Mark Ferris worked as Assistant Manager of Community & Family Services in SHELTER since 1999. In those years, he conducted Satir Therapy classes, family-based counselling and conducted training courses for staff and people who deal with sexually abused children. In August 2005, Mark returned to the UK, his home country, with his wife and two sons. Some friends, colleagues and clients have written:

Lee Hong Jin, Colleague

One of Mark’s legacies will be a manual of guidelines and procedures for the running of children’s homes. He provided the draft on which we are still working towards a final version, trying to adapt the standards of well-funded state-supported British homes to Malaysian NGO homes which run on a shoe-string budget and limited staffing. Mark is a model of how ex-pats should relate and work with locals. Mark is a giraffe of grace, wisdom and strength. While he has given much to SHELTER, it is a statement about the man’s openness to learning from others that he has also received much from SHELTER.

VP, SHELTER Board Member

I think I will always remember Mark for his height as a friend, the depth of his humility and the width of his love. I particularly like his ever-positive attitude, (even though at times he is frustrated). He’s always open and considers options and possibilities. It has always been a pleasure to work with him and I’ve been personally encouraged after meeting him. I think it is really a great loss to SHELTER to see him go when we need more like him. Farewell, Mark – we shall miss you and do come back to visit us!

Su Hie Yii was a counsellor at SHELTER’s Family Services and worked with Mark for three years, helping especially to develop play therapy as a service offered in SHELTER. She says: I enjoyed working with Mark. He is a true friend, good and kind and believing in doing the right thing all the time. He let me develop at my own pace, giving me freedom yet guidance, always encouraging, always polite. I saw the importance of helping young children through play therapy because of him.

Kristy Tay (an individual who came to see Mark for counselling)

I came to know Mark at a time when I needed advice & help. Through the counselling sessions, Mark showed genuine care & concern and helped me out of the phase I was struggling with. He’s made a significant positive impact in my life… thank you, Mark!

Angela Lian, SHELTER staff member

Mark is a very caring person. He helped me to overcome my problems with depression with his counselling. Thank you so much for helping me to be more congruent and happier with myself.

Annie, SHELTER 1 resident

Uncle Mark made me feel comfortable and helped me talk about my problems and advised me to focus on my studies. I want to thank him for helping me and I look to him as my father.

Tan Kah Wan and his wife, Nguk Lim, got to know Mark when he conducted a course in parenting skills at their church, Subang Jaya Gospel Centre. Mark has been a great help in providing resources in our community service projects involving parents with young children associated with our church’s playgroup. This included facilitating parenting courses involving mothers and also fathers. In addition, he was also the speaker at our young families retreat organized together with our church camp where he did some exercises on couples communication and parenting. We have also used his expertise in speaking to our youths on the area of “Dealing with their feelings in the context of relationships.” Mark has always been a good listener and those who approached him personally found him a great help. Being very diplomatic, most people find him very approachable and the advices provided by him were very sound and wise. We will miss working with him.

Charissa Giam and colleagues of Rumah Sayanga and Charis Christian Centre

It will be a great loss to us in the social work and counseling ministries to see Mark go. I trust that his labour in Malaysia will not be in vain. Syabas & Terima Kasih, Mark! May you and your family be blessed even as you’ve bleseed us!!

Elsie Das, Rumah Ozanam

Mark goes the extra mile in his commitment to give hope and make things possible for the less fortunate. We are truly indebted to him for giving new meaning to the life of one of our difficult teenagers. We wish him and his family God’s blessings.

Vijayakumari Pillai, Child Link Resources

I have been involved in Child Protection Training with Mark Ferris for the past five years. Mark has the experience and insight in the subject and his presentation manner is easy to understand and apply. We often get in touch with each other whenever child protection issues surfaces. Dealing with the authorities in child protection matters must have been quite challenging for him but he always managed to convince them eventually with patience and diplomacy. A true professional social worker! Mark I enjoyed working with you. Thank you for your friendship and most of all, thank you for helping the children. I wish you the very best for the future.

Dr Amar Singh is Consultant Community Paediatrician & Head at the Ipoh Hospital. He has known and worked with Mark for more than five years in the training to handle child abuse cases. Mark is very competent and professional. He has excellent organizational capability, is an excellent trainer and has conducted many valuable training courses in the area of childhood abuse, family counselling, interviewing of children and play therapy. The training has benefited governmental agencies and NGOs. In addition, he has been instrumental in setting up the community and family services, compiling new guidelines for residential homes and raining government volunteers. I have enjoyed working with Mark. He has a very high level of commitment to his work and conducts his duties with much compassion. Mark has contributed significantly towards the development of services for children in need of care and we will miss him.

We are sad to see Mark go as he has been a friend of SHELTER and has helped SHELTER develop several dreams. However, SHELTER’s Family Services will still continue in providing family based therapy for families and teenagers in crisis. Training will also be conducted on a regular basis.

(UPDATE : Family Services has been discontinued and is no longer available)