Ponderings of a wondering mind.....

Thursday, 30th December 2010

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Everything seems to be so final. I am feeling melancholic. Tomorrow we will bid 2010 - adieu and welcome 2011 with gutso.

As for FRIENDS OF KAPAR, we bid 2010 - good-bye & thank you. Good bye old friend, we won't be passing thorough again, you will always be our bitter sweet memory. Thank you for making us wiser. Thank you for allowing us to make a difference in many, many lives. Thank you for allowing us to touch others and hence enriching ourselves.

As for me personally, my life is so closely connected to FRIENDS OF KAPAR. My waking hours are divided equally between FoK and my dearly beloved Family (Shah, Eva & The Cats!). I look at 2011 with renewed hope - hope that FoK's mission will continue.

I hope that FoK will continue to make a difference in many more lives - regardless of race, religion, culture & political beliefs - elsewhere, everywhere and not only in Kapar. Let the truth be known that there are many, many other impoverished areas tucked away, so remote and unknown to us. Places where children run around without clothes on their backs and hunger is their best friend. Where infants are fed with black tea in their feeding bottles and snorts running thickly down their noses into their mouths.

I pray and hope that FRIENDS OF KAPAR has the strength to carry on making a difference in these places and to these lives.......in 2011.

Beyond Kapar......

Wednesday, 29th Deecember 2010

There's only 3 more days left to 2010. Soon it would be "sayonara" 2010 & "moshi-moshi" 2011. I am somewhat apprehensive. In 2011 - Eva (our - as in Shah's & mine - daughter) will be sitting for her PMR exams. I am after all a parent first, and just like any other parent, I am worried! I am worried for her performance as well as for MY performance. Will I be able to juggle parenthood with an exam-sitting-teenager and FRIENDS OF KAPAR with its issues? Hmm.........."Nisi Dominus Frustra"

I am proud to announce that FRIENDS OF KAPAR has come a full circle. It has managed to widen its web of assistance. In doing so, it has made a difference in the lives of not only to our friends in Kapar but also those of countless other friends we came across - in Kota Bharu, Kelantan as well as to our Orang Asli friends - in Mentakab, Temerloh & Jerantut. In its mission statement - the objective of this humble NGO is to make a difference in many many lives regardless of race, religion, culture & political beliefs. In the second half of the year 2010 - we have managed to do just that!

On Saturday, 30th October 2010 - FRIENDS OF KAPAR paid a visit to Mentakab, Pahang. 10 families were assisted with food pacakages. We also visited an Orang Asli Settlement deep in the jungle of Kuala Krau. What we saw in the Settlement was very touching. Children were running around without clothes. The lucky ones have tattered clothes on their backs. The adults were not any better. They live in huts. We felt that we were in a different civilization altogather. We contributed 20kg - rice, 5 kg - potato, 10 tins - sardines, 2 packets - 3.5kg meehoon, 2 tins - biscuits, 2 tins - 2kg tin MILO for the children's sustenance. We also distributed some biscuits, chocolates, sweets, bars of soap for each of the children.

Every Saturday at about 2pm the children in the Settlements will come togather to play games, sing songs, learn to read & write. They do these activities in a clearing in the jungle. FRIENDS OF KAPAR hopes to start a small Activity Centre - similar but in a smaller scale to that of The CNC (Kapar). The CNC (Mentakab) - Community Nurture Centre (Mentakab) - is what we plan to call it, will be a place for The Mentakab Kidz to call their own. Hopefully 2011, will see that this dream materialize.

It is also our hope to assist 30 families in Mentakab with food packages regularly. Their needs are not much different from those of The Kapar Folks. The usual packet would include - rice, meehoon, flour, sugar, salt, oil & coffee powder.

On Friday, 26th November 2010, I made a personal trip to Kota Bharu in Kelantan. There, I stayed at The Renaissance Hotel, KB. I was taken aback to see a gaily decorated Xmas tree. On that tree were hung 100 little wish cards written by poor & underprivileged children requesting for back-to-school items. I collected 64 of these cards and brought them back to KL. Within 10 days, with the help of Volunteers, we bought the requested items, packed them individually and couriered them to The Renaissance Hotel to be distributed to these children when school reopens in 2011. I wish to record a special "Thank You" to Mr. Lee of Expressway who had taken great length in collecting these items, packing them and sending them safely to Kota Bharu without charging a single sen! Thank You So Much, Mr. Lee for making a difference to these 64 children. You have ensured that they are able to start the school year on the right foot!

FRIENDS OF KAPAR - without realizing and unconciously - has manged to make a difference in all walks of lives. We have fulfilled our mission and most importantly we have covered a cross section of the Malaysian Society, regardless of race, religion, culture & political beliefs.

This we hope will continue in 2011.......

When the heart speaks.....

Tuesday, 28th January 2010

As I have written in the earlier blog - 2010 is quickly coming to an end. With the end of 2010 and the arrival of 2011, I am full of hope....a freshly renewed hope of making a difference in Kapar and elsewhere - where the poor & the underprivileged can be assisted regardless of race, reigion, culture & political beliefs!

2010 saw a full year of activities and events in Kapar. The Kapar Kidz had benefitted from the assistance given by FRIENDS OF KAPAR with the help of kind Contributors. The CNC (Kapar) has blossomed from just a building into that of a "home" & a centre. The Resources Centre is slowly taking shape. Books are being donated for the children's intellectual enjoyment. The Toy Library is overflowing with toys! The Computer Centre will slowly be taking shape in 2011 - after a setback - a kind Contributor has pledged 8 PCs for The Kapar Kidz. The Tuition Centre is full to its brim with young learners. Next year, more classes are being opened to cater to this growing demand of more serious learners. The Activity Centre has added a Dancing Class & an Art Class to its activities. In 2011, a Contributor & her group of friends have pledged to start an Indian Classical Music Class at The CNC (Kapar). Let's hope that will be a reality......

The CNC (Kapar) - started in February 2010 with the objective of catering to the needs of The Kapar Kidz & The Kapar Youths. This objective has clearly been achieved!

Kapar is where I started FRIENDS OF KAPAR - it opened my eyes & my heart to real poverty. After entering Kapar, I saw many things that I have not seen (or pretend not to see). Coming from a different racial background, the problems faced by the Indian Folks of Kapar and in the estates are something that is far and detached from my normal everyday life. Yes, I read about them in the newspapers but - hey...it does NOT concerned me! Why bother?? But entering Kapar has changed all that perception. I see many things in a different light now.

2010 - saw me working very, very hard - especially in the 2nd half of the year - to make a difference in Kapar. It was tough but feasible! "Nissi Dominus Frustra" - "Nothing is Impossible" is my motto!

It is my endeavour to use The CNC (Kapar) as a pilot project. I hope to set up a similar CNC elsewhere, tucked away in some remote and unknown place - another place where children can call it their own........

Looking back.....

Monday, 27th December 2010

2010 is quickly coming to an end. I am writing this abroad - not at my usual comfort zone of my Work Station. I am on holiday - taking a much deserved year end break with my Family. However, FRIENDS OF KAPAR is never out of my mind. It sits there hovering, watching, waiting ....eagerly waiting for me to start making a difference again.

2010 has been very busy. It has been a very eventful year! It has also been an eye opener and a learning curve for me. Friendships were delightfully made and foes were regretfully discovered. Hopefully forgiveness can be found - tis after all a season for joy & giving (forgiveness included!).

FRIENDS OF KAPAR would NOT and could NOT have existed without the generous assistance of countless individuals who shared their benevolence. Without them we would not have been able to make a difference in Kapar and to the other impoverished areas.

To ALL - Thank You So Much for Making a Difference! Happy New Year - May 2011 bring Joy & Happiness to you and your loved ones!

The End of the Year Cheer!!

Sunday, 5th December 2010

FRIENDS OF KAPAR threw a Xmas Carnival for The Kapar Kidz. A total of 300 adults and children attended the Party.

Cynthia, Zaidi & Nad - volunteered to decorate The CNC. This was done on Saturday with The Kapar Kidz help. They put up a nice Xmas tree to evoke the spirit of Xmas. Cynthia & her friends sponsored goodie bags for The Kapar Kidz, too. Lunch was jointly sponsored by Cynthia's Mom - sambal chicken, vegetable dhall, fried veg, pineapple & cucumber salad and apples, Rotary Club Melawati sponsored mutton perathal, egg sambal, keasari and jelly & Sri Narayani Foundation sponsored the rice.

Adrian - Cynthia's friend sposored a clown for the children's entertaintment. He came with his wife who brought 60 beautifully decorated cupcakes which we all dovoured with gutso.

In conjuction with the Party a Back to School Program 2011 was held by the Rotary Club of Melawati in collaboration with FRIENDS OF KAPAR. Joining RC Melawati Members was Assistant Governor Bharat of Rotary Club Metro KL & Rotary Club Bukit Bintang.

RC Melawati headed by President Chandra generously contributed 2 pairs of uniforms, 2 pairs of socks, a pair of school shoes and a school bag to about 120 poor & underprivileged children of Kapar. A remainder of 30 more children will be given their new uniform sets upon the start of the school term in 2011.

I was pleasantly surprised when Assistant Governor Bharat joined us in the handing out of the uniform

During a quiet moment with me, President Shanti actually told me of her childhood background. Coming from a poor family, she could actually connect with The Kapar Kidz. In all the photos in this album, one could see her warmth penetrating through her smiles, as she mixed freely with The Kapar Kidz.

Needless to say, there were happy faces all around at the end of the Presentation. Thank You So Much for making the next school year exciting!

The Rotarians also took sometime to watch performances put up by the children. From left:

Raj, Bee-Bee, President Chandra, Shan, Doris, Shanti, Anita & Nair.

Thank You So Much for making today a success! Thank you for making a difference!

Superstar Treatment in Penang for Kapar Kidz.......

Wednesday, 24th November 2010

22 children from Kapar accompanied by their 3 minders were special guests to The Hard Rock Hotel Penang for 3 days 2 nights. The long awaited trip was organized by Music Legend & Philantrophy Zainalabidin and his his lovely wife Angelina Asmawi.

22 children - 11 boys and 11 girls were chosen based on their performance, progress, attendance as well as positive attitude towards their peers at The CNC. It was a very difficult choice to make as we wanted to reward the "right" children. The list was drawn and ammended many, many times before a decision was made.

Infact, organization of this trip took as long as 6 months before it all came togather. Angelina Asmawi singlehandedly organized this wonderful event.

The Penang Trip started from The CNC at 8am on Monday, 22nd November 2010. The children were transported to Penang on a Rapid KL bus. Their tranportation from the sector Kapar-Penang-Kapar was fully sponsored by Rapid KL.

The children congregated at The CNC as early as 7am. Some of them could not sleep the night before as they were very, very excited at the prospect of going on a trip. For all of them that trip was their very first trip out of Kapar and staying in a 5 star hotel!

There were a lot of excitement when the children boarded the bus. They could not stop talking and laughing throughout the journey. They arrived in Penang at 3pm. Upon arrival, they were warmly welcomed by Zainalabidin & Angelina as well as by the Staffs at HRH Penang. They were served with teatime treats at The Starz Diner. The children wolfed down plates of fried rice, fried noodles, fried chicken and sandwiches.

After food, they were taken into their rooms. They were delighted as all the rooms had seaviews! After resting and changing into their shorts, t-shirts & sandals - they were taken to the pool. A game of water volleyball was arranged for them. Both Zainalabidin & Angelina gamely participated in the game. There were hoots of laughter shooting out from the pool, all the time. The children went swimming in the pool after the game.

After the beach game , they went back into their rooms to change for dinner. Dinner was served at 7:30pm at The Pizzaria. The chidren were served with pizzas and pastas. There was a demo at pizza making for them. Thank you Chef Joe & Team for those delicious pizzas & pastas!

After dinner, the children performed for the hotel guests at The Lobby. The crowd went wild when Thison - Michael Jackson of Kapar strutted his stuff! The cheers were louder when The Gelek Galz Group performed their belly dancing routine! The children were amazing!

The children were treated to a supper of the famous Penang Nasi Kandar! Shah & I bought packets of Nasi Kandar for them. They ate hungrily.

On Tuesday, 23rd November - the day started very early for the children. There were down for breakfast at 7am. After sampling the lovely breakfast spread, they went for a walk at the beach. At 9am they were made to practice their dance movement, as they were required to perform that night for a crowd of 500 audience! At 10:15am - they went back to their room to change into shorts, t-shirts & sandals for pool & beach activities. Thank you, Naps, Vivian & Melvis from The Teen Club for taking The Kapar Kidz under their wings.

They had a nice surprise as they were joined by Zainalabidin & Angelina as well as by Dato Sheila Majid & her family at the beach games. After an hour of games, they went back to their rooms to change and were taken to lunch at The Pizzaria. They were served with pizzas & pastas. During lunch time, they were accompanied by a clown sculpting balloons for each of them.

After lunch, at 1:30pm, they were treated to an entertaining Magic Show at The Teen Club. At 2:30pm, The Kapar Kidz were taken around Penang Island in a fleet of vintage cars. This event was sponsored by Heritage Garage. There was a surprise stopover at The Butterfly Farm and this trip was kindly sponsored too.

The children were sent back to their rooms to rest. At 5:30pm - they were dressed and made up for The Concert. A concert by Music Legends - Zainalabidin, Dato Sheila Majid & Amy Search was held for purposes of raising funds for The Kapar Kidz. The Concert was mind blowing. It was amazing to see the support for FRIENDS OF KAPAR that night. Each superstar crooned their famous signature songs.

The Concert started with a performance by our very own Kapar Kidz. They performed a Bollywood dance in all their splendour. The Concert also ended with The Kapar Kidz singing "Ikhlas tapi Jauh" togather with the 3 superstars.

At 10:30pm - the children were treated to a supper of Penang Nasi Kandar which Shah bought. They were so hungry that they polished off everything in a jiffy! After supper they hit the sack.

On Wednesday, 24th November - they had a a bit of a lie in, as they had a late night, the night before. At 8:30am - they came down for breakfast all dressed and packed ready to go home. Right after breakfast, they had sessions of photo taking and after fond goodbyes to Zainalabidin & Angelina - they hopped on the bus for their trip back home to Kapar. They left HRH Penang on the bus at 10am.

They arrived in Kapar at 6pm. By 6:30pm, they were all safely home. No doubt they were exhausted from the trip but they were very happy and grateful for the opportunity to see Penang and sample a life away from Kapar.

Thank You, Zainalabidin, Angelina, Hard Rock Hotel Penang, Rapid KL, Heritage Garage, Dato Sheila Majid, Amy Search as well as corporate sponsors - TV3, Red FM, Iktikadraya, Alstars Production, Rainbow Enterprise - who had supported the concert in aid of the Kapar Kidz @ FRIENDS OF KAPAR. You have touched the children's lives! Thank you for making a difference!

You Made a Difference!

Saturday, 6th November 2010

Thank You So Much to our very generous Donors for making The Light of Cheer 2010 - A Deepavali Feeding Program : a great success! Our grateful thanks to the following:

1. Inner Wheel Club of KL North / IWCKL North (fresh food for 40 families)

2. Premium Nutrients Bhd. - Premium Vegetable Oil S/B : Mdm. Loheswary:
PVO's 1st Lady, Mdm. Karpana Tan Sri Somasundram, Mr. A. T. Abraham
(dried & fresh food items for 30 families)

3. SHELL (Malaysia) - Puan Mariani Ibrahim: SHELL's 1st Lady, Ayisha,
Mark, Guna, Elsie, Vasanthi (food items for 80 families, 180 sarongs &
120 pairs sandals)

4. Mr. Patrick Thevarajah, SEERS Partnership (160 kg lamb/ mutton)

5. NESTLE - En. Izham & En. Mokhtar of MAGGI (160 disposable bags)

6. All Malaysia Malayalee Association/ AMMA - Mdm. Valsala Rajaram (dried
food items for 50 families & fresh food items for 10 families)

7. Selangor & Federal Territory Malayalee Association/ SFTMA (30 pkts MILO)

8. Ms. Monica Chong & Friends - Segaran, Jerry Chan, Jennifer Chong, Louis,
Noor Denni (80 bags of 5kg rice)

9. Mr. Siva & Friends - cash contributions

10. Mr. Dhaffe, Legal Dept. Nestle - cash contributions

11. Zaidi & Cynthia

12. Mr. Chandran Thambirajah - cash contributions

13. Ms. Joanne Oei - cash contributions

13. Mr. Devan Selvadurai - cash contributions

14. Ms. Jaime Teoh (Milk 123)

15. Mr. & Mrs. Ng - Kim Guan & Chern (Infant Formula)

16. Mr. Patrick (Infant Formula)

17. Sri Narayani Foundation/ SNF - Mr. Maniam, Mr. Wasudevan & Family
(80 loaves bread)

18. Mr. Peter, SEERS Partnership

19. Chef Bob, SEERS Partnership

These pictures were taken on Tuesday, 2nd & Wednesday, 3rd November 2010 - Distribution Days for The Light of Cheer 2010 : A Deepavali Feeding. These pictures speak volumes. ALL of you have touched so many lives. Bringing the Light of Cheer to many, many folks who have so little to look forward to in their lives. Your assistance & contributions have made their Deepavali definitely DIFFERENT!!. Thank You for Making a Difference!!

The Light of Cheer penetrated Kapar

Saturday, 6th November 2010

The Build-up towards Deepavali.

This year, Deepavali, was celebrated on Friday, 5th November 2010. All over the country, our Hindu & Indian friends welcomed this Festival of Light eagerly.

Kapar Folks were no different. They may be poor but they still looked forward to Deepavali. We, at FRIENDS OF KAPAR worked very, very hard to ensure that Deepavali this year, could be celebrated cheerfully by our Families. Many people were involved in this excercise. Current & past families assisted by FRIENDS OF KAPAR were enlisted into The Deepavali Feeding List. As there were allocation for 80 Families, we added more families into the List so that the cheer could be spread around wider and to many more needy and poor families. The potential families were introduced, visited & interviewed before they were asked to come for registration at THE CNC. At The CNC, they were registered and were issued a coupon to collect their food packages on the respective days. Registration went smoothly. Thank You to our Tutors - Mdm. Josephine, Ms. Barni & Ms. Prabha - who helped in the registration excercise.


Preparation towards Deepavali started very, very early. We started the mechanism of preparation & planning as early as in the month of July. Potential & interested Donors were contacted. Meetings & presentations were arranged. Pledges were made. In October, the food items were finalized. By mid-October, orders & purchases for the food items were made.

I really could not have done this excercise without the support of Ms. Norisah A. Rahman aka Liza as she is fondly refered to - a Store Manager with Speed 99 Convenience Store in Cova Square. She helped in the organising of the purchasing & ordering of the food items. This small statured young lady is a gem. She ensured that orders were fulfilled within the stipulated time. Some items were not available even after being ordered from Speed 99 Warehouse. Eventhough she was very, very busy, she took the time to drive with me around ALL Speed 99 Convenience Stores in Kota Damansara and personally purchased the required items, portion by portion until the quota was met! I will be writing to Speed 99 S/B informing them of her extra special services towards FRIENDS OF KAPAR.

By the third week of October all food items in the List were safely purchased and waiting, ready to be packed. 80 fresh chickens were also ordered from CP Chicken Shop, Uptown, Damansara. Instructions were given to ensure that the chicken were deep frozen and ready to be picked up on the respective Distribution Days.They opened especially early - 7:00am for FRIENDS OF KAPAR. Thank You So Much, Ain & Team.

On Sunday, 17th October 2010, FRIENDS OF KAPAR took The Kapar Kidz shopping to buy them a pair of sandals each. Out of the 150 children on our List, 120 children came on that day. They were taken to Pusat Pakaian Ekonomi VICTORIA : 31-33, Jln. Besar, Kapar. As there were so many of them, we had to divide these children into a group of 10 accompanied by 2 Minders at any one time. The children were delighted! Thank you to our Tutors & Volunteers at C3 - for organising the children. Thank you also to Mr. BK Chia for the generous discounts.

On the following Sunday - 24th October 2010, new tee-shirts were distributed. The Kapar Kidz @ The CNC were given priority. Sarees as well as Shalwar Kameez were also given out to the Mommies of Kapar. There were happy faces all around!

On Friday, 22nd October 2010 - we went to The Chow Kit Wet Market and ordered the fresh vegetables. These were to be collected a week later, just prior to the actual Deepavali Feeding Day.


From 25th - 27th October, the dried food items were packed. There were 160 bags of food items and these were distributed to 80 Families. On 31st October, half of these bags were transported to The CNC - which became a Distribution Centre. On that same day too, coupons were distributed to 42 poor & underprivileged families. These families were chosen based on the their very low income as well as income per kapita.

That night - we went to The Chow Kit Wet market to collect the fresh vegetables. We bought 80kg brinjals, 80kg carrots, 80kg potatoes, 80 heads cabbage.

On Monday, 1st November & Tuesday 2nd November, 2010 - the fresh vegetables were packed. Zaidi & Cynthia came to help, after work. In fact, they came on both Monday night as well as on Tuesday night, just to help in the packing of the fesh vegetables and fruits, as these had to be done at the last minute. Thank You, Zaidi & Cynthia - you took the effort to pack even though you were so dead tired after work. I really, really appreciate your assistance.

As there were 80 families - the Deepavali Feeding had to be spread out into 2 days, ie. 40 families on Tuesday, 2nd November & another 40 families on Wednesday, 3rd November 2010. In the morning from 9:30am to 12:30 noon - food packages were distributed to 20 families. After Lunch, the food packages were distributed from The CNC. 21 families came on each of the 2 days. FRIENDS OF KAPAR organised a lunch of very delicious Nasi Lemak & Chicken Rendang for the Donors & Volunteers on that day. Thank You Nasi Lemak Achi. It was yummy!


Each family received 2 bags of dried goods consisting of dhall, 2 packets curry powder,1kg sugar, MILO, fruit cordial, cooking oil, 1 kg flour, a big tin of biscuits, 2 cans sardines, fruit jam, Nescafe, jelly, 1 whole chicken, 2kg lamb, 1 head cabbage, 1 kg carrots, 1 kg brinjal, 1 kg potatoes, fresh juicy apples, 5kg rice. The little children were given tubes of Smarties, the Mommies of Kapar were given a batik sarong each. Some of the old men were given a sarong each. The 5 handicapped children of Kapar were also given a new set of clothing. The babies were provided with milk powder and where necessary a pack of disposable diapers. All in all there were something for everybody!

The day The Kapar Kidz discovered Science....

Saturday, 23rd October 2010

The Kapar Kidz were hosted today at The National Science Centre by the Staffs of SHELL Downstream IT. The organizing of this special trip was tediously and carefully planned by a group of committee members. Plans were made way back in June 2010.
A total of 77 children from the ages of 7 to 17 years old and 5 Minders plus 3 Assistant Minders came in three buses.

The day started very early for The Kapar Kidz, they were taken from their homes by The FoK Shuttle to The CNC, as early as 6:30am. Once at The CNC - attendance were taken, and they were given a very bright & cheerful apple green t-shirt with SHELL & FRIENDS OF KAPAR logos. The t-shirt is actually the passport for The Kapar Kidz to board the buses to The National Science Centre.

The children were divided into 3 groups and they boarded their respective buses with their minders. On the buses, they were excited and chatted nine to the dozen anticipating the trip. They arrived at The National Science Centre at 8:45am. After a short regrouping and briefing at the car park, they were taken into the hall.

A short safety briefing were given and breakfast was served. Breakfast was a scrumptious meal of fried meehoon, nuggets & hot MILO drink. The children tucked into breakfast heartily.

After breakfast, they were divided into 10 groups. Each group had three adult Minders from SHELL and one from FoK. The children happily & easily bonded with their SHELL Minders. They were tasked to a Treasure Hunt.

After a while, screams of joys were heard when one by one of the groups came in to hand over their "treasures". Before lunch was served the children played with their SHELL Benefactors and some even showcased their newly acquired dance skills.Lunch was fried rice, fried chicken, chippolatas, potato wedgies & iced cold MILO. The children sat and enjoyed their food. Right after lunch they were taken to watch the Science Show. That was when they discovered Science.

When the show ended, they were taken back into the hall for tea. Tea was cake & MILO drink. After tea was the Prize Giving Ceremony. There were whoops of joy, upon receiving the most generous prizes, presents & goodie bags.

The event was graced by Ms. Alicia Choong, Vice President of Global ERP, Downstream IT, SHELL Malaysia, Sdn. Bhd. The Kapar Kidz said a big huge thank you by presenting SHELL Downstream IT with FoK orange T-Shirt, a Thank You card signed by ALL The Kapar Kidz & Minders, a hand printed banner made by the children and a small hand-drawn picture.


SHELL Downstream IT had been very kind by contributing generously some cash towards The FoK Fund. The day ended at 4:00pm with a group photo.


The children were tired but happy as a flock of geese! (They couldn't stop talking about their outing!)Thank You SHELL Downstream IT for Making a Difference!!