The Fund Raiser for Shalom Marian Hostel

(l-r) Paul Chan (Hon legal counsel) MP Ipoh East Howard Lee, Cardinal Francis Sebastian and Hostel Director Joseph Boon Chai

A fund raising dinner was held for the Shalom Marian Hostel last Saturday 10 October at SK Sam Tet Hall.  The Hostel houses Orang Asli children who come from the interior as far as Gua Musang, Kelantan. The goal is to provide hostel and educational facilities for the children who are between the ages between 7 to 17 years old.

Currently there are 50 students studying at SK St Michaels Institution, SK La Salle, SK Marian Convent and SK ACS Ipoh. The cost to house the studens amounts to 500K annually,

The dinner was attended by Cardinal Francis Sebastian, Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee who pledged Rm5K to the hostel and Joseph Boon Chai the hostel director were some of the VIPs present.

Other Clergy present

Cardinal Francis in his address said that the Orang Asli are deeply rooted in strong communal values and hoped for a brighter for their children. At the heart of hope is education not merely a privilege but a universal right every child deserves.

Cardinal Francis with Joseph Boon Chai the Hostel Director had visited the villages in 2025 and again in 2026 to build trust with the families. Those children now call Shalom Marian Hostel their 2^nd Home.

Orang Asli present .....

..bright eyed and confident ...

..the community of the Shalom Marian Hostel 

I found it to be an eye Opener because the children of the asrama were bright and were full of confidence in themselves and they provided an evening of entertainment. 

They danced and sang delightfully and brought joy to everyone in attendance.

KC