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As the festive spirit of Chinese New Year fills the air with bright decorations, joyful reunions, and tables overflowing with delicious food, not all families can partake in the celebrations. For some, the excitement of the holiday season is overshadowed by the harsh reality of their daily struggles. While many are preparing to indulge in feasts and buy new clothes, there are families, like that of 54-year-old Chang, who can only dream of such luxuries.
Chang, a part-time art teacher and a person with a disability, has been living in extreme poverty. For over a year, his family’s main source of food has been chicken head soup, purchased for just RM2 to RM4 per kilogram. The soup, though a staple, is not a choice but a necessity, as it is one of the few affordable options available to them. Chang admits, “I’m not sure if it’s healthy to eat chicken heads every day, but for now, we have no choice.”
Despite the harshness of their situation, the family continues to scrape by Chang’s monthly income, which is between RM300 and RM400, barely covers the rent for their modest home, let alone the basic needs of his wife, who suffers from depression, and their two children. His children, aged 14 and 11, often ask for nicer food or new clothes for the Chinese New Year, but their requests remain unmet. The children, like their parents, have grown accustomed to not having the luxuries that others take for granted. They wear old clothes and make do with whatever food is available, even if it means eating the same chicken head soup day after day.
In a world where celebrations are marked by abundance, Chang’s family faces a daily struggle to ensure they have enough to eat, let alone celebrate in the traditional way. Their Chinese New Year preparations are non-existent, and they can only dream of a festive meal shared with loved ones. Yet, despite the overwhelming financial strain, Chang remains resolute in providing for his family. His gratitude for the small assistance they receive, such as monthly donations of rice and cooking oil, and the RM300 monthly aid from the Department of Social Welfare, keeps them going.
In these moments of deep hardship, the gap between the celebrations enjoyed by some and the survival struggles of others is painfully wide. Families like Chang’s continue to endure silently, hoping that one day, their situation will improve. For now, they find solace in the support of kind-hearted individuals who help them get by, reminding us that even in the brightest of celebrations, there are those who remain in the shadows, desperately hoping for a better tomorrow.
Those who wish to ease the burden on Chang’s family can contribute through his OCBC account at 710-274940-7.
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