“She’s now a working mother, raising her child with grace and resilience,” Cecily Andrews Fourrier, PR and corporate communications head of Rumah Kita, shared with FMT Lifestyle. “That’s why we do what we do – to turn fear into strength.”
This NGO is helping rewrite the narratives of pregnant women who have nowhere to turn for shelter and acceptance. More importantly, they are helping prevent baby dumping.
Founded in 2015 by the late Vimmi Yasmin Razak, and currently helmed by her sister Suraya Razak, Rumah Kita provides a refuge for women facing unplanned pregnancies or fleeing sexual violence.
“We don’t judge them,” Fourrier, 42, said. “Our mission is to provide a safe space for the mothers and to empower them to reclaim their lives.”
The shelter, based in KL, offers temporary housing, meals, baby care, maternity services, and counselling. It also helps with hospital deliveries, registering birth certificates, and arranging health-related appointments.
“We equip them with basic living skills – how to cook, clean, and care for babies. The women here support each other, sharing the load and learning to be self-reliant. They live as a community,” Fourrier, who joined the NGO seven years ago, explained.
Since its inception, Rumah Kita has helped “save” 402 babies and supported hundreds of mothers, many from troubled backgrounds, including victims of rape, incest, and gang assaults.
“We’ve seen women rejected by their families. Yet, despite these challenges, 90% of the women who give birth here go on to raise their children on their own. That’s something we’re incredibly proud of,” said Fourrier, a certified mental health first aider.
Currently, this transit home houses 25 mothers and 20 children, from new-borns to seven-year-olds. Besides the temporary refuge, it prepares the women for independence.
“Some families take the mothers back,” Fourrier noted. “But for those who are completely cast out, we tell them: ‘Continue staying here. Apply for jobs, go out and work. We’ll care for your child until you’re ready to leave.’ That’s the best we can do for them.”
Running the home is a constant challenge as they rely on public donations to cover monthly expenses of over RM20,000 for rent, utilities, transportation, and supplies.
And, the number of women seeking help continues to grow. “Sometimes, we just don’t have enough placement. And we take in mothers from all over Malaysia, not just from the Klang Valley,” said Fourrier.
To accommodate more residents, Fourrier said the team, which consists of six volunteers, dreams of consolidating their two rented homes into a single permanent facility. But funding, and public perception are a problem that may delay that dream from becoming a reality.
To that end, Fourrier has a strong message for those who misunderstand or criticise their work: “We’re not here to encourage these situations, but to save lives. Judging or pressuring these women only pushes them to the brink and leads to dumping their babies. We don’t want that.”
She added: “These women aren’t at fault. Everyone makes mistakes, but they want to make things right. They are owning what has happened, taking responsibility to raise their child, and going out there to be a better person. Isn’t that a noble thing to do?”
Despite the hurdles, Fourrier remains hopeful. The success stories – a young mother thriving at work, a baby growing up in a loving home – are constant reminders of Rumah Kita’s impact on these women’s lives.
“For us, saving 400 babies is a huge milestone. But we can do more and we can only do this with the support of the public. If you can help us in any way, that is giving us an opportunity to save one more life,” Fourrier said.
Should you need Rumah Kita’s help, contact 013 869 3889.
Find out more about Rumah Kita here and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.