Tasputra Perkim
"A Malaysian daycare and therapy heaven for special needs children"

There are 250,000 people with special needs in Malaysia, one percent of its population of around 25 million. The country’s large proportion of young people means many of those with special needs are children. Dedicated therapies and care can help these physically, visually or mentally disabled children to meet their full potential. Tasputra Perkim, founded in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 1987, is a shining example of what is possible.

The centre is run from a government-owned house in a quiet but central part of the city. The 50 or so children who attend are mainly from lower-income Malaysian families living in the immediate area.

Such things don’t come cheaply – the centre always needs more money and equipment to meet its primary objective -- which is to uplift the lives of the children in its care. Expert and non-expert volunteers and helpers are also of huge support to its ambitions.

The children’s families pay up to 200 ringgit per month ($53) towards the costs, depending on what they can manage.

At the same time, Tasputra Perkim staff and associates understand there is much more to be done to help special needs children throughout Peninsular and East Malaysia. In addition to securing the centre’s own future, they want to share their experiences and lessons with others involved in special needs issues and those wishing to launch similar ventures throughout the country.

Operation hours:
The centre runs from 7.30 am to 5.00 pm every weekday and the office is open until 1.00 pm on Saturdays.

Staff:
Guided and headed by the chairman and co-founder, Mrs. Elahe Norman, there are 28 staff, 18 of whom are caregivers. The latter are trained to provide the children with special care in their feeding habits, exercise, personal training, behaviour management, hygiene and basic education. Others include a supervisor, physiotherapist, office administrator, cooks, drivers, a night-watch man and a gardener. We also get a number of local and foreign volunteers.

In-house training:
The staffs are constantly sent for training sessions. The Welfare Department gives courses in caring for special children, to which Tasputra sends its staff each week on a rotational basis. Various staff have also attended residential courses run in Ipoh by the Yayasan Idris Shah.

Fund Raising:
Tasputra runs almost entirely on donations and fundraising, receiving a government grant of only 19,000 ringgit ($5,000) a year. Our monthly expenses are 32,000 ($8,400) including staff salaries, maintenance of the house and vans, utility bills and food for the children.

We hold regular fund raisers such as jumble sales and bazaars hosted by hotels and societies. Tasputra invites people and associations from all walks of life to help in this charitable cause.

We have regular projects for fund-raising such as jumble sales and bazaars hosted by the hotels and societies. Tasputra constantly invites people and associations from all walks of life to help in this charitable cause. Some of past and present contributors are foreign missionaries and embassies in Malaysia and Women’s Associations.