Bukit Harapan

A Brief History.

Bukit Harapan actually started operating its first Home in Keningau, January 9th, 1989. The Rector of S.F.X. Church had offered the use of a vacant house in the compound and so Anne moved in with five Special Children and two helpers. It was a difficult start as the initial sum of RM6,500.00 donated by the previous Rector, Fr. Win van der Salm, was soon diminishing fast and expenses began adding up. Anne and the helper had to do everything; giving/care, love, education and therapy to the children, marketing, cooking, housekeeping, plus meeting with families who have Special Children. It was however an exhilarating period beginning such a New Project and of course there were critical individuals who cast doubts on the whole thing, saying that such rehabilitation projects belong to the Government, et cetera. Nevertheless, Bukit Harapan persevered doggedly and things began sorting out gradually.

The stay at this first Home lasted about a year and owing to various factors, Bukit Harapan moved to Kota Kinabalu, to a rented house six miles away at Putatan. More Special Persons were taken in and a few more helpers and Bukit Harapan became better and better known to the community at large, with timely exposures to the public in the media. Pictures of activities at the Home and write-ups appeared in the Daily Papers after reporters came to interview Anne on what was actually happening at the Home. The stay at this second house was also brief, about a year or so and soon the move was made to the present home at 367, Jalan Saga, Likas, Kota Kinabalu.

At this new place, Bukit Harapan began making greater strides in its rehabilitation activities while also serving as shelter to abused women and children and victims of rape. Bukit Harapan soon became quite well-known to the public. Donations in cash and kind began flowing in, Associations began visiting, more Special Persons were taken in, some referred by the Social Welfare Department, and the Home got more and more congested. A temporary ‘classroom’ was donated by the Canadian High Commission. Rooms were added downstairs and the kitchen and living room downstairs were enlarged. Then negotiations were made with the owner of the adjacent vacant lot and so it was rented to Bukit Harapan which in August 31st, 1994 was gifted with a new ‘office/school complex’ called Aokam Therapeutic Centre in gratitude to the company that donated the buildings.

The Home had indeed thus come a long, long way from its humble beginning.

“We are called to give selflessly, love fruitfully, smile happily.”