Bringing hope to those in need

FOUNDED in 2013, Hope Place has spent more than a decade helping underprivileged communities through food aid distribution and other assistance aimed at improving their quality of life.

The Kuching-based non-profit organisation continues to explore sustainable ways of supporting vulnerable families, including through its Kedai Bajet initiative, which has expanded to three outlets.

In this interview, Hope Place’s Media Officer and Administrator Lisa Chee reflects on the changing face of poverty in Sarawak, the challenges of sustaining charitable work and its aspirations for the next decade.

SARAWAK TRIBUNE : More than a decade after Hope Place was established, how has the organisation evolved over the years?

Hope Place members delivers food aid to a poor family. Photo: Hope Place

CHEE : Hope Place has grown from serving families in need into a more established community support organisation in Kuching and beyond. Through our work, we have learned that every family faces different circumstances and requires an approach suited to its needs.

Our work has expanded beyond providing basic necessities. We have strengthened our operations, built relationships with donors and volunteers, and explored ways to make our assistance more sustainable. Our Kedai Bajet initiative is one example of this broader approach.

Despite these developments, our core mission remains unchanged: to improve the quality of life of underprivileged families, regardless of their background or religion.

We want every family we assist to know that they have not been forgotten and that there is hope for a better future.

How has the face of poverty in Sarawak changed since Hope Place first began?

One important lesson we have learned is that poverty is not always visible. While people may associate poverty with families lacking food or shelter, others may appear to be doing reasonably well while quietly struggling to make ends meet.

Some families have low or irregular incomes, while others face difficulties due to illness, disabilities, old age, single parenthood or circumstances that affect their ability to support themselves. Even households with working adults can struggle when their earnings are insufficient to cover basic needs.

An unexpected event, such as a medical emergency or job loss, can quickly place a family in financial difficulty. Poverty is not simply about how much a person earns, but also about how vulnerable a household becomes when something goes wrong.

These experiences remind us not to judge people by their appearance or circumstances. Every family has its own challenges and our responsibility is to understand those needs and provide appropriate assistance.

Are more working families now struggling to cope with the rising cost of living? What are their main challenges?

House repairing is one of the services provided by Hope Place. Photo: Hope Place

Yes. Having a job does not necessarily mean that a family is financially secure. Rising living costs place considerable pressure on households, particularly those with low incomes, dependents or only one earning member.

Families must prioritise essentials such as food, rent, electricity, water, transport, education and medical expenses. After covering these costs, many have little left for emergencies or savings.

Some households can manage their daily expenses but lack a financial cushion when unexpected costs arise. If a family member falls ill, a vehicle breaks down or a parent becomes temporarily unable to work, the household may struggle to meet even its usual expenses.

Some families also face difficulties qualifying for assistance despite experiencing genuine financial hardship.

This is why community support remains important. Providing food or essential supplies can ease financial pressure and allow families to use their limited income for other urgent needs.

How can charity go beyond providing immediate needs and help families achieve a more stable future?

Immediate assistance is essential because people cannot focus on improving their future if they lack food or cannot meet their basic needs. However, charitable work must also consider the bigger picture.

We must first understand each family’s circumstances. While some may need temporary food assistance, others may require help accessing medical care, education, employment opportunities or other community resources.

Collaboration is equally important. Charitable organisations cannot solve every problem alone. By working with government agencies, businesses, community groups and other service providers, we can connect families with support suited to their needs.

We must also respect the dignity and independence of those we assist. The aim is not to make families dependent on charity, but to help them achieve greater stability whenever their circumstances allow.

However, not every situation can be resolved quickly. Some families may need long-term assistance because of old age, disabilities or chronic illnesses. For them, consistent support is just as important as helping others move towards independence.

Ultimately, success should not be measured solely by the amount of assistance distributed, but by whether it makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

What was the idea behind the Kedai Bajet initiative and how does it support Hope Place’s wider mission ?

Kedai Bajet was established to make affordable goods accessible to the public while supporting Hope Place’s wider charitable mission.

We recognise that not everyone can afford goods at regular retail prices, while many pre-loved items remain useful and can be given a second life instead of being discarded.

The initiative addresses both needs by offering affordable items and encouraging reuse and responsible consumption. It allows useful goods to continue serving a purpose while giving the public access to more affordable shopping options.

Kedai Bajet also provides another way for people to support our mission through donations of suitable items, purchases at our outlets or by spreading the word about the initiative.

With three outlets, including our third at Pine Square, Kedai Bajet has become an additional platform for community engagement. It complements our charitable work while allowing us to explore more sustainable ways of supporting our mission.

For us, it is about more than selling affordable goods. It involves making better use of available resources, encouraging community participation and finding practical ways to continue helping those in need.

A customer buys clothes from a Kedai Bajet. Photo: Hope Place

What are the biggest challenges Hope Place faces today, particularly in terms of funding, volunteers and manpower?

One of our biggest challenges is ensuring that we have sufficient and consistent resources to meet the needs of the families we serve.

Donations are essential but the amount we receive can fluctuate even as community needs continue. We must plan carefully to use available resources responsibly and provide assistance as consistently as possible.

Manpower is another challenge. Charity work involves more than distributing aid; it includes assessing cases, coordinating distributions, maintaining records, communicating with donors, arranging logistics and ensuring smooth daily operations. These responsibilities require time, skills and a dedicated team.

Volunteers are invaluable although their availability varies according to work commitments, personal schedules and other responsibilities. While we appreciate everyone who contributes their time, certain operational duties require consistent staffing and supervision.

As the organisation grows, we must balance expanding our services with maintaining quality and accountability. Taking on more cases without sufficient capacity could affect our ability to support families properly.

Moving forward, we hope to establish stronger, long-term partnerships with corporate organisations, local businesses, donors and volunteers. Consistent support through funding, goods, professional expertise or time would help us plan more effectively and serve the community better.

After more than a decade of serving the community, what keeps you motivated to continue this work?

Hope Place Kuching founder Kelvin Wan (left) and his team member present Hari Raya contributions to a family. Photo: Hope Place

What keeps us motivated is knowing that our work makes a real difference, even when that difference may seem small.

Providing essential supplies can mean one less worry for a parent trying to feed their children or an elderly person with limited means of support.

This work also reminds us never to underestimate the struggles others face. We may not be able to change someone’s entire situation, but we can make their journey easier and remind them that they are not alone.

Charitable work can be demanding, especially when resources are limited and the needs seem greater than what we can provide. During these times, we remind ourselves why Hope Place was established in the first place.

We are also encouraged by our staff, volunteers, donors and community partners, whose willingness to contribute shows that many people care about others and want to make a difference.

For us, this work goes beyond providing assistance. It is about compassion, dignity and the belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to live a better life.

Looking ahead, what do you hope Hope Place will achieve over the next 10 years?

Over the next 10 years, we hope to become an even more sustainable and effective organisation. We hope to reach out to more families while continuing to support those already under our care.

One priority is to strengthen our operational capacity so that we can manage resources effectively, respond to community needs and maintain consistent service standards.

We also hope to develop stronger partnerships with businesses, corporate organisations, volunteers and other community stakeholders. Initiatives such as Kedai Bajet should continue to grow as practical ways of engaging the public and making better use of available resources while remaining aligned with our charitable mission.

Another important goal is to build a strong and sustainable team. An organisation’s impact depends not only on funding but also on the people carrying out the work. We want staff and volunteers to contribute effectively so that Hope Place can continue serving the community for many years.

Most importantly, we hope fewer families will have to face hardship alone. Although we may not be able to eliminate poverty entirely, we can continue to ease the burden on vulnerable households, connect them with appropriate support and foster a community where people care for one another.

Our vision is not simply to grow bigger but to become stronger, more sustainable and more impactful. If we can continue to bring hope to those who need it, then we will have achieved something meaningful.