(From left) Syed Norulzaman, Leong, Lee and Daybreak corporate administration vice-president Puan Sri Sulvian Lim at the cheque presentation ceremony.

MAH Sing Foundation, a charitable trust established by Mah Sing Group Berhad contributed RM100,000 to Daybreak Society.

Established in 1992, Daybreak is a non-governmental organisation that has successfully trained more than 1,000 disabled trainees via its vocational training as well as Work Experience and Supported Employment programmes.

Daybreak executive chairman Puan Sri Sandra Lee said: “We actively encourage social enterprise.

“Whether the trainee is physically, learning or mentally challenged, they can be contributing members of society when they learn a new skill.

“In that sense, we make sure the products produced are marketable, and we also help look for new channels for marketing.”

Every year, Daybreak spends approximately RM800,000 for training programmes, which comprises cost of social enterprise trainers, occupational therapists and job coaches as well as training materials.

The organisation provides two-year training for the disabled free of charge as most trainees come from poor families.

Lee added, “Plant nurseries, semi-conductor factories, garment factories, hotels, bakeries, bookshops, rubber glove factories and convenience stores are some industries that have employed our trainees.

“Some of our trainees have also started their own businesses.”

During a cheque presentation ceremony, Lee said vegetable farming was one of the successful projects the trainees had embarked on.

“Due to the recent hot weather, chillies seem to be in short supply in the market.

“Our trainees managed to harvest 5,000 bags of chillies which we intend to market through FAMA.

“The proceeds will also help to defray our annual running cost as we are completely reliant on the efforts of the centre and the kindness of organisations like Mah Sing Foundation,” said Lee.

Mah Sing Foundation chairman Datuk Syed Norulzaman Syed Kamarulzaman said Mah Sing Foundation aimed to raise the standards of living for both the poor and disabled.

“We actively provide financial assistance and contribute towards relief schemes for those in need.

“We laud Daybreak’s good work of more than 20 years, and teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish.

“The centre is extremely well-run and the trainees have a sense of pride and achievement.

“We hope that our contribution to Daybreak will help in the continuity of this charitable cause,” said Syed Norulzaman.

Mah Sing Group managing director Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum said, “To-date, the group has contributed more than RM9mil to the social and economic development of the community, both locally and abroad.

“We will continue to play an active role in community development, provide support to the underprivileged in need of medical, educational and living assistance.”

Daybreak’s two-year vocational training programme is where trainees are taught a variety of skills to develop their physical and mental abilities in eye-hand coordination, hand dexterity, organisation and planning, problem solving, recognition, and physical endurance.

To support the trainees of this programme, Daybreak established six sustainable social enterprises – contract assembly and packaging, sock manufacturing and packaging, general cleaning, plant nursery, vegetable farming and handicraft to provide the necessary diverse work experience to accommodate the abilities of individual trainees.

The Work Experience programme provides support to graduated trainees in their workplace.

Job coaches provide intensive on-the-job coaching to trainees in the crucial first four weeks of their employment and continue to monitor the development and progress over the course of two years.

The Supported Employment programme is designed to identify the vocational skills inclinations and preferences of the students and matches this to their abilities.

Two courses lasting 15 weeks each are conducted every year for students from special education schools accompanied by their teachers.

The teachers then follow up on the training when the students are back in their schools.

Upon completing their studies, these students are eligible to enrol for Daybreak’s vocational training programme.