We are dedicated to helping the underprivileged and marginalized communities in the region. The Lighthouse - “A Place of Hope” is a Community Service Centre by Penang Office For Human Development (POHD), social arm of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Penang. It was opened to reach out to the people of the urban poor, underprivileged, homeless and marginalized background in the society. The Lighthouse Community Service Centre was initiated on 19th March 2003. It began in a humble manner with only 6 clients and 12 volunteers using the St Francis Xavier’s Church compound operating 3 days a week, offering only dinner. As the number of clients increased, tea time was added. The operation days also increased to 5 days a week from Monday to Friday. In the beginning, we also have a program called the “Streetwalk”. It is a regular exposure program for donors and volunteers to carry out at night when the streets get settled down at about 11.00pm to 1.00am to reach out to the homeless and needy persons. The Lighthouse Feeding Centre
The Lighthouse Feeding Centre provides meals, counselling and health care services for the poor and needy. The facilities and services are as follows:
Meals: Tea (4.00pm) and Dinner (5.30pm - 7.00pm). Lounge: To rest and make friends. Bathrooms: For the homeless to bathe and clean themselves. (For now, we only give out packet food to the clients due to the COVID 19 outbreak.) Counseling: For those who seek it. We will refer them to someone. Jobs: It’s for those who wish to make a living. The persons will be interviewed and trained under the LightWorks if there's a vacancy. Throughout more than 19 years of operations, the Lighthouse is progressively growing and has expanded into many sections with added services and facilities as follows:
The LightWorks
The LightWorks is an offshoot of the Lighthouse Community Service Centre to help our clients or any marginalised, underprivileged or needy persons who wish to begin a new chapter in their life and integrate themselves back into the society. The LightWorks Contract Services
It’s for our clients or any underprivileged or needy person who are able to do outdoor contract works. These persons will be trained to operate the bush cutter, lawn mower and etc. With these skills, it helps to create a livelihood for them. Below are the services offered by the LightWorks:
1. Grave Maintenance
2. House/Office/Church Cleaning
3. Gardening/Lawn Mowing
4. Recycling (We only collect in bulk and at our workers’ availability)
When you engage with LightWorks, you will be helping the marginalised and underprivileged person to stand back up on his/her own feet. The Bright Sparks Children Learning and Support Centre
The Bright Sparks is a learning and support centre for the children of the poor, underprivileged, needy and homeless background by nurturing and helping these children attain their fullest potential in education and social graces. Bright Sparks started in Dec 2004. It was set up with the key purpose of improving the well-being and the development of the whole young child. In the beginning, The Bright Sparks began with only a few children but now we have cared for about 60 children in 4 centres namely, The Bright Sparks Lighthouse at the Lighthouse, IC Bright Sparks at Hong Seng, SH English Bright Sparks at Kulim and RC Bright Sparks Tuition Centre at Farlim. At Bright Sparks Lighthouse, we provide a holistic development program which includes academic, living skills, creativity skills and social skills for children who come after school from 3.30pm to 5.00pm. We also provide food nourishment and vitamins to the children. Other educational aids will be given to the needy children as and when the need is required. The Lightworks Technical, Vocational, Educational and Training Programme
In this program, we offer youths who have completed SPM to take up technical courses at the Penang Skill Development Centre (PSDC) or other colleges which also offer skills development courses. We have 10 students enrolled in PSDC. All have graduated with certificates and diplomas and are currently working. The students who are sent by the LightWorks to PSDC will be provided with accommodation and an allowance. Further to these LightWorks TVET programs in creating opportunities, we also collaborating with our partners such as The Lighthouse Cafe at 52A, Penang Road, The Lighthouse Bakery at 52D, Penang Road and The Lighthouse Thrift Shop at 52C, Penang Road to help upkeep and support all our operational programs in helping the poor and needy. For more enquiries about the Lighthouse ministry and it's services, kindly contact our Lighthouse office at 04-263 3842/ 263 8842.
