“But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight”. The song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran was playing as a background music in a saloon. While I was mesmerising just how perfect one’s life could be, I overheard a conversation that was beyond perfect. Have you ever found yourself in a magical moment? Because I have — in this NGO for children.
Working for the same cause
I was cutting my hair in the saloon with Norbert, our Marketing Director. Then, we overheard an interesting conversation about what a non-profit organization (NGO) has been doing for children. It struck us in the heart because it matches exactly the missions of Artroom 22 in helping children to live a better life.
Without hesitation, Norbert started a conversation with the cheerful lady who was sitting on the chair behind the saloon. She introduced herself as Priscilla. We came to know that she is the officer in the Executive Director’s Office of Dignity for Children Foundation (Dignity), which is the NGO she was mentioning just now. Speaking about this, Priscilla was just as surprised as us that we are actually working for the same cause.
The largest learning centre
During the conversation with Priscilla, we understand that Dignity provides education and care to underprivileged children for the past 20 years. From a classroom of just 20 students, the NGO Dignity has educated more than 8,000 students, with 1,700 enrolled this year. Certainly, Dignity is the largest and most comprehensive learning centre for the underprivileged in West Malaysia.
Furthermore, it is internationally recognised. Dignity hosted the 44th President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama in 2015 and received the Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support in 2018.
Transformative Education
We strongly believe that poverty is a vicious cycle but it can be broken by education. With proper education, the children can learn a skill that can support themselves in the future. Indeed, the only way to nurture and empower underprivileged children to be the world changers is through transformative education.
However, not every child has the same opportunity to go to school . Some are the refugees without any identification in Malaysia; some just do not have enough money to go to school. So, why don’t we start donating to put a child into school?
“He, who opens a school door, closes a prison.” – Victor Hugo
Notably, Dignity not only focus on learning and discovering in a traditional classroom. On top of that, it provides transformational enterprises which allow children to learn real life skills according to their interests.
To date, they have four enterprises which focus on hair saloon, café and creative space, sewing and growing greens such plants and fruits. The saloon “cut x dignity” that we went is one of the four enterprises under the NGO Dignity. Children are training alongside professionals and experience entrepreneurs.
It is definitely worth to pay them a visit and see the astonishing result for yourself. The price is absolutely affordable for working adults or even for students. (I paid only RM35 for the hair wash, hair cut, massage and styling). For more information, you can find out here.
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