Ray of hope for fallen angels

Chow Kit, a place where drugs and sex are easily available, where lawlessness is rampant and anything can happen along the dark and sinister alleys.

It is also home to outcasts who have nowhere else to turn to.

The old sex worker whose beauty has faded, the drug addict who has lost his home, the rebellious youth who wants to experience the ‘glamorous' city life and the transsexuals who cannot land a decent day job, roam the streets in search of fortune and opportunities.

However, some have managed to conquer the odds with a little help. One of them being Siti (not her real name), a 29-year-old reformed drug addict who is now determined to extend a helping hand to others.

Her face lined with sorrow and her eyes speaking of great anguish, but her voice ,however, pulsated with pride when the mother of two recalled her ordeal and triumph over the odds.

"My life has been transformed," she exclaimed, confident that she had slain her demons. "And now, helping these other unfortunate women do the same has given me a purpose to live."

Siiti, who aspires to open a shelter for children will be getting married once her fiancé is purged clean of drugs.

When prodded on her future plans, she beamed with joy, declaring : "I want to move out (from the shelter), stay in my own house with my children and future husband."

Siti's proverbial light at the end of the tunnel came in the form of Sinar Salam, a shelter for women which has been providing counselling and welfare assistance.

But most importantly it has opened a chance for these fallen angels to pick themselves up, dust their wings and soar once again.

Siti has been staying and working in the centre for about a year.

Another survivor of teenage pregnancy, 23-year-old Tina (name changed to protect her identity) is working at the shelter as an administrator.

"It's been a year since I started working here, I am planning to study psychology next year," she said.

Afidah Ab Latif or more fondly known as ‘Ibu', the founder of Sinar Salam founded the shelter to give a second chance to these ‘women in crises'.

"Our target clients are drug addicts, single mothers, sex workers and problem teenagers, in short women who need help," she said.

Other occupants in the centre include little Amirul, a two-year-old who was born with drug dependency. Now, clean of drugs, the mischievous toddler looks healthy and does not show any signs of his traumatic experience.

Discipline and honesty

Afidah(left) explained that the shelter is administered with strict rules. This, she said is because "I want them to understand that they cannot live their lives as they did before."

"The women who came to me for help need to prove that they are committed and serious about wanting to change," she added.

Sinar Salam's occupants have to adhere strictly to the ‘13 philosophies' that are displayed at the entrance, with honesty being the number one priority.

In order to break free from the shackles of addiction, Afidah stressed that one must be "honest within."

"Everyone has some kind of addiction which leads them to be who they are today. If it is not drugs, its stealing or lying," she added.

Afidah reaches out to the night dwellers on Friday evenings by distributing food.

"Our regulars will wait for us at the same spot to receive their food," she said, adding that Sinar Salam also provides financial and medical aid.

"Most of them are uneducated and ashamed of their lifestyles, and therefore do not know where to turn to for help," she said.

To make matters worse, she said many of her ‘clients' and their children do not possess proper identification documents, a stumbling block when seeking assistance from the welfare department.

Furthermore, she said the way government offices operate also proves to be a great difficulty.

"They are only open from 9am to 5pm and some of these women have children, so it is simply impossible for them to go there for help during those hours," she explained.

Citing the recent death of one of her ‘clients', Afidah said the 54-year-old woman was waiting for approval for financial assistance from the welfare department when she succumbed to an illness.

Two days after her death, her application was approved.

"If only the process was faster, I am sure that the money will not only have helped her materially but also to let her know that the society has not forsaken her," said Afidah.

So, instead of waiting for government assistance, volunteers from Sinar Salam engage in outreach work, where they approach sex workers and drug addicts on the streets or visit their homes to provide help.