Coping despite the struggle

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THE Cornerstone Home in Taman Bukit Semenyih is struggling to run its programme as well as feed the children while depending on aid from well-wishers.

Former nurse and Malaysian Care employee Angie Retnam, 56, said unless the home received extra funds and aid from the Welfare Department, the expansion plans for the 14 children under her care were constantly put on hold because the money she received was spent on feeding and educating the children.

Despite all the setback, the centre housed in a two double-storey units is home to 10 boys and four girls aged between two and 15 years.

My passion: Angie is both a teacher and mummy to the 14 children.

“I have children who are introduced to my centre but I had to turn them away as it will only add up to the overall cost.

“There is no compromising on that although I can still accommodate 16 more,’’ said Angie, whose passion is to be surrounded by children.

According to Angie, the Cornerstone Home needs RM10,000 monthly and while the rental of RM1,000 for both the units is taken care by a church, the centre which started operations in 2003, is managing with just RM3,000 a month.

“We are running on a low budget each month. The children do not make a fuss and understand when simple meals are provided. Sometimes we have well-wishers coming forward to give the children a hearty meal of chicken and beef,’’ said Angie.

Smart kids: (From left): Nelson Ramesh, 4, Esther Velayutham, 8, and Simon Jeyakumar, 7, putting their palm imprints on a wall

She believes in giving the children plenty of love as she feels they are short of it as some of them are separated from their parents early in their lives.

“Giving them love and making them feel loved will make the early separation from their parents disappear. This is a perfect volunteer project for me. I have dedicated my life to serve humanity and make children’s lives better,’’ she said.

Christian fellowship is so much a part of Cornerstone that Angie has given each of her “children” — many of them non-Christians — a Christian name to identify herself better with them.

Although there are those who wanted to adopt the children, Angie is not ready to part with any of them but would consider the offer of foster-parents to them.