Ice-breaking session

UCSI University Students interacting with their new Buddies

All the Buddies getting together to perform a song and dance

Kuala Lumpur, 20 September 2008 - Charmaine squealed with joy when she saw her friend sitting across the room. She ran up to her, gave her a big hug, and chatted with her animatedly. If it wasn’t for her physical features, you would think she was just like any other 10- year old. Charmaine and her friend however, have Down Syndrome. On this day, more than 30 intellectually disabled children and even some young adults with parents and relatives made themselves comfortable in UCSI University’s auditorium. They were there to learn more about Best Buddies, an international Miami-based programme that is making its debut in Malaysia, initiated by UCSI’s staff and students. The "Best Buddies Welcoming Party," was also aimed at introducing the programme to Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).

Best Buddies is a well-known international non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Its accredited international programme is implemented across six continents, and UCSI University distinguishes itself by being the first Malaysian chapter.

UCSI University’s College Best Buddies, with its tagline, “I see you, Kawanku” is one of six divisions in the overall organization. The other five are: Best Buddies Middle School, Best Buddies High School, Best Buddies Citizens, Best Buddies Jobs and e-buddies.

Through the programme, one special child will be paired with a UCSI University student for one academic year to fulfill the objectives stated above. All students will be screened for compatibility of language and personality by UCSI University Best Buddiesadvisor, Ms. Teow Ker Shin. “All potential student candidates must complete a membership application and matching survey before they are chosen to be paired off with a special child,” she says. She also adds that all volunteers go through a stringent training process before they are chosen, to ensure that both student and child will be comfortable with each other. Once they are paired, the students are committed to make weekly phone calls, and monthly visits to their buddies. “For the children, having friends outside of their normal network raises their status in society,” says Pauline Wong, Assistant Director of Children Services of Malaysian Care, another NGO.

Best Buddies is an active club in UCSI University, with many enthusiastic members recruiting more volunteers for the programme. College Buddy Director and UCSI University Psychology degree student, Teo Hui Ru, cites her passion for social work as the motivating source that got her involved in the programme. “I want to make a difference in someone’s life, as well as my own. People think it is us that will be teaching, when in fact, we have so much to learn from them instead,” she said.

Mr. Thean, a parent who came with his autistic daughter, agrees. “To these special children, concepts such as race, religion and ethnicity do not exist. In a lot of ways, we should be learning from them, and not the other way around.” He also says he has no problems signing his daughter up for the programme.