James Jega's Story

Unbearable hunger pangs gripped Jeganathan a/l Mumisamy (better known as James Jega) and all he could think to do was to snatch a piece of cake from the nearby sundry shop in Brickfields. Unfortunately, Jega, then 12 years old, was caught in the act. The storekeeper beat him relentlessly as punishment.

This experience left an indelible mark on him. It was then that he decided to look for a job and earn some money. He did so by washing dishes at a nearby “mamak” shop. Whatever he earned went to help his sickly mother, unemployed father and five siblings.

Shortly after, the landlord of the wooden house they were renting, threw Jega and his family out as they could no longer pay the rent. They found themselves on the streets. Somehow they managed to put up a piece of canvas under a tree and that became home to them for a while.

It was at that time that he met one of the founding members of Shelter, Solomon, who took him in to stay at Shelter. He became the first resident in Shelter. That was in 1981.

Through the help of a Shelter staff, he started work in an accountancy firm in Sungai Besi. He was thankful for this job and didn’t mind cycling each day from Section 12, PJ to his work place, a distance of at least 10 km.

He gave his monthly earnings to Shelter because he was grateful to Shelter. At the end of his stay in Shelter, the staff returned all the money he had given them – they had kept it safe for him! With the “surprise savings” and additional help from Shelter, he was able to buy a small house for his family.

James Jega attributes his success to the staff and volunteers of Shelter – in addition to the necessities given him, the constant nurturing, guidance and counsel given by the staff members, volunteers and donors instilled in him a sense of responsibility and a hope for the future. The staff and volunteers of Shelter were helpful to him and his family members throughout those trying years of sheer hard work when he first started his business.

“I enjoyed my time in Shelter and will never forget what Shelter staff and Volunteers (namely James Nayagam, Rajes, Lawerence, Phylis, Daisy, Susy, Kingsley, Solomon, Kumar and Karasi) have done for me. If not for them, I won’t be where I am today!” says this man who presently owns a transport company with a few employees working for him.

One of the pioneer staff of Shelter, remembers him as an active but very hard working boy. “He is also very enterprising and has helped each of his three brothers start their own businesses,” the staff proudly said.

“If I had remained on the streets I could have ended up like some of my childhood friends who have died from drug overdose or gang fights,” said Jega. “My life certainly changed for the better. I hope that more street children will have the chance to be cared for like me,” said James Jega.