had gone out of the house, WCC’s social worker called her and guided her on what she needed to do.
Due to the MCO, there was no public transportation. Ayu had no vehicle of her own. She only had RM20 with her as her husband had taken all her money. Through tears, she told WCC that she needed the cash to buy food for her children. Ayu and her children then walked in the scorching heat for almost two hours to the nearest police station.
After Ayu lodged a police report, she was taken to hospital for a medical check-up. The police kindly provided lunch for Ayu and her children. WCC’s social worker also followed up closely with Ayu and the police Investigating Officer (IO) over the phone. Ayu and her children were then given special permission to travel interstate to her sister’s home. Ayu immediately contacted her sister, who made arrangements for Ayu’s brother-in-law to drive to Penang to pick them up. WCC’s social worker gave Ayu the IO’s handphone number in case she faced any difficulties with police roadblocks.
Hours later, Ayu’s brother-in-law arrived. He picked Ayu and the children up at the police station, but encountered a roadblock shortly after on their way back to their home state. Fortunately, they managed to resolve the issue and finally arrived at Ayu’s sister’s home at midnight. WCC’s social worker followed up closely with Ayu by phone and WhatsApp throughout the entire harrowing ordeal.
Ayu expresses her deep gratitude to WCC and all other agencies who rendered urgent support to her.
*Not her real name
Source: WCC Newslink (Jan – June 2020)
Terselamat dari keganasan rumah tangga semasa Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan
Ayu* telah berkahwin dan mempunyai tiga orang anak. Tidak lama selepas perkahwinannya, dia mendapati bahawa suaminya mempunyai masalah ketagihan dadah yang teruk. Suaminya kerap memukul dan menderanya secara fizikal serta lisan. Keganasan tersebut menjadi semakin serius apabila suaminya mula mengambil dadah dalam kuantiti yang banyak. Penggunaan dadah secara berterusan ini sering menyebabkan dia hilang kawalan diri. Ayu mula sedar bahawa rumahnya bukan lagi tempat yang selamat buat dirinya dan juga anak-anaknya.
Pada satu malam semasa Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Covid-19 (PKP), Ayu telah dipukul teruk oleh suaminya. Dia terus mengambil keputusan untuk membawa anak-anaknya keluar dari rumah tersebut. Oleh kerana tidak mempunyai ahli keluarga lain yang tinggal di Pulau Pinang, Ayu menghubungi kakaknya yang tinggal di Lembah Klang untuk mendapatkan bantuan. Setelah mencari bantuan di atas talian, dia menghubungi sebuah organisasi wanita yang langsung melaporkan kes Ayu ke WCC. Pekerja sosial WCC lalu menghubungi Ayu untuk memberi bimbingan dan menjelaskan perkara yang perlu dia lakukan sejurus suaminya keluar dari rumah.
Disebabkan kekangan PKP, tiada pengangkutan awam yang beroperasi. Ayu juga tidak memiliki apa-apa kenderaan. Dia hanya mempunyai RM20 kerana semua wangnya telah dikebas oleh si suami. Dalam tangisan, Ayu telah mengadukan situasinya kepada WCC. Dia benar-benar memerlukan wang untuk membeli makanan buat anak-anaknya. Dalam keadaan terdesak, mereka telah berjalan selama hampir dua jam dalam cuaca yang panas terik untuk ke balai polis yang terdekat.
Setelah membuat laporan polis, Ayu telah dibawa ke hospital untuk menjalani pemeriksaan kesihatan. Pihak polis juga telah mengambil inisiatif menyediakan makan tengah hari buat Ayu dan anak-anaknya. Mereka kemudiannya telah diberikan kebenaran khas untuk untuk merentas negeri ke rumah kakaknya di Lembah Klang. Sejurus menghubungi kakaknya, Ayu telah diaturkan untuk berangkat ke Klang bersama abang iparnya yang akan datang menjemput mereka di Pulau Pinang. Pekerja WCC juga telah memberikan Ayu nombor telefon IO untuk dihubungi sekiranya mereka berhadapan sebarang kesulitan dengan sekatan jalan raya polis.
Beberapa jam kemudian, abang ipar Ayu tiba di Pulau Pinang dan terus menjemput mereka di balai polis. Namun begitu, dalam perjalanan pulang ke Klang, mereka menghadapi satu masalah sekatan jalan raya. Bernasib baik, mereka berjaya menyelesaikan masalah itu dengan cepat dan tiba di rumah kakak Ayu pada malam tersebut juga. Semenjak itu, pekerja sosial WCC sering membuat susulan rapat bersama Ayu melalui panggilan telefon dan WhatsApp dengan konsisten untuk membantunya mengharungi pengalaman pahit itu.
Ayu menzahirkan rasa terima kasih yang mendalam kepada WCC dan semua agensi lain yang telah memberikan sokongan dan bantuan segera kepadanya.
*Bukan nama sebenar
Sumber: WCC Newslink (Jan – Jun 2020)