A Day With Philea Sunway Getaway

Contributed by Rtr Hui Hui

On a Sunday morning (December 17), Rotaract Club of Port Klang Centennial (Racpklg) organised a Sunway theme park outing for thirty children from Philea Home, Kapar Klang. This major community service project was spearheaded by the club board members and lead by Racpklg community service director, Lloyd Cheam.

The sponsor of this project was Sunway of which the full theme park tickets expenses was fully subsidized.

Rotaract club of Port Klang Centennial members are no strangers to the children at Philea home. In fact, the members had organized movie watching sessions with the children early in March, this year at their home.

At 10.30 am, the children arrived at Sunway Pyramid mall by bus. On their faces, you can see their excitement and anticipation as they walk through the busy car park to the theme park entrance.

There was a large crowd of visitors to the theme park because four companies were having family day outing. Therefore, six children were assigned to five groups for better coordination. Each of them was taken care by at least two Rotaract club members and friends.

My group leader was Rotaractor Timmy Ong. My group has to take care of two boys and four girls; aged range is from five to seventeen years. I was fascinated by this young girl named Shivani. She is only five years old. At first, she was uncomfortable with and was not keen to shake my hand. After being persuaded by her elder ‘sister’, also one of the Philea home members, she extended her palms to ask me to ‘take’ care of her. And, we became good friends.


The first visit was to the dry park. My group started by taking the children to the mild rides like the Ferris wheel and the ‘spinning bowls’. Then, the four and daring Philea members took up the challenge by seating the flying carpet and the ‘Lost City of Gold’ roller coaster rides. The both rides were not suitable for ‘baby’ Shivani. So, we have to ‘baby-sit’ her and kept her entertained.

After lunch, my group gathers with other groups for the wet park session. The wet park was crowded. Long queues were a norm when someone wants to take a ride and even to buy lunch. This is where the test of patience comes in. And, the weather was hot and humid.

Nevertheless, the children were excited and eager. All of them brought individual mini bag packs with spare clothing and swim suit. They were patient to wait for our instruction to jump into the kids’ pool called ‘Little Zimbabwe’

As they jumped into the pool, I can hear their laughter and felt their joy in their hearts. Imagine, watching them splashing water at each others faces reminds us that we were young and carefree once. Some rotaractors who has intention of not getting wet, ended up getting soaked wet and giggly in the pool. And there was a ‘mini splashing race’ between rotaractors and the Philea children.

The challenge was to constantly supervising the children so that they don’t get lost.

We became substitute ‘parents’ for a day for this group of children who hardly have the privilege of love and time given by their real parents. These children do not have air-conditioned accommodation above their heads or yummy food given to them like urban children.

But, these children deserved the opportunity and privileges just like other normal children.

The wet park session ended at 5pm. Accompanied by Racpklg members, the children were shuttled home with heartfelt memories that will last a lifetime.