What are the odds, however, for those who had lived in a children’s shelter to give back to the community of underprivileged kids in their adult years?
Jia Huai, 21, is determined to repay the community that cared for her by participating in a charity programme called Shelter Charity Climb 2017 which entails going up Mount Kinabalu in an expedition from July 28 to Aug 1.
The hike has been held annually since 2007.
What sets her apart from other former shelter kids who participated in the climb is that she is the first girl known to target raising over RM100,000 to help underprivileged children get a proper education.
Shelter chairman Vincent Pee said Jia Huai was the first shelter home child who wanted to climb the 4km-high mountain to raise a large amount of cash for others.
“We were surprised that she wanted to give back to the shelter through the programme as no one else had done it before,” he said.
“There were also other shelter kids who had given back to our community. We’re amazed that she wanted to step up to the challenge and raise such a huge amount of money,” he told FMT.
Pee also said Jia Huai wanted to help in making the public aware about the importance of funding shelter home children to get good quality education.
She had joined the home at the age of 8, and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in media culture and communications.
“She wanted to help create awareness so that others who are in shelter homes will be funded and taken care of, just as how she herself was helped before,” he said.
He said that the climb itself symbolises people overcoming hurdles in their lives – such as the home’s youngsters who have been abandoned, neglected or abused.
“These children have gone through traumas in life and managed to move forward as time goes by.
“So this climb actually correlates with what they had gone through, all the difficulties they faced and managed to get out of, to reach the top,” Pee told FMT.
Pee, who is also Jia Huai’s trainer for the climb, said she is going through rigorous preparation. She has never hiked up a mountain before, he added.
He also shared a few successful stories of shelter home kids who are now contributing to society.
“David, who came to the shelter at the age of seven, is a changed person and managed to complete his studies and currently working now. He is also the one who designed and built our website.”
“Angel, who is a proud owner of a business enterprise at the age of 21, was once a child at the home, just like David,” he added.
Pee said money channelled to the shelter has been put to good use to assist underprivileged kids like David and Angel.
He also urged the public to participate in the cause. The climb is limited to 20 participants and registration is still open for the public.
Those interested to know more or wish to donate to the shelter can visit the shelter’s website at www.shelterhome.org.