KUCHING: Special needs children with an interest in baking and pastry have something to look forward to in life now.
The Society for Parents of Children with Special Needs’ (PIBAKAT) is now running a bakery, named PIBAKAT Bakery.
Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah who commended the initiatives by the non-governmental organisation, said the bakery, which comes with a qualified pastry chef, will provide training and equip the special needs members of society with the necessary skills.
“We can see that it takes time to provide training to help our people with disabilities (OKUs) to earn an income.
“But we will persevere because we know that with the high level of patience, these OKUs can be trained and will be able to produce the products for sale and at the same time earn an income,” she said after visiting the PIBAKAT Bakery at Jalan Ridgeway, Off Jalan Ong Tiang Swee yesterday (Aug 19).
Fatimah said these living skills are important for the OKUs so that they can earn an income.
“Besides the PIBAKAT Bakery, which empowers the OKUs in the aspect of economy, there is also a self-service laundry, Morning Glory Launderette, located at the PIBAKAT premises, which would benefit the trainees as well.
“So, this is how our OKUs get employed, and this is what we want to do to empower them so that there is that self-worth and there is meaning in their life, and companionship with their friends during training.
“This is our focus to make sure that our OKUs, our clients under the Social Welfare, are able to live a dignified existence,” she said, while adding that they can learn to be independent after their training.
Earlier, the ministry allocated RM200,000 for the setting up of the bakery.
Currently, the bakery has 12 students, aged between 18 and 33. Their training is divided into two groups.
Meanwhile, a pastry teacher Maria Natalie, said the students are currently undergoing training.
“The training will take about two to three month to complete, and once they perfected the art of making pastry, the products will be for sale,” she said.
