Sunflowers and an apple tree

The sunflowers beckoned me as I walked into Green Fingers, a section of the Kiwanis Careheart Centre in the Sutera Utama Education Hub in Jalan Persisiran Sutera Danga 1, Johor Baru.  Today marked the grand opening of the three-storey centre which trains children with autism, Down Syndrome and other learning disorders various skills to enable them to be independent.

As I ventured further into Green Fingers, I came across an apple tree among some 20 types of fruit trees.  It's the first time I've laid eyes on an apple three.  However, there are no apples on the tree.

The centre also teaches its trainees to grow mushrooms using the effective microorganism (EM) technology. One can find the oyster mushroom, abalone mushroom and black fungus at the section called the Careheart Mushroom Farm.

The centre has adopted horticultural therapy, where plants and gardens are used for healing and rehabilitation.

Besides selling mushrooms to generate an income for the centre, a non-governmental organisation operating under the auspices of the Kiwanis Club of Taman Sentosa, it also sells organic vegetables and runs a cafe.  Selling fish and prawns are in the pipeline.

Other highlights include an international art gallery which features a collection of art pieces done by specially challenged individuals from various parts of the globe, a pond with water lilies and fishes.

There's also this wonderful thrift shop on the ground floor which is run by the parent support group which opens from 10.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday, where one can find cheap yet lovely gifts and the money spent here is for charity.  Isn't that meaningful?

Do visit this wonderful place and give your support, as "it is in the giving that we receive" - Prayer of St. Francis, 13th century saint.

For further enquiries, call 07-5563743 or email careheart_jb@yahoo.com.