By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BARU: The 15 youths at the City Care Home in Taman Gaya are not only given education and care but also training on how to bake pastry and cakes.

The youths, aged between 10-17 years are mostly orphans, taken care of by single mothers or from broken homes.

City Care Home provides shelter for the neglected, exploited, abused, abandoned and orphaned by the parents.

The home, established 20 years ago by its founder and chairman Lee Ling Lek, 50, has been providing the necessary training for the youths so that they have the necessary skills to make a living.

Lee Ling Lek

Lee said her main intention of setting up this home is for these neglected youths to lead a more meaningful life.

“While here, we train them in making pastries and cookies and the products are then sold in the market,” said Lee.

Lee added that these children are not only provided with a sound education but given proper training to be independent so that they can stand on their own feet.

These youths have been advised to learn various skills and be productive, be self-reliant instead of loitering on the streets.

“We want to give them the best in life so that when they are adults they are able to fend for themselves,” she said.

The youths make cakes and cookies twice a week and then they are sold to the public at a special price.

According to Lee, the home makes ondeh-ondeh, dumai, tiramisu, cookies and mooncakes and proceeds from the sales are used to fund their education.

The youths are full of dedication while making cakes.

Lee wants these youths to come up in life and she ensures that they are given the best in education as well.

“In the morning they are given homeschooling by volunteer teachers who come and teach them the school subjects based on their ages,” she said.

Some of them are have grown to be good bakers.

“I want to give them a new start in life as most of them come from broken homes or either disowned by their parents,” she stressed.

Here, Lee said, they are well taken care of, receive proper education and given the necessary help in cake and cookie baking.

“These children are like my own and I want to give them the best in life as they have no one to turn to,” she said.

Lee also appealed to the public for their support in cash and kind as the upkeep and looking after these children is not an easy task.

“I am like a mother to all these children and it’s my duty to ensure they are well taken care of,” she said.

During their free time, they would gather with Lee, talk on issues affecting adolescents these days.

Lee would always remind them that they are not alone and they can lean on her as and when they need her help.

Those wanting to assist or volunteer at City Care Home may contact Lee at: 016-7223750.

Some of the youths busy at work in the Home’s kitchen.

It is time to pack the ready products for sale in the market.