Dear Friends and Supporters,
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new chapter in ElShaddai Centre’s journey of service and impact. Community Development is our newest service arm dedicated to empowering diaspora communities and fostering lasting transformation across our communities.
Why Community Hubs Matter
In an increasingly fragmented world, having safe and welcoming meeting spaces is vital. Our community hubs provide:
A Foundation of Trust: Many individuals and families from diaspora communities face unique challenges navigating life in a new environment. Our centres offer trusted spaces where they can seek support without fear or judgment.
Connection and Belonging: These hubs combat isolation by bringing people together, fostering meaningful relationships, and creating a sense of home away from home.
Access and Opportunity: By establishing centres within the neighbourhoods where marginalised people live, we remove barriers to accessing programmes, resources, and support that can change lives.
Community Resilience: When people have safe places to gather, learn, and grow together, entire communities become stronger and more resilient.
Our Four Community Hubs at a Glance
Indonesian Community Centre (ICC)
Serving: Indonesian Origin Displaced Community
Key Programmes:
- 📚 Sanggar Bimbingan Education – 91 students (Primary 1-6) across 3 groups
- 📄 Documentation Assistance – Travel documents, birth registrations & repatriation support
- 2025: 82 travel documents | 38 birth registrations | 4 repatriation cases
- 🤝 Community Fellowship – Twice-monthly gatherings & spiritual teaching
- 🎉 Cultural Celebrations – Hari Raya, Indonesian Independence Day
- 👶 Children’s Activities – Weekly Saturday programmes
- 🏸 Recreation – Badminton sessions for community building
2025 Achievements:
Throughout 2025, the Indonesian Community Centre saw huge growth and enhanced connections among the community. With the opening of a new branch at KSKA in January, the Sanggar Bimbingan program greatly increased its student base to 91, with 40 new Indonesian pupils.
Along with education, the ICC processed 82 travel documents, registered 38 births, and assisted with four cases of repatriation.
Twice-monthly fellowship gatherings and a variety of cultural events, such as Hari Raya and Indonesian Independence Day, all contributed to the thriving community. We also arranged a leadership retreat in Penang and gave kids weekly activities. Since then, regular Saturday night badminton sessions have grown to be a well-known tradition in the community.
Kajang Community Centre
Serving: Arab Communities
Key Programmes:
- 🗣️ Language Education – Mandarin, Malay & English classes
- 👧 After-School Programmes – Structured learning & emotional support for children/youth
- 👩 Women’s Empowerment – Safe learning spaces & language classes
- 💎 Livelihood Training – Gemstone Craft & DIY T-Shirt Workshops
- ⚽ Football Academy – Value-based sports training with character development
- 🏥 Community Care – Health screenings, festive celebrations & home visits
2025 Achievements:
In 2025, a major achievement was achieved by the Kajang Football Academy, which is now fully operational with regular training sessions run by volunteer coaches that correspond to a set curriculum. Beyond sports, this value-based program incorporates tenacity, discipline, teamwork, and respect. It also provides leadership opportunities and mentoring to assist young people in applying what they learn in the field to real-life issues. Through the Gemstone Workshop and DIY T-Shirt Workshop, the centre also introduced hands-on livelihood training, establishing practical alternatives to self-reliance and possible income-making. An improved English learning program for Arab learners was launched through a major partnership with MarHabTech, with the goal of broadening to wider areas.
Ampang Community Centre
Serving: Afghan Community
Key Programmes:
- 👦 Boys’ Computer Class – Animation & coding instruction
- 👧 Girls’ Empowerment Class – Technology skills with creative activities
- 🎮 Social Engagement – Movies, games & sharing sessions
- 🏸 Recreation – Badminton activities for relationship building
2025 Achievements:
Youth-focused programs that recognise and deal with the many learning needs of young people in the community have been successfully implemented by the Ampang Community Centre. Volunteers teach animation and coding skills to eight students who attend the boys’ computer class at various times. Students are successfully finishing small projects at the end of each course, acquiring both technical skills and confidence, even though the program is still working on a more structured progress framework due to inconsistent attendance patterns.
The centre started a girls’ empowerment class that carefully combines technology instruction with creative activities like movies, video games, and meaningful sharing sessions after realising that different students need different learning approaches for computer-related skills. This all-encompassing strategy, which is currently in its early phases and has completed three sessions, provides a friendly environment where girls may develop social relationships and digital literacy.
Through badminton activities, the centre has developed deeper relationships outside of formal lessons, establishing unofficial settings for youth participation and trust-building that expand the centre’s impact beyond intended programming.
Berkeley Community Wellness Centre
Serving: Refugees and Displaced Communities of Mixed Origin
Key Programmes:
- 📖 Sanggar Bimbingan – 41 Indonesian students
- 📚 Accelerated Learning Programme – Primary 1-6 syllabus instruction
- 🤝 Family Support – Educational stability for the students’ families
2025 Achievements:
The Berkeley Community Centre (BCWC) serves as a vibrant hub for a variety of activities, providing a study space for students and hosting essential programs.
While the centre is known for supporting students enrolled in our Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP), it is also home to our social work team, which has an office on-site. Additionally, our air conditioning group, one of our vocational learning groups, also operates from BCWC and is also home to the Sanggar Bimbingan program, which has 41 Indonesian children enrolled.
The facilities at BCWC accommodate different community events, including graduation ceremonies for the ALP Learning Centre and other learning centres, such as the Pandamaran Learning Centre. These events celebrate student achievements and provide a platform for showcasing their hard work and progress. Furthermore, the community centre hosts competitions that promote healthy rivalry and teamwork, encouraging academic excellence and personal growth. The hall at BCWC allows families and community members to engage with our educational initiatives, fostering a sense of belonging and support among participants.
Join Us in This Journey
The launch of our Community Development service arm represents ElShaddai Centre’s deepening commitment to holistic community care. We believe that every person deserves a place to belong, opportunities to grow, and the support to thrive.
While challenges remain—particularly in funding, resources, and long-term volunteer commitment—we continue to strengthen partnerships with churches, businesses, and community stakeholders. As we embark on this new chapter, we invite you to walk alongside us. Whether through partnership, volunteering, or continued support, you can be part of building stronger, more resilient communities where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.
