RACHAEL PHILIP
rachael@nstp.com.my
She was a stressed-out go-getter but when her business failed, Datin Catherine Lai found satisfaction in charity work,
writes RACHAEL PHILIP
writes RACHAEL PHILIP
SHE was the kind of boss you’d prefer to admire from a distance. “I wasn’t a very nice person. If I wanted something I’d go and get it. Nothing could stop me,” recalls Datin Catherine Lai who ran an interior designs company called Esca Designs some 10 years back.
That’s motivation. But Lai placed very high expectations on herself and with that came the fear of failing. Then, there was the related stress. “Now I know it doesn’t have to be like that. If you create a pleasant work environment, the energy is good all around and things start to fall in place,” she says with a smile.
She speaks with the wisdom of hindsight... and conviction. She’s no longer a “Wesak Day Buddhist” (as she puts it), but one who has taken the time to contemplate and study the religion.
Lai is the busy adviser to the year-old Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre in Petaling Jaya which she helped set up. It offers classes in tai qi, cane exercises, conversational Mandarin and, soon to come, English Language.
She hopes it will empower women as well as the underprivileged by helping them pick up valuable skills.
Today, the Penchala centre launches its Meals On Wheels project, that will take food sponsored by the public, to refugee shelters and homes.
Lai’s turning point came in 1998 when her 10-year-old interior design company, which did work for hotels and resorts, suffered losses during the economic crisis. She closed it. “It was a big blow. My arrogance made it hard for me to accept the fact that I had failed,” says Lai whose husband is an advertising consultant. The pair have two boys, aged 11 and 14.
About six years ago, her father became very sick and slipped into a coma. This time, Lai was forced to downshift and take stock of her life.
She made a vow to give her time and energy to some charitable cause in the hope that her father recovers.
Lai turned to the Theravada High Chief of Malaysia, Dhammaratana, her spiritual adviser who was with the family during this difficult time. He said he had just the job for her and took her to a piece of land near PJ Old Town that had been vacant for 10 years.
“He wanted me to build a community centre that would hold activities as well as religious classes,” recalls Lai, eldest of four siblings.
“I think I know now why he did that — to make me stronger and to be more positive in that difficult time,” she adds.
Sadly, her father died but Lai was keen to make good her vow. Her first fund-raising event brought in RM10,000. But they needed RM700,000.
“I felt very guilty and stressed over the whole thing. I went to see the High Chief to surrender the project.
“But he told me not to worry and not to rush. ‘Take your time, be sincere in your efforts, have no expectations and it will happen,’ he said. I kept repeating those words like a mantra.” It saw her through. Cash and kind started pouring in. People donated tiles, curtains and furniture. Lai designed and furnished the two-storey building around what she received.
“I had never spearheaded any charity event but I had good friends I could depend on,” she says.
While everyone involved was working hard to erect the physical structure, walls were breaking down within Lai.
“My father’s death triggered something in me. I decided to delve into Buddhism. I still remember the first class I attended. It was called The Life Of The Buddha For Beginners,” she says.
“My friends have commented that I have changed. Well, I haven’t shaved my head. I still wear make-up. I still have my designer bags but life evolves, you know.” For some time, Lai used to wonder why her business failed. It was a creative line in which she had thrived. Now she realises that her duty is at the centre. It is here that she is happiest.
“I feel I had to go through all that. It was a normal process but I feel I don’t have to chase after things anymore,” she concludes.
Meals on wheels THE idea came from an impromptu brainstorming session she had with friends and relatives. Someone suggested handing out packed food to the poor and another recommended going out to the needy and delivering the food.
“A friend donated a van and, now that we have wheels, we can go anywhere. We can even carry other useful things like blankets and books,” says Datin Catherine Lai, adviser to the Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre in PJ.
“The van is equipped with cooking hobs. During a natural disaster, we can mobilise our team to go to ground zero and cook and serve from the van.” This way, the food will always look appetising and will be served warm. Currently, due to insufficient manpower, the volunteers will take food sponsored by hotels and restaurants to refugee shelters and homes.
Lai plans to start small. The van will only go out fortnightly but there are plans to do it weekly and even daily.
If they fail to get sponsors, she says she will round up friends to cook the meals.
“We’ll start in the Klang Valley but I have dreams of moving to the outskirts and rural areas.” Here’s a thought, instead of throwing lavish birthday parties, individuals can also sponsor meals. Call the centre 03-7784 9002 for details.
No comments:
Post a Comment