LIZA CHAI

Everyone in Miri knows Liza Chai. She is synonymous with The Sun Flower Centre, a learning centre for the special children.
Liza Chai or Maria Isabel Navarr comes from Spain. She was studying nursing in the United Kingdom when she met her husband, Benjamin Chai. They got married and she had her first child, Bruce in London. She came to Sarawak, not knowing what the state looked like but was prepared for the surprises and the culture shock in store for her. It took quite a while to wear herself off her spanish traits. Liza admitted that it was hard for her to adjust her life in Sarawak but she eventually got use to the languages, culture and the environment around her. In retrospect, she says that no matter how different people are, there is always the universal culture of exercising courtesy and respect for one another. If anyone is new in town needs advice, she is the best person to talk to after staying in Miri for more than 40 years. Marrying into a Chinese family, Liza has to get acquainted with the various Chinese dialects like Hokkien and like a Chinese, loves Chinese culture and delights in spicy food. She also enjoys durians, the outdoor life, swimming and horse riding. Having gone through childbirth according to the Chinese customs, she even believes in “feng shui”(geomancy) and abides by some of the local taboos and beliefs.
Liza first arrived in Kuching in 1969. The lifestyle then was quite moderate and is quite easy to move around. In 1971, following her husband’s transfer, she landed in Miri. She was depressed to find only two streets of shop houses, a cinema and a bank in the town. However, the friendliness of the people around her makes her settle down quickly.
Involvement in Community Services
Being a foreigner, she felt that socializing is the best way to get around in a small town like Miri is to be involved in community services. She joined the Miri Red Crescent Society and her job was then to go around, recruiting blood donors. She had to go to government agencies and private sectors and the public response was not very encouraging. But that does not stop her persistence. She resigned from Miri Crescent Society when she has a second child. After a break, she felt that she needs to be involved with children with special needs. She knew a Dutch woman who initiated the formation of Sunflower Centre and has been involved with the centre since then. Although she is not paid as a full time volunteer, Liza is at the centre, rain or shine as early as 7.30 am and until 4.30 pm everyday without fail. Her biggest challenge is to train the special children to be independent, be able to use public transport and to practice personal hygiene.
The centre has succeeded in sending 10 special children out to the private sector to work independently and Liza attributes the success to determination, will power and cooperation between the children and the people involved.
Liza was awarded the Volunteer for the year in 2006 for her hard work at the centre.
Comments on Women
Women today are becoming more materialistic and demanding for a lot freedom and less responsibilities both at home and at work. It is all about pressure from the society of living up to a glamour life comparing themselves to others. This is all about attitude and their moral in life, so we can lower the divorce cases in Malaysia. For some women (with children), they think that going to work will be the solution of their financial problems without realizing that the same amount or more hours and money are spent on baby sitters or care takers.