(Friends in FRIM: Above picture
by Norsham)
DATELINE FRIM, KEPONG:
TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2007, 9am - 1pm:
WHEN TWO DOZEN disabled and elderly Malaysians - most of them for the first time in their lives - venture into the Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) early next week with their wheelchairs, walking aids and white canes, they will have to face several challenges.
One of them - hopefully - is to overcome their fears and worst nightmares.
These include having an aversion to creepy crawlies like spiders and cold-blooded creatures that many of us would never dream of getting close to: large lizards, warty frogs - and even possibly a snake or two!
However, fret not everybody because we in Petpositive have no plans of introducing a Fear Factor made-for-television style experience to our participants.
In fact, what we have in mind is far better than anything the US TV host Joe Rogen (below, right) can muster.
FRIEND OF THE FOREST
Say hello to zoologist Norsham Suhaina Yaakob (Below, left). A true friend to the forest and its biodiversity, she will be conducting a session where the disabled and the elderly will be able to get close and personal to some of the real and natural residents of FRIM.
Depending on which of the nocturnal creatures that she is able to to catch on the night before the animal therapy session, it was initially difficult to get the animal rights activist to agree to do the session for Petpositive.
Norsham was more worried about the stress levels and discomfort our event would cause to these wonderful creatures (and rightfully so) but she finally consented when she realised that this was to help the disabled and elderly persons.
However, not before coming up with effective plans on how to keep the animals as comfortable as possible first, such as keeping frogs constantly re hydrated, etc.
Norsham who works at the Kepong Botanical Garden in FRIM told Petpositive Blog (P+B) that our upcoming event on Tuesday with the elderly and the disabled was the "perfect project for everyone to finally see nature as a form of therapy."
(Left: Green always keeps this girl grinning from ear to ear.)
"Many animals which originated from the wild have been domesticated either to aid our economic activities, for our protection or as good companions to human beings," she added.
Norsham who is currently posted at the plant nursery in FRIM first joined the organisation in 1998.
"Animals and plants accept people as they are with no bias," she points out.
"They do not care how we look or how we smell. Their acceptance is full and unconditional."
Norsham who has six cats in her home says taking part with Petpositive and working with the disabled, elderly, animals and nature has helped expand her horizon.
"I feel that I will be doing something positive for people and knowing that you're making a difference in the lives of others is a wonderful feeling to have.
"I would like to encourage more disabled and elderly persons to take up the challenge to open themselves to nature and then experience for themselves, the true power of nature," she concludes.
PETPOSITIVE WOULD LIKE TO SAY SYABAS TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
DATELINE FRIM, KEPONG:
TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2007, 9am - 1pm:
WHEN TWO DOZEN disabled and elderly Malaysians - most of them for the first time in their lives - venture into the Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) early next week with their wheelchairs, walking aids and white canes, they will have to face several challenges.
One of them - hopefully - is to overcome their fears and worst nightmares.
These include having an aversion to creepy crawlies like spiders and cold-blooded creatures that many of us would never dream of getting close to: large lizards, warty frogs - and even possibly a snake or two!
However, fret not everybody because we in Petpositive have no plans of introducing a Fear Factor made-for-television style experience to our participants.
In fact, what we have in mind is far better than anything the US TV host Joe Rogen (below, right) can muster.
FRIEND OF THE FOREST
Say hello to zoologist Norsham Suhaina Yaakob (Below, left). A true friend to the forest and its biodiversity, she will be conducting a session where the disabled and the elderly will be able to get close and personal to some of the real and natural residents of FRIM.
Depending on which of the nocturnal creatures that she is able to to catch on the night before the animal therapy session, it was initially difficult to get the animal rights activist to agree to do the session for Petpositive.
Norsham was more worried about the stress levels and discomfort our event would cause to these wonderful creatures (and rightfully so) but she finally consented when she realised that this was to help the disabled and elderly persons.
However, not before coming up with effective plans on how to keep the animals as comfortable as possible first, such as keeping frogs constantly re hydrated, etc.Norsham who works at the Kepong Botanical Garden in FRIM told Petpositive Blog (P+B) that our upcoming event on Tuesday with the elderly and the disabled was the "perfect project for everyone to finally see nature as a form of therapy."
(Left: Green always keeps this girl grinning from ear to ear.)
"Many animals which originated from the wild have been domesticated either to aid our economic activities, for our protection or as good companions to human beings," she added.
Norsham who is currently posted at the plant nursery in FRIM first joined the organisation in 1998.
"Animals and plants accept people as they are with no bias," she points out.
"They do not care how we look or how we smell. Their acceptance is full and unconditional."
Norsham who has six cats in her home says taking part with Petpositive and working with the disabled, elderly, animals and nature has helped expand her horizon.
"I feel that I will be doing something positive for people and knowing that you're making a difference in the lives of others is a wonderful feeling to have.
"I would like to encourage more disabled and elderly persons to take up the challenge to open themselves to nature and then experience for themselves, the true power of nature," she concludes.
PETPOSITIVE WOULD LIKE TO SAY SYABAS TO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Melvin (012-205 5140) of Sindhu Trading (03-6272 3340) who are specialists in videography, music machine, sweets and food catering for sponsoring lunch to Petpositive for 70-persons at our Valentina Project in FRIM.
- Harvinder Kaur for putting us in touch with Melvin and arranging for 50 chairs and 5 tables to be delivered to FRIM with absolutely no cost to Petpositive. Congratulations also goes to Harvi for being elected Secretary of the PSOCAM, a KL national based sports society for the physically disabled.
- The Association of British Women of Malaysia (ABWM) in KL for funding to meet our other costs in arranging for the upcoming event.
The End
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