Ricky’s Online Business Blog

For those people who are infected with AIDS/HIV, what does the future hold for them?  Not much, we may think.

How shall they live while they are still alive?  Can they still live normally like you and me?  Well, if they were known by others as having AIDS/HIV, they often will face discrimination against them.

Unfortunately, social stigma is inevitable.  They are deprived of privileges and opportunities in life.  They are discriminated, ignored, forsaken.  Their lives seem gone.

Recently, I was approached by my friend in charge of Crisis Home, an non-profit organization taking care of these unfortunate people, to do something online for them.

So a blog has been set up at http://www.crisishome.org.  It serves to create awareness in the society, to dispel social stigma and misunderstandings against those with AIDS/HIV, and to communicate the message of the organization through the Internet.

It is in serving them that I had to confess and repent for my own discrimination against these people.  I’m culpable for my misunderstandings against them, including a few popular myths about HIV/AIDS.

Yes, they are infected with AIDS/HIV.  But they are still human.  There is definitely hope for them to be useful in this life, and after.

I enjoy doing planning and strategizing, not only for business but other things as well.  I like to think of stupid ideas all the time. But who knows some stupid ideas are not really stupid.  Maybe their time just has not come?

In these times of rising living costs, some of us may need to be more frugal and prudent in our spending.  We may need to stop spending on luxurious items, eating out in expensive restaurants, and buying more than what we need…

Mixed rice or nasi campur is one most popular and cheapest meal we can get in Malaysia.  But you know even it has gone up in price!  A normal dish for RM3.50 can now cost RM4.00 or more!

What if we open a mixed rice shop where we no longer decide the price?  Customers just pick their food, come to the end of table, collect spoon and fork, and pay whatever amount they want into a donation box?  Perhaps the stall can even be left unmanned and labor cost saved.

For those who cannot pay the normal price, let them pay whatever they want.  For those who refuse to pay anything, let them eat. Those who don’t pay anything maybe because they really cannot afford, or they are simply shameless.  In either case, let them eat all they want.  It’s a service and blessing to the poor in the society.

But I’m sure there are also those who can afford to pay more, perhaps they may pay more to cover for others?  When counting the money, who knows it may be even more profitable than is a normal mixed rice shop?

Who knows some people may even get impressed by such shop that they become our PR to spread out to the whole world by word of mouth?  Maybe we can open even more branches throughout the nation?

Anyway, weird idea aside.  I started to think of such idea not from a business point of view, but as a service to the poor especially in such times of bad economy.

Moreover, in gathering people together, we can get to know these people, talk to them, fellowship with them and expand our social network!

I know it’s stupid.  But don’t laugh at me.  Perhaps one day when I have a little more resources, I may put this into practice!

This announcement is for registered tutors in NextLevel Tutor Network in Malaysia, or anyone who can help.

We are looking for a volunteer tutor for a special child in Klang. He is 5 years old Chinese, slow learning and can’t really speak. The child is being taken care of in the “Finding Angels” Mandarin charity programme by NTV7.

The plight of the child and his family will be telecasted on 17th July 2008 at 6pm. The second episode about them will be them will be on 26th July 2008 at 6pm.

The tutor required is:

• Chinese speaking
• Has experience teaching special child
• Patient, compassionate and willing to contribute to the society.

Male or female tutor does not matter. This is a volunteer work but you can claim some allowance from us if you are a NextLevel tutor. If you are not a NextLevel tutor, we can give you a NextLevel tutor account for free.

As a tutor, please let us know your suggestion on what to teach this child. You may need to teach him twice or thrice a week.

Can you or anyone you know help? Please contact us immediately.