Stepping Stone is an arts-and-crafts and baking workshop and that employs adults with disabilities. Discarded or used materials are repurposed into lifestyle items: think homemade soap from used cooking oil, table runners made from magnetic tape from cassettes. Proceeds go back towards the artisans. The centre also welcomes volunteers and artists-in-residence to lend a hand.
“People with intellectual disabilities have the same rights, hopes and expectations as any other individual, with gifts to offer, experiences to teach and hopes to fulfill. We believe with the necessary support and given opportunities, our members can develop career growth. Therefore, we tried our best to create activities that would bring out their skills and abilities rather than focus on their limitations.
One of our greatest breakthroughs took place when a graphics designer joined us. During her eight years with us, she created many of the visual charts and aids that we currently use to work with our members. We noticed that the members responded well to creative stimulation and since then, we have welcomed many more artists to work with us.
There was a fine arts student from Canada who encouraged our members to enter the world of arts. An Australian artist worked with two of our members on paintings, which we auctioned and were able to raise RM70,000 (US$16,865). Then there was a soapmaker who was so inspired by what he saw that he shared with us his soap formula, which led to one of our biggest projects – producing 6,000 pieces of soap as door gifts for a Penang multinational corporation. Success stories like this keep us going and boost our members’ morale. We can do more, and we want to do more!
We have discovered so many hidden talents in our midst. One of the guys can freehand-draw batik designs, another girl discovered a flair for oil painting. Many who join as apprentices have progressed to become skilled workers and in-house trainers. We run workshops where our talented members share their skills with outsiders who wish to learn craft-making. Recently, we introduced an artist residency programme [at a living facility next door], so artists can spend more time with us.
There are more things that we want to do. In the past, we’ve held back because of staffing, but after struggling for years with staff who come and go, we decided to change our approach and find talent in-house. That way, we can help them chart a career path and integrate them meaningfully into society.
When visitors come and see the work they do, they see how talented they really are. This is what we want to achieve – for people to see their abilities, not their disabilities.”
Read our Weekend of Good guide to Penang for more travel tips and ideas
Find about more about Stepping Stone Work Centre
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