Bridges EIP (Project by PJEFC)

Bridges EIP Centre was set up as a non-profit community project by Petaling Jaya Evangelical Free Church (PJEFC) to help children with learning disabilities become more self-reliant. Their work covers disorders or syndromes which affects a child’s learning curve or development, particularly, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Down Syndrome, Autism Disorder Spectrum, Cerebral Palsy, and Global Development Delay.

The Centre is open to special children of all races and religion aged six years and below. It currently has 19 children under its tutelage. The children are taught on a one-on-one basis by a trained teacher, who is assisted by volunteers. At the time of writing, Bridges is unable to take in more children due to the shortage of trained teachers.

At Bridges, the children undergo the Early Intervention Programme (EIP). EIP is built on the philosophy that support and help should be given at the earliest possible age when a disability is diagnosed or suspected so that the child is given the opportunity to develop to his/her full potential.

It is a structured educational programme consisting of fun activities that incorporate all the main areas of a child’s development. Before starting the programme, every child is assessed and the parents interviewed so that an individualised education plan can be drawn up. The children attend sessions twice a week, with each session lasting about two-and-a-half hours.

Time is set aside for individual work as well as group activities to encourage social interaction. At least one parent accompanies the child throughout the session so that follow-up work can be done at home.

Our needs

It is currently funded by the PJEFC and has 1 permanent staff. Children at the Centre pay fees of about RM100 per month. However, fee exemptions are sometimes made on a case-by-case basis.

Number of Paid Staff: 1

Estimated Monthly Expenditure: RM7,000

Bridges EIP welcomes interested volunteer to help working with children. Good in music, art and craft, baking.

Full-time teachers as the number of children we are able to take in depends on our manpower. The organisation works with pre-school children and is usually the first stop for parents with special needs children. The centre does a lot of one-to-one work with the children.

In-kind donations

• Certain second-hand equipment can be converted into useful teaching materials or tools to help develop a child’s motor skills (such as old electric typewriters, steppers, treadmill, etc).

• Bridges is also sourcing for funding to build a therapy room for its children.

• Household supplies such as liquid hand wash, tissue paper, toilet paper, floor cleaning detergent, new coat of paint for the building.

• Learning aid or kits like art paper, paint for art work, fabric paint and fabric pen, play dough, we also need people who are good in woodwork to making some teaching aids for us.

• Bridges EIP plans to hire a second staff as a teacher who is a graduate with experience in this area. The centre is looking at a monthly salary of at least RM3,000 and needs support for this new staff for at least two years.

Cheques Made Payable to: Bridges EIP.