Rachel Shanti Kathiripillai, 41, grew up, not within the home itself, but alongside it.
But DAJ’s story began even before she was born.
From an early age, she and adopted brother John Letchumanan, seven years her senior, dedicated much of their time to volunteering at the home.
“We had fundraising events, and prepared children for performances in which they had to sing and dance. That was my job, as performance director back then,” she told FMT.
Having completed secondary school, Rachel embarked on her own journey, earning a master’s degree abroad and volunteering with Malaysian CARE, a prominent NGO.
Eventually, the family began to talk about the long-term future of the home.
“My dad always wanted somebody in the family to carry it on. I knew at that point that this is what I wanted to do,” she said, adding that her Christian faith played a role in her decision.
Appointed DAJ’s deputy director five years ago, Rachel handles the home’s daily operations. She is its primary decision-maker and attends to all disciplinary issues involving the children under its care.
She says the most fulfilling part of her job is seeing the lives of the children change for the better and watching them transform into independent and functioning members of society.
DAJ’s origins
DAJ celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Founded in 1985 by her parents, Reverend Terrence Sinnadurai and his wife Kamala, it has changed the lives of over 800 people, and is currently home to 72 children and 12 senior citizens.
Kamala said she and her husband have been volunteers since day one, having made “a deal with God” to start the home and not profit financially from it.
“The kids started coming, and then we had to rent 12 houses in Kajang. Eventually we bought this land (in Semenyih) in 1992 and moved in here by 2008,” Rachel told FMT.
From its humble beginnings of operating from their family home, DAJ has transformed into a village with a canteen, separate dormitories for boys, girls and senior citizens, a library and staff offices.
It receives food grants from the government, but with operations costs running into RM150,000 per month, mainly relies on public donations.
Rachel said the home dedicates a significant amount of its resources to caring for impoverished senior citizens who have no one to take care of them.
“If they are sick, we have to care for them. Sometimes our boys even come in to help, so in a way they also learn to care for senior citizens,” she said.
Young hopes and dreams
Among DAJ’s young residents is Mahesh Waran Pillai, 17, who dreams of becoming a chef. Now waiting for his SPM results, Mahesh is happy to help out with the cooking and enjoys playing the guitar in his free time.
“The privileges, everything that I have here, makes me happy. I hope I can (lead a) better (life) than my parents and support the home one day,” he said.
Valli N Kalitazan, 20, who recently completed her STPM examinations, aspires to be a teacher, and, inspired by the efforts of the home’s staff, has made childcare her mission in life.
Meanwhile, Reman, 14, wants to excel in his IGCSE studies and be a professional footballer — just like Rachel’s younger brother, Reuben, 35, a defender who plies his trade in the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League with Bunga Raya Damansara FC.
For former DAJ resident Noah Huarrajan, 34, the home is not just a part of his past, but also his present and future.
“I left the home in 2014 but have kept in touch and helped out with programmes through the years. In 2023, I came back as a full-time employee.
“I decided that it was time for me to give back. When I see the children, I see myself.
“You can’t earn much working for an NGO but the smallest things help these kids greatly. That is my motivation,” he said.
Looking ahead, Rachel hopes to see DAJ grow and expand its horizons.
She aims to build a sports centre with a football field and wants to dabble in skills training programmes to ultimately serve the surrounding community better.