Kamakshi Child Home/Orphanage

Being mobbed (in a very nice way) by staff and kids at the Kamakshi Child Home

Sometimes I forget how fortunate I have been to be raised in a loving family environment (although admittedly my older brothers did rough me up fairly consistently when I was young - I am the youngest of seven kids in the Catt family). This really hit home when I visited the Kamakshi Child Home near Kulim in northern Malaysia. The home was established and is financed primarily by one key donor, a pediatrician living in the area who saw the need to create a place for the less fortunate and parent-less children to live, learn and grow.

 

My visit to the orphanage was arranged by members of the Rotary Club of Kulim. I had offered to give an informal presentation to the kids and all was ready to go when I arrived. The kids were so amazing! They were incredibly well behaved, asked excellent questions & never ceased to smile throughout my presentation. And when they were asked questions by their teachers after my talk their understanding and retention of what I had presented was outstanding! I was really very impressed!

All of the students have a story to tell. Many have no parents and live full time at the home. Others have just a single parent who is struggling to make ends meet. One student was very special and has a wonderful story. This particular student suffers from Cerebral Palsy and had been pretty well left on the streets. He actually went to the Kamakshi Child Home on his own accord, not to be taken in but because he was seeking a job to help support himself. As it turned out… the amazing people who operate Kamakshi took him in, gave him a home, love, respect and an education. That young man is now entering into a Master’s program in IT at a local university.

Supporters, staff and students at the Kamakshi Child Home