Santa remembers the children of Villa Paulos

On the ninth day of Christmas, the children of Villa Paulos received their Christmas gifts from Santa Claus.

Santa with the children of Villa Paulos along with board
members, benefactors and youth volunteers

Carols were also sung and a buffet lunch was served in the annual Christmas celebration of the first Catholic charity home in Johor Baru.

The board members, benefactors and youth volunteers joined the children for lunch before Santa presented gifts to the children on behalf of generous benefactors including the Rotary Club of Johor Centennial.

Opened in 2008 as a registered non-profit, voluntary welfare organization, Villa Paulos, a shelter for neglected, exploited, abused, abandoned and orphaned children, is home to 25 boys and girls aged between 7 and 17.

The children receiving their gifts from Santa

The home started in a building donated by the late Madam Goh Lum Eng, who had a vision to use it for charitable purposes, and is managed by a Board of responsible members in the Church of Immaculate Conception, JB.

The children are in the care of 5 full-time staff including House Mothers, a cook and drivers, with the help of volunteers who provide tuition, counseling, medical and other essential needs for the children’s welfare.

“Needy children are identified and recommended by their parish priests and admitted to the home after a background study and the Board members’ visit to their homes,” said Villa Paulos chairman, Theresa Lee, adding that they have so far accepted two new children this year.

Villa Paulos chairman, Theresa Lee [Standing
Left] and Rotary Club of Johor Centennial president,
Reetha Matthewes [Standing Right] with the
children, Santa and other guests

With separate dormitories and study rooms for boys and girls, she said that Villa Paulos is able to accommodate up to 45 school-going children.

“We invite youth volunteers to come in on Fridays to have recreational activities in arts and crafts sessions with the children,” said Lee who encouraged healthy interaction between the children and other young people.

In addition to running this children’s home, Villa Paulos also provides monthly financial aid to more than 30 low-income families in and around JB.  The home is run entirely on donations from the public.

Registered as Pertubuhan Penjagaan Anak-Anak Yatim dan Miskin Villa Paulos, the home at Jalan Mariamah, welcomes donations in the form of foodstuffs like rice, cooking oil, milk and vitamin supplements.

For enquiries and to donate, email: admin@villapaulos.org or visit website: www.villapaulos.org

A version of this was published in The Malaysian Insider on 2 Jan 2016