A Home Worth Saving, How One House Can Secure the Future of 53 Underprivileged Girls in Rawang
For more than two decades, a modest house in Rawang has been more than just a building. It has been a kitchen that feeds hungry children, a classroom that teaches valuable skills, and a safe space where broken beginnings are gently rebuilt.
That house is currently occupied by Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Saradha Devi Illam, a charitable welfare home established in 1998 by devotees of Swami Srila Sri Paramahamsathasar. The home was founded with one mission: to provide shelter, care, and hope to underprivileged young girls who have faced abandonment, abuse, or the trauma of broken families.
Today, the association is under the care of Dr. Kumaran Adakalam, an officially appointed Pembantu Pelindung JKM under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, and a strong believer in the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. Guided by the belief that education and spiritual grounding are key to transforming lives, Dr. Kumaran and his team have built a holistic support system for every child under their care.
Over the past 28 years, more than 500 children have grown up within Sri Saradha Devi Illam. At present, 53 children call the home their sanctuary. Beyond basic shelter, the association provides structured education, vocational training, and character development programmes to ensure each child grows physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
The results speak for themselves. Currently, 22 children are pursuing a Diploma in Early Childhood Education under My Business Academy, having already completed their Level 3 Vocational Certification. Another 20 children have successfully completed a Diploma in Baking and Pastries after three years of training under Arudra Cakery and Training. Many others are enrolled in enrichment programmes including Bharatanatyam dance, Silambam martial arts, Thirumurai classes, Mandarin language lessons, and traditional Veenai music classes.
In collaboration with external organisations, including a nine-week annual development programme conducted by the SAY Team under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Selangor, the children are also exposed to financial management, leadership, CSR activities, and self-development training. These experiences have empowered them to confidently give speeches, conduct presentations, and even manage small sales booths, achievements once thought impossible for many of them.
However, this carefully built ecosystem in Rawang now faces an urgent challenge.
All the children are currently housed in two rented properties, occupied for nearly 20 years. One of these houses contains the main kitchen used for daily meals and serves as the primary venue for baking and culinary classes. The owner of this house has decided to sell the property due to migration overseas and has offered it to the association at a concessionary price of RM800,000.
Without the ability to purchase this house, the association risks losing not just a roof, but the very infrastructure that sustains daily meals and vocational education for the children. Purchasing the property would ensure continuity of shelter, uninterrupted educational programmes, and long-term stability while also eliminating monthly rental costs that could be redirected towards education and welfare.
Sri Saradha Devi Illam is now humbly appealing for sponsorship or financial assistance to secure this property for the benefit of the children it serves. This is not merely a request for funding, but a call to protect a space where lives are rebuilt quietly, patiently, and with purpose.
A single act of generosity today could safeguard decades of impact tomorrow, ensuring that underprivileged children continue to grow, learn, and dream without disruption. For more info, you can contact the shelter through WhatsApp:
- 016-906 7380 (Dr Kumaran)
- 014-643 5964 (Meena, secretary)
