As I browsed through the Sunday Star this morning, an article on the front page of the paper caught my attention. An Australian family had pledged to provide a poor family with RM 350 per month for the next 18 years, until their triplets reached the age of eighteen. I was touched by what I saw.
A few days ago, the plight of the family was published in the newspaper. The poor family had difficulty coping with the unexpected birth of triplets in the family and they were struggling with the expenses. As donations started to pour in for the family, the Australian tourists decided to help the family on a long term basis, contributing RM 350 per month to the family until the triplets reached eighteen. I can imagine how grateful the parents of the triplets are to receive this kind of long term assistance. RM 350 may not be a lot to many but it is indeed a grate deal to many poor people. RM 350 can help to settle house rents (the rental for low lower middle cost flats in Penang ranges around RM 300 - 400), RM 350 can make sure that the babies will have cows milk instead of condensed milk to drink, RM 350 can help to nourish the family with reasonable meals….etc.
This article has brought happiness to me. I may not be the donor but I’m happy to know that someone has touched the lives of another. Why did the Australians do it?

“When Rose read the story in The Star, she felt very sad for the Woos as we were putting up at beautiful beach resort and eating good food while they had to struggle to make ends meet”
Lisa Kennedy