Through the years many volunteers, both young and old, have walked through SHELTER’s doors. Some volunteers who stayed with SHELTER through the years chose to become involved on a deeper level. Two of SHELTER’s long-term volunteers, Brian Simon and Tan Kah Wan, are now serving as members of SHELTER’s Board of Directors.

Brian

Brian began volunteering with SHELTER around 1989, while still a student and stayed on with the work at SHELTER for nearly eight years. HE was introduced to SHELTER when he was a volunteer in MalaysianCARE during one of his summer holiday breaks. Brian gave one-on-one tuition in SHELTER 1 and then in the home in OUG (SHELTER 2). During those years, he only taught three children, even though there were many others in the home. However, he does not regard his time spent as “wated” as it gave him room to focus his time, energy and attention – one child at a time.

On hindsight, this was good as it allowed a relationship to be built. Maybe that is especially important for a child who had a difficult childhood or who has come from a broken home,” he reflected. With his last student in SHELTER, he became sort of a “big brother” to her, following-up on her after she had left SHELTER.

In early 2004, Brian was invited to be a Board Member for SHELTER. His earlier involvement as a volunteer with SHELTER gave him opportunities to get acquainted with the organization and the work it did. When he started volunteering at SHELTER, there was only one home, SHELTER 1. As Brian watched more homes being set up and SHELTER expanding its services, he saw that SHELTER’s task also became more difficult.

“With more homes now, it becomes more challenging not only in the administrative aspect, but more importantly, in the “human aspect,” that is, to see that good relationships are built between the home staff and the children,” he observed.

As SHELTER moves forward and further in its mission and methods, Brian wants to continue being part of its growth. As a Board Member who was once on the serving end, his experience and involvement then and now gives him a unique perspective of the organization.

“I hope to be long term and being long term, to understand better how SHELTER works and the problems it faces. Being long term also allows one to plan things strategically and see things through to the end, which may not be possible if one was there for a short term only,” Brian stated.

He hopes to see SHELTER become a more well-run and effective organization that other organizations would want to emulate. He also would like to see more of SHELTER’s residents “turn out” well and become responsible members of society after they leave SHELTER’s homes.

Kah Wan

About 10 years ago, Tan Kah wan came on board as a volunteer after a conversation with a SHELTER youth. During that encounter, the youth told Kah Wan how he felt about people who visited SHELTER only once a year – he wasn’t particularly bothered with them because they didn’t really seem to care about SHELTER. That powerful remark struck deep and Kah Wan decided to get involved on a deeper level.

Seeing that the youth needed guidance in the spiritual area, Kah Wan formed a weekly discussion group on life issues based on the Bible. Through the group, he established friendships with the SHELTER youth and became a “big brother” to them. He also invited them to his home for meals and other activities.

The relationships that were formed continued beyond the youths’ time in SHELTER. To this day, Kah Wan is still in touch with several former residents of SHELTER. He believes that long-term involvement is crucial for building relationships that have an impact and that last.

“The children in SHELTER need healthy friendships apart from SHELTER staff, to affirm their worth and value. And such relationships can only be built through long-term involvement,” he stated.

Kah Wan sees SHELTER as more than just a place for its residents to build relationships with others. SHELTER also provides security and stability that the children need in their lives.

“This enables them to have a fresh start in life. I think they also benefit from the people and friends who they come in contact with through SHELTER, some of whom may have become to them, the ‘parents’ and ‘older siblings’’ that they never had,” he remarked.

About two years ago, Kah Wan was invited get involved in SHELTER’s work again, this time as a Board Member. Over the years of being involved, he has seen a positive changes in SHELTER – more professionalism and more thought put into how to bring change to children’s lives as well as the larger community.

“I hope to see SHELTER becoming an exemplary organization not just in terms of professionalism and excellence, but also in the love that we show to the children and youth under our care,” he added.

Both Brian and Kah Wan have no regrets giving their time, energy and themselves to SHELTER and its residents. To be involved is to care, and these two former volunteers who chose to go up a step further with SHELTER certainly are models of that.