VIPs celebrate Mother's Day at Rumah Seri Cahaya

Pertubuhan Wanita Mutiara and Sim Tze Tzin, the state assemblyman for Pantai Jerejak celebrated Mother’s Day with single mothers and orphans at a home in Permatang Damar Laut yesterday.

Although some of the children are orphaned, celebrating Mother’s Day with them made sense as the volunteers were already very much like mothers to these children, explained both Dr. Sim Joo Seng and Chew Lay Kean, the organizers of the event.

Betty Chew, president of Pertubuhan Wanita Mutiara, together with Noorazlena Mat Kharsa and Lee Seok Looi, presented toys, clothing and books to the home, and was greeted with smiles and cheers all around.

Sim Tze Tzin pledged RM3000 to the home.

During the event, the children gave a well-rehearsed performance of song and dance to the VIPs and the evening ended with a cake-cutting ceremony.

Home with a heart

Rumah Seri Cahaya is an organization founded by two good women who believed in helping the needy. T.Kalliamah and Linda Gregory currently run three homes – one for the orphans, one for the less capable and another for senior citizens.

“We open our arms to anybody and everybody who needs help,” said Kalliamah who believes and professes in the teachings of Saint Ramalingam – that God is one and God is love.

Run entirely on donations and help from volunteers, Rumah Seri Cahaya has been in operation for 14 years, and currently houses 33 children and 10 senior citizens.

“We started in 1999 with only 18 children. Initially, we opened the home to help single mothers who had to leave their children at home while they went to work. Eventually, more and more people turned to us for help,” added the former nurse.

“Our expenses run up to about RM15,000 per month,” Kalliamah revealed adding that although their premises are now all rented, they will soon have their own building.

Those who wish to donate to Rumah Seri Cahaya may contact the home at 04-6265101.

The Royal Wedding charity street party at Straits Quay

Not about to miss out on one of the most talked about and high profile weddings of the year, International Women's Association of Penang (IWA) will hold a charity street party at the Straits Quay on 29th April to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Price William and Catherine Middleton. Prince William is second in line to the British throne after Prince Charles, and the couple have been been together, on and off, since 2001.

The wedding which will be held in Westminster Abbey will be screened live on six giant plasma screens via the internet according to Frances Wilks, one of the organizers involved in the event.

Invitations to the wedding service are issued in the name of Her Majesty The Queen and includes 1,900 guests. Out of which, 650 guests have been invited to the lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace given by the Queen and approximately 300 guests invited to dinner, also at Buckingham Palace, by the Prince of Wales.

The Herald Sun reported that a signal-blocking technology will be installed at the Westminster Abbey to effectively ban Twitter, calls and untimely ringtones. The technology will be turned on early Friday morning British time, and will remain for the whole duration of the ceremony. The move was suggested by the royal family and approved by the security.

The Royal Wedding Street Party at the Straits Quay will cost RM65 for adults and RM40 for children below 13 years old. Those below 5 years old get to go free of charge.

Tickets are available from committee members, IWA office and the Kaffa Kafe in Straits Quay. Ticket prices are inclusive of either two beers or two glasses of wine, together with fish and chips, bangers and mash, coronation chicken with apple crumble and bread and butter pudding. Water and squashes are free flow.

The Pearly King and a "Royal Couple" will make a special appearance.

Prizes are sponsored by Amee Phillips, OE Design, Danai Spa and the G-Hotel too among many others for quizzes on Cockney Rhyming Slang and the Mysterious Images game.

Children will have a chance to be crowned best dressed prince and princess for the evening besides looking forward to drawing and painting competitions.

This event aim to raise funds for 4Paws, a sanctuary founded by Barbara to house abandoned street dogs. Currently she takes care of over 80 dogs and this fund will provide for the dogs' expenses such as food and medical bills.

The IWA is an organization set up to initially support women who accompany their expatriate husbands, but now includes single mothers, women who own businesses here and also women who are on the Malaysia, My Second Home programme. IWA currently has a membership of about 320 members in Penang and is committed to doing charitable work.