Some AM Ayer Tawar students who took part in the 'Set Sail' programme last year. Photos: Masoc Care
Recently in May 2023, a school counsellor in Bahau, Negri Sembilan spoke to us about a student who was a participant of a caregiving initiative of Masoc Care called the “Set Sail Programme”.
This student was very bright and performed well academically, but she chose to drop out during her SPM year.
According to the counsellor, the young girl had to care for her grandmother as her parents lived in another city. She was the only one who can take this responsibility.
The teacher remarked that the student would be suited to take a professional caregiver training course and that there were many other students who would be suitable candidates.
“If she can be professionally trained, she would be able to provide better care, and even turn her skillsets into a career,” the counsellor said.
We were only too happy to facilitate the training, even though the counsellor told us that the student would not be able to pay for the course.
The youth and senior care have a rather unique relationship.
One may think youths will shun away from the topic. However, caring for the elderly is just as important to them as it is to everyone else.
Over the years, we’ve travelled far and wide for our Teenagers Caregiving Initiative.
We’ve gone into secondary schools in small towns across Malaysia to educate youths about the importance and future opportunities in the senior care industry. The response we’ve gotten has been extremely positive. We have found many who seem keen to join the senior care industry, as caregivers, coaches, trainers, businesspersons, care professionals, and more.
However, some of them share their challenges which keep them from dreaming. This tugs at our heartstrings.
“I’m interested to join, but I don’t have the money. I’ll have to tap more rubber with my family, and I’ll get the money soon,” said one student, Jaya, 17, from Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan
“This is great, but I need to help my uncle and aunty at their restaurant. I’ll get a bit of income from there, and see if I can join,” said another student, Chuan, 18, from Ayer Tawar, Perak.
And these are only a few out of many with similar stories.
The lack of resources, as well as their parents looking for a better living in the cities, means that these youths in smaller towns are left with responsibilities like sorting out their own short-term financial needs as well as caregiving for elder family members.
These youngsters have learnt, right from young, to juggle between their schoolwork and the responsibilities they have at home which would help develop their loving and caring nature.
They acquire caregiving skills through experience but with proper and professional training, internships, employment, and outreach, they can turn this early exposure into a fullblown career in the senior care industry.
The Teenagers Caregiving Initiative helps train students in basic caregiving skills and knowledge and expose them to a career in caregiving.
Filling a gap
Although professional caregiving courses and training are significantly cheaper than many other university and college courses, many will still struggle to afford the fees.
However, our country is facing a huge, growing need for caregivers.
So many families are on the lookout for professional caregivers for children and (mostly) their elderly loved ones.
The issue is not as much affordability, but the availability of professional caregivers in the market. To put it bluntly, we may have the funds but are there enough caregivers who can respond to your call? Especially professional caregivers who are trained and trusted to care for your loved ones?
This is an existing gap, one that has existed for far too long. We are in need of a solution and youths have become the key to solving this issue.
From our experience with youths, we see a group that is passionate about joining the senior care industry and this is really a winnable solution.
What we need now are people that can step up and provide financial aid for these talents who have been identified by the Teenager Cargiving Initiatives by Masoc Care to be groomed as future care professionals: In return, they can serve their benefactors for a period once they become care professionals.
In a world where the intersection of education and empowerment can change lives, initiatives like this will help churn out care professionals for better caregiving planning, while also establishing a legacy of goodwill in the community. This is what it means to become a benefactor, a hero for someone.
This article was contributed by The Malaysian Association for Social Care Professionals and Homes (Masoc Care). For more info, contact 011-3301 9681 / info@masoc.care.
