"Hi, I'm Zul and I was originally from a place called Santan, Kampung Padang which is up north in the state of Perlis. Back then, I lived with my father whom I call, ayah and my little brother, Hakim in a little abandoned shack that we called home. The little rundown shack did not have water nor electricity. It is in the year 2010, when I was 11 that my brother and I became a part of the Orion Family.
Ayah was a general worker, who worked many odd jobs in our village. He would get up before the sun rose every morning to look for jobs and we would see him again at sundown. When he was out looking for jobs, Hakim and I were left to fend for ourselves. We ate anything that we could find throughout the day and waited for ayah in hopes that he comes home with food at the end of the day.
I never really speak about my mother. She left us a little after Hakim was born when I was 3 years old. I basically don't know her and I'm sure how to feel about that.
Hakim and I skipped school most of the days as we were always tired and our uniforms were never clean. I think that got the headmistress from my school back then to get a few teachers to look for us. It was then that they realised our poor living conditions and were worried for me and Hakim. They spoke to ayah and decided to send us to The Budimas Orion Home. It was with heavy heart to leave him and my kampong back then, but I knew that moving to the Orion home was the right choice for a brighter future for me, Hakim as well as my old man. I know ayah loves us.
The Budimas Orion Home was a big change for us. We were given beds to sleep on, food and clean clothes to wear. We even got to go to school again, with clean uniforms this time.
Because I barely attended school, I wasn't able to read and write. I was diagnosed with a low degree of autism as I was very slow in learning. But, the foundation did not give up on me and instead I was sent for tuition classes as well as extensive courses. It was a really great feeling to have someone rooting for me for the first time in my life and want to see me excel. Today, I am proud to say I can read and write both in Bahasa and English.
Besides that, whilst attending these extra courses, I discovered and cultivated my interest in arts. One of the proudest moments in my life was when I placed first in a National Level Fruit Carving competition in 2015. I realised that this new life and achievements that I never thought would ever happen was made possible by all the donors and The Budimas Charitable Foundation. So, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart."