Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow took time off from his busy schedule to officiate the community centre in Ayer Itam earlier today.
The community centre is the result of the Penang State Government signing an agreement (MOA) between the Penang Island City Council, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia and Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC).
With this MOA, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia will offer its services to manage the community center at Padang Tembak.
Also present was State Exco for Social Development and Non- Islamic Matters, Puan Chong Eng, State assemblyman for Kebun Bunga, Jason Ong Khan Lee, Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, Wong Hon Wai, Tsu-Chi Merits Society Malaysia chief executive officer, Koay Chiew Poh, CEO OF Penang Women’s Development Corporation, Ms Ong Bee Leng, Deputy CEO OF Tsu Chi Dato’ Simon Wong Woon Keong and Dato’ Khoo Boo Leong, Commissioner for Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merits Society Malaysia.
Padang Tembak (Rifle Range) is a high-density community with over 3500 families, each residing within a cramped space of 350- square feet.
A large majority of the residents here are aged elders, single parents and B40 families. These children often do not have access to the same resources as their peers do.
As a result, many such children lose self-confidence and the ability to learn effectively.
The community center library which has served its purpose very well in the past is now given a new facelift.
The sports facilities are being slowly utilized as we are coming out of the pandemic, and other were completed recently.
Buddhist Tzu Chi now serves the community, above all to the children, a conducive environment, and opportunities that they may not have been given otherwise, that will broaden their horizons and help guide them toward their dreams.
The Padang Tembak Community Centre comprises a Pusat Jagaan Kanak-kanak-DTL (Daycare), Sports and a newly renovated Digital Library. These facilities, spaces and activities are designed such that younger children go to daycare, older children and college going children have a space to study; and that all the children could discipline and grow well through sports activities.
The Digital Library is fully equipped with broadband access and computers to help close the digital gap between this community and the wider population.
The uniqueness of this Library is that it will be run by the young librarians and every single user will also be a librarian.
Such a space can be stepped up into multi-use. A recently launched activity here is a Digital Clinic conducted by Penang Digital to guide the elders to be digitally literate. Yes, reverse learning was introduced, the elder felt loved and cared for with dignity, while the young could dedicate their time to do community service.
The oldest “student” is 85 years old, the youngest “teacher” is 9 years old (standard 3).
The Digital Library is designed to provide the space needed by the residents through different themes within such a discussion area, a leisure area and personal corners. Within the library is a mezzanine floor for residents to sit and enjoy their reading.
The large window panels provide a wider view of the surrounding area. Along the corridor is an area specially designed for residents to sit and relax, play indoor games or just chit chat among themselves.
This Digital Library is intended to be a place for residents to feel “at home”.
At present, the Digital Library is conducting a librarian registration drive. They hope to make the space available to secondary school children daily. Every day from 3pm to 9pm. Each librarian will be rostered into a 3 hours program.
Meanwhile, one of the four pillars of Tzu-Chi’s Missions is the Mission of Education which aims to provide a holistic approach to education and instill virtue in the younger generation. It is through education that the future of the children will be better secured. Hence, an opportunity for families to get out of the poverty cycle. With the support of the headmistress of SK Padang Tembak, Tzu-Chi has provided one-to- one tuition for primary and secondary schools students since the end of 2019.
This initiative has received overwhelming response for the residents there.
