Kicking Off 2011

2011 is going to be an exciting year for Book Haven with a list of interesting Projects lined up and some generous Donations & Sponsors to help fund some of these Projects.

On-Going Projects:

1) Phone Ngeun Primary School, Vang Vieng, Laos:

With the assistance of Daniel Bedard, a volunteer teacher from Victoria, Canada, Book Haven & Felicia Tan/Kenny Ch'ng helped by contributing US$300 to set up a mini-Library for the School. This Project will be completed at end of Feb 2011

2) Harvest Centre:

20 sets of the CD-ROM Training Materials (donated by Twenty-Twenty Media) were delivered to Harvest Centre in Jan 2011

3) SAHABAT Support Centre:

A lorry-load of furniture (1 table with 6 chairs, 3 medium-size cupboards, 3 small shelves, 1 writing board, 10 additional chairs) and one 29-in TV were delivered to SAHABAT Support Centre on 31 Jan 2011.

12 set of CD-ROM's Training Materials, 50 story books and 2 bagful of soft toys were all delivered in Jan 2011.

In addition, there is a Corporate Sponsor which came up with RM5,000 which will be used to furnish the mini-Library with books & book cabinets in the Centre.

4) Matu Learning Center (supported by BLESS Community Services):

A total of 175 books in 3 boxes were delivered to Matu Learning Center thru one of the Volunteer Teachers, Janice on 31 Jan 2011

Generous Donors:

1) Xylog Computer Systems (Azmir Mohd):

Xylog has generously agreed to donate RM5,000 to fund the costs of books & books cabinets for the mini-Library at SAHABAT Support Centre.

2) Tony Tan/Yin Mei:

In Nov 2010, Tony & Yin Mei generously donated RM1,000 to Book Haven in memory of their mother/mother-in-law

3) Katherine Ku:

In Nov 2010, Katherine Ku, one of business colleagues, donated RM100 to Book Haven.

4) Ooi Say Teng & Ng Ooi Wah:

Ooi ST get to know about Book Haven Project when we were in Chiang Mai on 20 Jan 2011 and when we get back, he sms me & pledge a RM500 donation to Book Haven.

5) Class of 82, USM:

For contributing RM1,000 to the Phone Ngeun Primary School Project

6) Sumita Ratnasingam:

Sunita's family was moving to Johore and Sunita, an avaid reader, was kind enough to call us & generously donated all her books - 250 in all, mostly Seeet Valley series to Book Haven. I managed to arrange a collection from her Subang Jaya house on 28 Jan 2011

7) Roving Books (Anne Ooi):

Anne Ooi delivered a set of Encyclopedia to Harvest Centre on 8 Feb 2011

8) Twenty Twenty Media (Richard Small/Karen Leong):

In Jan 2011, Karen Leong handed to me 30 sets of CD-ROM Training Materials for pre-school children and 30 copies of Reader's Digest (past issues)

9) Felicia Tan/Kenny Ch'ng:

Donated US$300 for the mini-Library Set-Up in Phone Ngeun Primary School in Vang Vieng, Laos

10) Fyaro Liew and son, Joshua Liew:

Donated 50 story books & 2 bagful of soft toys which were subsequently passed to SAHABAT Support Centre in Ampang Point, Kuala Lumpur

11) Freddy Wong & Lee Jia Hwei: Donated furniture - tables, chairs, shelves, cupboards to SAHABAT Support Centre in Ampang Point, Kuala Lumpur.

Two boxes (102 books) of children's story books, waiting for a home, was also collected on 31 Jan 2011.

Book Haven Updates for Year 2010

Dear Donors, Volunteers & Friends,

Here are the latest updates on Book Haven........

Over 2010, we've delivered over 1,400 children's books, reading materials and school supplies to over 9 Centers.

1) Pusat Penyayang Tuisyen KSKA in Sg Kayu Ara

2) Sungai Ara Christian Centre (SACC) in Penang

3) Zotung Learning Center, KL

4) Rumah Anak Yatim Baitul Izzah, Pinggiran TTDI

5) Rumah Lindungan Kasih, Tampin, Negeri Sembilan

6) Harvest Centre, Sentul (Books)

7) Harvest Centre, Sentul (Raffles Draw)

8) New Life Care Centre, Port Dickson

9) Phone Ngeun Primary School, Vang Vieng, Laos

We have some very interesting Projects in 2011. Keep it coming! The Power of Good Deed!

1) Pusat Penyayang Tuisyen KSKA: The Tuition Centre is run by SSMC and the mini- Library was sponsored by SSMC. With the help of Volunteers, Julie Liew & Catherine Phoon, we selected 252 books from Scholastics, Roving Books, Book Xcess. Two Books Cabinets were also delivered and the Library was officially opened on 31 Jan 2010.

2) Sungai Ara Christian Centre (SACC) in Penang:

250 books were collected by Pastor Ng Teng Huat for the mini-Library and I understand from Pastor Teng Huat that a Christian Organization from Germany will be donating monies to purchase the furniture and English Classes will start in Feb 2011 for the 20+ children.

3)Zotung Learning Centre, KL:

Another Myanmar Learning Centre set-up by BLESS Community Services, this is the 3rd Myanmar Learning Centre that Book Haven is supporting. We delivered 200 books and 2 Book Cabinets to the Centre in Jan 2010.

4) Rumah Anak Yatim Baitul Izzah:
We delivered 2 sets of Readers Digest (1-Year Past Issues) and 2 sets of Best Buds Magazines (1-Year Past Issues).

5) Rumah Lindungan Kasih, Tampin NS:

In June 2010, 300 books and 2 Half-Glass Cabinets and 10 Chairs were delivered to Rumah Lindungan Kasih. For the books, 200 were contributed by Dato' Howard Choo and 100 by Book Haven. For the 2 Half Glass Cabinets, they were personally donated by Wayne Woo, WF Lee & Book Haven.

6) Harvest Centre, Sentul:

Book Haven with the assistance of the Dram Projects, delivered 300 books to Harvest Centre, Sentul.

7) Harvest Centre, Sentul:

Harvest Centre had a Graduation Ceremony on 27 Nov 2010. Book Haven asssisted in collecting RM4,000 worth of Prizes for the Raffles Draw and over RM7,000 worth of Raffles tickets were sold.

8) New Life Care Centre, Port Dickson:

A set of Encyclopedia - Time Life Nature & Science Library (47 volumes) was collected by Pastor Jegon of NLCC, Port Dickson.

9) Phone Ngeun Primary School, Vang Vieng, Laos:

On 27 Nov 2010, Book Haven delivered 8 boxes (88 kg) of School Supplies (Color Pencils, Exercise Books, Stationaries, Bags), Shoes, Clothes to the School which has 67 children. Daniel Bedard (Volunteer) was in Vientiane, Laos to meet up with Jeffrey Cheah of Book Haven to ensure the items were delivered to Phone Ngeun School on 30 Nov 2010.

We would like to say "Thank You" to the following who have assisted in Book Haven's 2010 Projects:

- Dram Projects (Daphne Lee): books donations & liaison with Publishers

- BLESS Community Services (Tania Lee & Michael Quan): facilitated the setting up the mini-Library at Zotung Learning Centre (Myanmar School)

- Cik Hasma Ismail: a Malaysian, temporary based in UK. who has shipped another 100 children's books all the way from Manchester!

- Twenty Twenty Media (Richard Small & Karen Leong): donations of numerous sets of past issues of Reader's Digest.

- Graphics Vision (Benedict Yee): logo design & life-time sponsor for the printing of plaques

- Jamie Teoh & Joshua for donating a few boxes of books & toys which have been re-directed to the right places

- Julia Lim for donating the 47 volume of Time Life Encyclopedia which was routed to New Life Care Centre, Port Dickson


- For Phone Ngeun Primary School Project, 3 parties were responsible for the successful venture:

• CAMPAP (KC Koo/Penny Loke) for donating 5 boxes of school supplies
• Felicia Tan & Kenny Ch'ng for the school bags, shoes & clothes
• Air Asia for generously providing us with 125 kg shipment FOC and Zero Fare ticket to Vientiane.

- For Rumah Lindungan Kasih, Tampin, NS, the following donors were involved:

• Dato' Howard Choo - for donating 200 books
• Wayne Woo, WF Lee & Book Haven for donating monies to purchase 2 book cabinets (half-glass) and 10 chairs
• Book Haven also donated 100 books

SAHABAT Support Centre in Ampang Point

Book Haven's 2nd Project in 2011 kick off with a Corporate Sponsorship of a mini-Library by an IT Company for SAHABAT Support Centre, which is supported by MSRI or Malaysian Social Reserach Institute (http://www.msri.org.my/).

The main objective of the SAHABAT Support Centre is to provide a Learning Centre for Palestinian Refugees in Malaysia.

On 31 Jan 2011, just before Chinese New Year, Book Haven facilitated a shipment of pre-owned furnitures including a Dining Table & 6 chairs, 12 chairs, 3 cupboards, 3 small shelves, a writing board and a 29-in TV.

The RM5,000 sponsorship, will be utilized to furnish a mini-Library with furniture including Book Cabinets, tables, chairs, and books, of course.

Target completion date: 28 Feb 2011.

Lia giving a short speech

Jeffrey with Puan Fatimah Haron, a Governor of MSRI

Parents & Guests listening to Lia's speech

Below: children playing with toys

Phone Ngeun Primary School, Vang Vieng Laos

Three of us set-up a one-week trip to Laos PDR from 28 Oct to 3 Nov 2010 with very little expectations but full of hope & excitement beacuse it was our first time exploring Laos.

We decided to cover 3 places instead of 2 viz. Vientiane, the capital, where Air Asia lands, Vang Vieng to have a break in the long bus journey, and Luang Prabang, a not-to-be-missed Heritage Site. We'd take a Bus from Vientiane to Vang Vieng after 2 Nites in chill-outed Vientiane. The VIP Bus took 3 1/2 hours with one stop for a journey of only 17okm. We'll suppose to spend 2 nites on Vang Vieng and then onwards to Luang Prabang. And from Luang Prabang, we'd fly back to Vientiane via Lao Airlines.

It was the best decision we have made. On our first day of arrival in Vang Vieng, backpackers town, we stumbled upon a retired Canadian school teacher - Daniel Bedard - asking him which is the best restaurant in town. And, as they said, the rest is history.

Daniel was helping our a Primary School teaching English to approx 60+ children everyday from Mon to Fri in a rural Primary School called Phone Ngeun Primary School, about 3 km from Vang Vieng town. He was there since Sep 2010 & would be there till Mar 2011.

We offered to help the school build a mini-Library and viola, I just got an e-mail from Daniel to say that the mini-Library - 1 large bookshelf, 1 large table with benches for the kids and 2 teachers' desks and chairs would be completed by 18 Feb 2011. The local furniture maker managed to do it for US$300. Felicia & Kenny, my travelling companions to Laos, have agreed to sponsor the book shelf, tables and chairs.

Daniel will be in Vientiane from 20 Feb to 25 Feb 2011 to get some books for the Library from Big Brother Mouse (http://www.bigbrothermouse.com/) a not-for-profit Laos Organization which publish and supply books to rural villages.

We also realized that the Phone Ngeun Primary School lack school supplies (they ran out of pen in mid 2010!?) and I made another trip in Nov 2010 with 8 boxes of school supplies but that will be another story.



Signboard to Phone Ngeun Primary School

Top: The School Building with only 4 classrooms

L-R: Daniel Bedard, Felicia, Kenny & Jeffrey

The School, built 6 years ago, did not have doors, windows or

cement floor previously?!

Harvest Centre

Book Haven & the Dram Projects donated 300+ books to the Harvest Centre.

Harvest Centre, founded by Rev. Elisha Satvinder and his wife Petrina Shee in 1999, Harvest Centre began reaching out to the local poor community in Sentul through the provision of medical/health care, home improvement, food supplies and counselling. In 2003, Harvest Centre began to direct its main efforts towards education.

Harvest Centre is located in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. Through Harvest Centre, Dignity for Children Foundation has also helped to establish learning centres in other areas in Malaysia.

Kindergarten children look smart in their little dresses


Kindies busy with their projects


Lots of teacher-student interactions


At the canteen cum library

Petrina Shee addressing the students


Harvest Centre is a learning centre operated by Dignity for Children Foundation providing and advocating quality education for underprivileged children.
At Dignity for Children Foundation we they passionately believe that quality education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. In Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Harvest Centre provides high quality educational programmes from preschool to secondary level for the underprivileged community, while also assisting other communities to develop and operate learning centres for underprivileged children. Over the years they have been privileged to have served more than 1,000 children through various educational programmes provided for a number of communities throughout Malaysia.

Opening of mini-Library at Pusat Penyayang Tuisyen KSKA

Pusat Penyayang Tuisyen KSKA is sponsored by SSMC and is located at Sungai Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya.

One of the church members, Mr Richard Tan, generously sponsored the mini-Library. The monies were used to purchase books, book cabinets and tables/chairs.

Books were obtained with the assistance of Volunteers - Julie & Catherine - from 3 sources viz Scholastics, Roving Books & Book Xcess.

Lam, Richard & Jeffrey during the Opening of Pusat

Penyayang Tuisyen KSKA's mini-Library

L to R: Catherine, Anne and Julie with lovely picture books from Roving Books

Julie, Catherine & Lam with the selected books

Julie & Catherine busy selecting suitable books for the new KSKA mini-Library

at Book Xcess

The Book Cabinets & the mini-Library

YKPM

January 2010:

Book Haven supplied 200+ books and 2 Book Cabinets to YKPM Prima Selayang, an NGO which take care of the urban poor community in Prima Selayang. Most of the residents live in the flats around that area.

YKPM has rented a space in one of the ground floor flats to run computer & reading classes.

Book Haven Updates for Year 2009 (as at 18 Dec 2009)

Dear Generous Donors, Noble Volunteers, Great Friends & Moral Supporters,

Here are the latest updates on Book Haven:-

Over 2009, we've distributed 1,918 children's books (with 300+ books still in my store) to
over 8 Centers.

1) New Life Care Centre Orphanage, Port Dickson
2) Yatim Baitul Izzah, Pinggiran TTDI
3) Zomi Learning Center, KL
4) Zophie Learning Center, KL
5) YKPM, Prima Selayang, KL
6) NCCLA Orphanage, Phnom Penh
7) Shelter Home, Selangor
8) Pekan OA Project, Tanjung Keriung, Pahang

We have a few interesting Projects in the pipeline over the next few months.
Looks like we will not be short of Projects for the next 6 months....just via word of mouth! The Power of Good Deed!

1) NCCLA Orphanage, Phnom Penh: On 21 Sep 2009, BooK Haven delivered 125 children's story books (50 books donated by Book Xcess & 45 books donated by Dram Projects) & 2 sets of Readers Digest's "English in 20 Mins a Day" to NCCLA Orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2) YKPM: In Jan 2010, we'd be furnishing the YKPM supported Classroom with a mini-Library Prima Selayang with Book Cabinets shelves and a few hundred Books. On 20 Oct,
two units of 4-Door/2-Door Book Cabinets, donated by Lee Kim Seng, were delivered.
On 12 Dec 2009, 230 books collected from the Book Raising Drie on 16 Aug 2009 were delivered. Yayasan Kajian & Pembangunan Masyarakat (YKPM) is a Charitable & Service NGO, based in Prima Selayang, which is helping the urban poor at Prima Selayang & Orang Asli Settlements at Tanjung Keriung, Pekan.

3) Zophie Learning Center: On 21 Oct 2009, two units of 4-Door Bookshelves (Half Glass) for Zophie Leaning Center (Myanmar School) in Pudu. Book Haven donated 213 books - collected from the Book Raising Drive held at Villa Flora, TTDI - to Zophie Learning Center on 16 Aug 2009. The Book Cabinets (RM858) were donated by Mr Lee Kim Seng.

4) Shelter Homes: In Dec 09/Jan 10, we'd collaborate with Shelter Homes to set-up a mini-Library in Shelter Community School 3 (Puchong, behing Tesco). The School has 50+ Myanmar children aged between 7-15.
On 20 Oct 2009, Nelson from Shelter Homes collected 200 books collected form the Book Raising Drive.

5) Pusat Penyayang Tuisyen KSKA: Richard Tan of Lelong.com has agreed to sponsor the Tuition Center with a mini-Library in Kg Sg Kaya Ara (KSKA).
The budget is approx. RM4,000.
Julie & Catherine of SSMC has selected 59 books from Scholastic on 20 Nov 2009. They have also met up with Book Vendor, Roving Books (Anne Ooi) on 14 Dec 2009 and have selected 82 books. Next stop is Book Xcess. We hope to complete this Project by Jan 2010.

6) We are awaiting decisions from the following Organization on collaboration:

• Rotary Club of Kuching Central - sponsor a mini-Library in an Orphanage in Kuching
• Freddy Wong and his 2 children has agreed to donate RM500 towards a mini-Library. The next thing is to identify the Orphanage that fits our criteria so that we can set-up the mini-Library with Books & Shelves.
  

We have a few US Visitors, Angie Ki, Cathy Spear-Haynes & Christie Coley in early Nov 2009 and they visited Book Haven's mini-Library Projects viz. Zomi School in Kuala Lumpur & New Life Care Center Orphanage in PD on 5 & 6 Nov 2009.

Angie Ki has set up an Organization called Lumina Academy whose missions is to provide the underprivilege children with on-line education. She would be doing fact-findings in East Malaysia and next Jan 2010/Jul 2010, she'd bring a bunch of doctors to help.


And lastly, we'd like to say "Thank You" to the following for their continous support:

- Scholastic (Selina Lee, Esther Lau, Wai Leng) - books donations

- Book Xcess (Andrew & Jacqueline) - book donations

- Dram Projects (Daphne Lee) - books donations, book selections & discussions

- BLESS Community Services (Tania Lee & Michael Quan) - faciltate the setting up mini-Libraries in Zomi & Zophie Learning Centers (Myanmar Schools)

- The BU Ladies FIR Group (Sue Yoong) - facilitate the setting up of mini-Library at the New Life Care Centre, Port Dickson

- Cik Hasma Ismail, a Malaysian, now temporary based in UK who has shipped 110 children's books all the way from Manchester!

- Gina Voon who donated 88 books from her children's collections

- Julia Lim who has agreed to donate the Time-Life Nature & Science Library (47 Volumes) which was donated to New Life Care Centre, Port Dickson.

- Hoe Kai Yong who has donated 18 books from her children's collections.

- Cik Fizzy Moslem, who runs a Book Cafe in Damansara Perdana (Hoxe's Book Cafe) who has not only donated books, she has also offered her Cafe as Venue for Book Haven's Book Collection & Book Raising Campaigns.

- Twenty Twenty Media (Richard Small & Karen Leong) - donations of 17 sets of Reader's Digests "English n 20 Minutes" (each set costs RM299) and numerous past issues of Reader's Digest.

- Jenny Strachan of Lorna Whiston who recommended the type of books needed by Yatim Baitul Izzah which we purchased from Ann Ooi of Roving Books (Thanks, Anne Ooi, for the good discounts!)

- Graphics Vision (Benedict Yee) - logo design & sponsor of plaque printing

Book Haven delivered Children's Story Books to NCCLA Orphanage, Phnom Penh (Cambodia)

What's the New Cambodian Children's Life Association (NCCLA)?

As the owner of the Veiyo Tonle Restaurant along Phnom Penh's river front, Neth Lay experienced first-hand the poverty that is the destiny of most Cambodians. Children routinely stopped by the restaurant begging for food. Many were orphans, others were from families unable to care for their children.

Neth and his wife, Thawee had an idea. They rented part of a building behind their restaurant. In November 2004, they began an Orphanage in the rented space that they named The New Cambodian Children's Life Association (NCCLA). Their dream had become a reality. Soon, many of the children begging for food wanted to become part of the Orphanage. These children were saved from becoming beggars, or prostitutes, or criminals . . . or just ending-up constantly fighting for food and survival.
The Orphanage grew quickly and it became obvious that the rented space was inadequate and not very pleasant for the kids. Recently, Neth and Thawee purchased and refurbished (with personal funds) the top two floors of a multi-story building next to the restaurant.
There are now 30 boys and girls of various ages, each relying on the Lay's for food, clothes, medicine, education, and a pleasant place to live in security . . . and to be loved.
Neth and Thawee are interested in more than providing for the present, they are deeply concerned that the children are prepared for the future. They have made education the dominant goal of NCCLA. All the kids attend public school every morning. In Cambodia, school is not free - this and other costs are considerable. However, their education does not end here. They also receive one-hour of private English lessons in the afternoon every day. But the highpoint of the day for most of the children are private traditional Khmer dance lessons they receive before tackling their English studies. Recently, four computers have been donated to the Orphanage by generous donors. Computer studies (and a few games) also take place every afternoon. Twice each week the children perform their Khmer dances in Neth's restaurant.

Neth and Thawee are providing more than necessities. The bedrock at NCCLA is education. The children have progressed from street kids without long-term goals (they were only interested in the next meal) to children with challenging career desires. The kids know that their studies are the key to their future and they are all enthusiastic students. Please visit next not only to see the children, but also to read a short biography of their goals and interests. We think that you will be impressed with the hard work of the children.
If in Phnom Penh, you are invited and encouraged to visit the Orphanage. From the grim past histories of these kids has emerged a true sense of happiness and well-being. If you visit, you will experience plenty of smiles, laughter and hugs. You are urged not just to visit, but to stay for a few hours, days or months - try teaching English, music, crafts or computer skills - the kids will love it and so will you!
(Text extracted from NCCLA Web Site: http://www.ncclaorphanage.org/)

Happy children of NCCLA

Neth Lay & Thawee who started the NCCLA Orphanage. Ordinary
People, Extraordinary deeds!


Back : Michael, Seedan & Nye
Front: Lysa, Molica & Molina (twins)

Computer Area
Current Library
Big Classroom - very useful

Book Haven have just delivered 125 children's story books & 2 Reader's Digest "English in 20 Minutes" to New Cambodian Children's Life Association (NCCLA) an Orphanage in Phnom Penh with 30 children, age 3 to 17. The NCCLA is sponsored by a young Cambodian couple, Neth & Thavee plus donations from Cambodians and Tourists/Visitors. Neth & Thavee runs a restaurant called Veiyo Tonle located in Sisowath Quay and the Orphanage is 3 mins walk from there! Proceeds from Neth's Non-Profit restaurant goes towards running the Orphanage which costs approx. US$2,000 per month.

Thanks to Book Xcess (Andrew & Jacqueline), Dram Projects (Daphne Lee), R & B Golf Group and Twenty-Twenty Media who donated the books!

If any of you is travelling to Phnom Penh and would like to help by donating clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, books or cash etc., please contact Neth at http://www.ncclaorphanage.org/.

NCCLA could use all the help they can get!

Fotos: Top to Bottom: NCCLA children in school; Happy smiling faces; Visit to Angkor Wat, Siem Reap