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Crafting for a Cause:
A Look Behind the Crafter
By Kendrick Yap Ee Jun
After the school carnival, we had the of Chinese education in Malaysia, regularly
honour to interview Madam Wang Yue Juan, participating in charity sales organised by
whose dedication to handcrafts and giving Chinese language schools. By contributing her
back to the community has left a lasting impact handcrafted items to these fundraising events,
in this charity sale. In this interview, she shared she plays an active role in supporting the schools
insights into her journey of crafting and why and helping them raise the funds needed. As
supporting our school charity sale was so a strong supporter of Chinese education, she
important to her. chose to send her son to CHKL. She expressed
her admiration for the dedication of Chinese
Madam Wang’s journey with Chinese school teachers, whom she observed have put
knotting began many years ago with her in exceptional effort despite receiving similar
involvement in a Buddhist organisation. wages as other educators in the industry.
On Wesak Day every year, the organisation
organises charity sales, and she wanted to Madam Wang has been incredibly
contribute in a meaningful way. Her sister was busy lately, preparing for several charity sales.
skilled in the traditional art of Chinese knotting, Through a connection with one of our teachers,
but since she did not have the time to learn she learned about our school carnival and
directly from her sister before returning to decided to join without hesitation. She poured
Malaysia from Taiwan, she decided to learn on countless hours into preparing for the sale,
her own. She purchased materials and books, carefully crafting each item with great attention
immersing herself in the craft. to detail, and her dedication truly paid off. On
the day of the school carnival, the students were
As Madam Wang produced more and so interested in her crafts that they sold out in
more beautiful masterpieces, her creativity no time! The response was absolutely amazing;
blossomed and she was able to make numerous there was so much energy and excitement from
variations such as phone accessories, everyone, she felt a deep sense of fulfilment.
keychains, door ornaments and bracelets by The students also helped out by selling her
adding precious crystal and beautiful beads items, which made the whole experience even
that made each piece unique and beautiful. more meaningful to her. She was really happy
She soon began regularly participating in to see how much her work was appreciated. In
charity sales, where she met teachers from total, she estimated her stall having raised over
Chinese independent schools who invited her RM10,000 for our school making it the most
to teach students as part of their co-curricular successful sale she ever held.
activities. This opportunity allowed her to share
the traditional craft of Chinese knotting with Despite feeling exhausted after such a
younger generations, which she found deeply busy day, Madam Wang was incredibly happy.
fulfilling. Her crafts had found a place in so many hearts,
and she could not have been happier with the
Madam Wang’s outcome. What brought her even more joy was
passion for Chinese the fact that, through her contributions, she was
education also able to support Chinese education and meet
ran deep. She amazing young students who are passionate
has long been a about giving back to the society, both of which
strong supporter she deeply values.
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90 ......... A Humble Chong Hwa Ren’s Perspective A Humble Chong Hwa Ren’s Perspective 91
