THEY WILL ASK thee as to what they should spend on others. Say: "Whatever of your wealth you spend shall [first] be for your parents, and for the near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer; and whatever good you do, verily, God has full knowledge thereof." - Al-Baqarah (2:215)
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Monday 17 March 2008

Fuzi's family - 2 years later

I was actually planning to visit Fuzi yesterday afternoon – diapers, milk powder and some other foodstuff for the other kids already loaded into my car. But just as I was about to have my lunch, a neighbor called to tell me about the death of one of our kampong folks. I figured it was only right to postpone the visit to Fuzi’s house to visit the family of the deceased instead.

And so I had to wait until today to visit Fuzi to send over the things and also to hand over the pocket money and bus fares for the 3 schooling children. Only Fuzi and her 2 younger children were home when I got there. The other 3 were in school, either for their school’s afternoon session, or for those with morning session, for some extra classes or co-curriculum activities.

I was assigned to be Fuzi’s buddy since 2006. Imagine at that time, the only source of income for Fuzi was the RM115 monthly welfare aid. What could one buy with RM115 per month? Even for one who doesn’t have anybody else to support, RM115 is not enough. Fuzi had to support 5 kids! Worst still, due to her HIV, she couldn’t breastfeed her baby and that meant she needed to buy milk powder too – something which is definitely not cheap. Fuzi couldn’t work, because if she did, nobody would be home to take care of her younger children while the older ones are in school. She did try to apply for jobs at some plant nurseries nearby where she hoped she could bring along her younger kids, but the other workers at the nurseries who knew she had HIV protested to their employer.

How Fuzi and her children managed to survive at that time, I myself wonder. Thank goodness, the teachers at her children’s school were kind and responsible enough to help out where they could.

Now, almost 2 years later, Fuzi’s RM115 welfare aid has been increased to RM400. An anonymous donor who had been following the stories in my blog had also been transferring a fixed amount of money into Fuzi’s bank account on a monthly basis. And beginning this year, Fuzi’s 3 schooling children’s educational needs are fully sponsored through our Education Sponsorship for Children which we managed to finalize late last year.




This is the lonely stretch of road Fuzi's children had to use to cycle to school. No street lamps. Thanks to the Education Sponsorship for Children, we have managed to arrange for school buses for them. A much safer way to go to school!

My heartfelt thanks to all sponsors and not forgetting the anonymous donors who had been contributing in cash and in kinds to help out, not only Fuzi, but other families as well.

Fuzi’s main problem right now is to get her marriage cert legalized so that her children’s citizenship status will no longer be subject to uncertainties. Hopefully the matter will be settled by next month when her case is called at the Syariah Court.

Financially, I am relieved to note that Fuzi is no longer as desperate as she was 2 years ago.

But then again, no money in the world will be able to compensate Ijam, Fuzi’s cute 6 year old boy who has to live with HIV all his life.

Sigh…

15 comments:

J.T. said...

Hi Pi

I too wonder how did she ever survive on RM115 per month. I guess if there is a will to survive, one will get through it, no matter what.

God bless that anonymous kind soul who is helping out with her financial needs. God bless you too for looking out for her and arranging for essentials that she and her children need.

Hopefully her marriage cert issue will be solved by next month. That will help ease a burden that looms over her.

Anonymous said...

hi, do you have the bank details and IBAN number for overseas donations to this person?

email me at

ezzkikr -at- hotmail.com or post it on your website.

jeff ooi and chegubard managed to raise 130k and 31k respectively in 10 days. a fraction of that would be great for this cause.

Anonymous said...

ps: i'm overseas and know lots of fellow malaysians here who want to help their countrymen.

Pi Bani said...

JT:
I guess what got Fuzi going was her children. Like it or not, she just had to get through it for the sake of her children.

Thank goodness life is not too bad for her now, financially. And yes, hopefully she'd be able to settle her marriage cert issue by next month.

Pi Bani said...

Imran:
Actually one of the sponsors for Fuzi's children is also working and staying overseas.

As mentioned in my posting, Fuzi isn't doing too bad now. But anyway I will email you personally later today with more info.

Mustafa Şenalp said...

cok güzel bir site.

Pi Bani said...

Mustafa Şenalp:
Alamak, bior bebenor... teman tak reti cakap turki le yeop!

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

congrats, Kak Pi. through your blog you managed to link-up a good samaritan with Puzi and eases her financial burden. everyone loves a successful story like this.

looking back, rm115 mana cukup let alone to feed 6 mouths. and with discrimination very much alive in our society, it makes us all wonder how she survived those days. but i wouldnt rule out assistance from her relatives. whatever it is, good to hear the burden has lifted off of her shoulder, even a little.

*Maybe Ijam's status qualifies him to apply for financial assistance, as another individual living with HIV, kak Pi?

Anonymous said...

I'd love to know more about the work you do. Please keep on posting. I've got your blog bookmarked and on RSS feed so I'll be a regular reader!

I've notified a couple of people here and we can all pitch in a bit for your cause. The problems with sending money back home is the online donations system is not as effective as the one here in the UK. I'd love to see a system like this in Malaysia because rather than spend 10 pounds on something I dont need, I'd love to send it back home in the form of 60+ ringgit. Some people need it much more than me. Are you aware of any online donation system? Maybank2u susah sikit nak pakai kalau hantar dari overseas.

Keep us updated.

david santos said...

Pi, Bani!
For everything that you make on behalf of the friendship and the good being for others, which GOD is always with you.

Untuk mengelak tragedi sama berulang kembali, dan demi keselamatan anak-anak kita, kami sedang menganjurkan kempen ke seluruh dunia, memaparkan gambar NURIN JAZLIN JAZIMIN di blog-blog di seluruh dunia pada 25 April 2008. Janganlah kita melupakan NURIN JAZLIN.

David Santos

Pi Bani said...

Kerp:
With RM115 a month, nak feed even ONE mouth pun tak cukup sekarang ni! Anyway, yes, I'm glad by blogging I've managed to get some help, not only for Fuzi but for the other families as well.

Pi Bani said...

Imran:
Alamak, I know I promised to email you yesterday but I was quite tied up. Anyway, I'm going off for a few days break, so I'll get back to you after my break, ya? Remind me if I forget. Dah tua-tua ni kot lupa lah pulak...

Pi Bani said...

David:
I really salute your tireless effort. Keep it up! And let's hope this campaign you're doing will be a success!

Nightwing said...

Helo Kak,

Way to go...ya...like JT said, God bless you for what u r doing.

Really hope Fuzi's cert issue can be solved.

Take care now.

Pi Bani said...

Nightwing:
It's always satisfying seeing someone we've been helping now leading a better life. I just hope her life will continue to be better.