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Selangor choir leader raise funds in conjunction with birthday for past three years to help Perak NGO

Malay Mail
Malay Mail

IPOH, June 1 — Anytime is a good time to do a good deed for choir leader Cheryl Teh.

After all, Teh is a firm believer of cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead's quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Since 2021, Teh has been raising funds to help Ipoh based non-governmental organisation Perak Women for Women Society (PWW) during her birthday in May.

“Instead of getting me a present, I asked my friends to donate to PWW,” she told Malay Mail via telephone.

Teh started to get acquainted with the society that strives to improve the lives of women in 2018.

According to Teh, the Philharmonic Society of Selangor, of which she was their former choir director, had wanted to perform in Ipoh then.

“We wanted to help raise funds and asked around which organisation we should donate it to. A friend Datin Rosalina Ooi then introduced me to PWW.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, everything was on standstill and like any organisation, PWW faced difficulties to collect funds.

Teh stepped up to the plate and decided to help them by organising a Zoom party that saw members of KL Sings, which she now leads, singing online.

“The inaugural event in 2021 raised RM5,000 with the donation shared with Home of Peace in Kuala Lumpur.”

Collection in the following year, which was raised also from online choir performance, saw an improvement where RM8,000 was raised for PWW.

For this year, Teh said the amount raised would be revealed during a charity tea party organised by PWW on June 8.

“What I can say now is it is more than the amount raised last year.”

During the party, members of KL Sings would also be performing for guests.

“About 30 members would be travelling to Ipoh to perform,” added Teh.

PWW secretary Yip Siew Keen said although tickets for the party have been sold out, donations are still welcomed.

Funds raised by Teh would go towards two projects lined up by the society this year, added Yip.

“We are planning to open up a baking studio in Buntong and also offer sewing lessons at our premises at Market Street,” she said, noting that both projects would benefit women from the B40 community.

Services provided by PWW include defending the rights of women, promoting awareness on violence against women and respect for gender equality and counselling for women and children who are victims of violence.

They also want to promote change in society and the legal system to protect women and children besides empowering women to elevate themselves and be more independent.

To learn more about the society, visit their Facebook.