Spending meow time: Retired teacher Polly Khoo with one of the animals she helps take care of at Companion Animal Rescue Effort Society’s (Cares) shelter in Stulang, Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
WHILE many people are caught up with their hectic lives, there are some who are making time to help others.
StarMetro spoke to volunteers from four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to find out their motivations for helping people and animals in need.
Shamsiah (foreground) buying clothes for needy children in Simpang Renggam.
For Shamsiah Shaaban, 40, the call to become a volunteer came unexpectedly in 2009 when she joined a group of part-time insurance agents distributing food to those in need around the Skudai Kiri area in Johor Baru during Ramadan.
“We went house to house and came across a woman with five children and she had just lost her husband.
“Her husband, who used to do odd jobs, died after a heart attack.
“He had no savings and was not even registered with Socso (Social Security Organisation). His family lost their sole breadwinner.
“She told us that she knew how to bake cookies, so we helped her start a home-based business.
“We assisted her in getting vendors to take the cookies and slowly, she was able to open her own shop,” she added.
Shamsiah, a mother of three, said what motivated her was seeing improvements in the lives of those she had helped.
“I started off by helping those around me, such as family, friends and neighbours. I later found charity groups to join.
“Currently, I am a volunteer at Free Market Johor and Malaysia Relief Agency Johor.
“The most important thing is to work with people who are serious about wanting to help others,” she added.
The housewife, who used to own a shop, said her difficult childhood prompted her to be active in volunteerism.
“My parents got divorced when I was about two and my younger brother was only a few months old.
“After the divorce, my mother worked as a factory operator in Kluang and lived in a hostel.
“She left my brother and me with our grandfather in Simpang Renggam,” said Shamsiah.
She started doing odd jobs at 15, working at places like funfairs and vegetable markets.
“There were days when I did not know where my next meal would come from.
“I know how difficult life can be and that is why I continue doing what I do.
“There are many people who want to do charity work but do not have the time nor energy to commit to the cause.
“They can always start by helping those around them,” she said.
Lo refurbishes donated laptops that will be redistributed to those in need.
Web designer and computer shop owner Lo Seong Loon, 51, said he never expected that his skills could be used to help people in need.
“About two years ago, I was introduced to the founder of an NGO who wanted to set up a website for the organisation.
“I wanted to design the website for free but he insisted on paying a small fee.
“I later joined the NGO, Yayasan Suria Johor Baru, and started using my skills to help them,” he said.
His main task as a volunteer, he said, was to refurbish and fix desktop computers and laptops donated by others.
“So far, I have worked on 50 computers and laptops that have been distributed to those in need.
“Recently, we received another 20 sets of computers.
“I have refurbished 10 sets, which have been donated to a Tamil school in Johor Baru. I am now working on the rest.
“Since I am fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, I sometimes act as a translator for the NGO because the majority of its members only speak English and Malay,” said Lo.
He said those wanting to do charity should give it a try.
“There are many who want to do charity but are afraid of not having time to commit long-term.
“My advice to them is to just give it a try and use whatever skills they have, to contribute to society,” he said.
Retired teacher Polly Khoo, 64, said she started volunteering at a shelter run by the Companion Animal Rescue Effort Society (Cares) in January last year.
“I had always wanted to volunteer for an animal shelter but never really had the time.
“When my husband passed away in 2020, I was already a retiree. So I decided to look for a volunteering opportunity.
“In January last year, I tried volunteering for Cares once a week,” she said.
She added that she ended up going there two to three times a week because she could not bear seeing the animals being left alone.
“We have one volunteer who comes daily to feed the animals, but he is also attending to calls to rescue animals outside.
“So, I try to come as often as I can to make sure that the animals are taken care of,” said Khoo.
She said that apart from cleaning up cages, feeding the animals, and giving them medicine, she also spent time playing with them.
“I normally come at around 9am and spend about four hours.
“I really hope that more people will volunteer here, even if they only have two hours a week to spare.
“I hope those contemplating volunteering at animal shelters will try it out to see if it is something they want to do in the long run,” she said.
Suguna has been volunteering with Johor Baru Befrienders for 13 years.
Office administrator R. Suguna, 41, has been volunteering with Johor Baru Befrienders for 13 years.
“Volunteering was ingrained in me during my school days and I had known about Befrienders since then.
“By chance, I came across a flyer one day and decided to give it a try since I met the minimum age requirement, which was 25.
“I have been attending to calls for Befrienders once a week for a minimum of three hours per session.
“If there is a need, I will volunteer for more sessions,” she said.
Suguna said that what kept her going was the joy she felt from helping others.
“While we do not solve their problems, we are there to listen to them when they are facing difficult times.
“There will be times when we are affected by the cases.
“That is why we have a buddy system where we are each assigned another volunteer for support.
“I have also learned to be a better listener through volunteering with Befrienders,” said Suguna, adding that it was important for volunteers to lend a listening ear.
