YTL and NGO Yellow House KL unveil revamped former shelter in Ampang

• The rejuvenation project of the 1,583 sq ft single-storey detached house, which was formerly used as a shelter for the underserved community, took 18 months to complete and costs RM275,000 to build.

AMPANG (Feb 22): YTL Foundation, the charitable arm of YTL Group, and non-governmental organisation (NGO) and not-for-profit grassroots community organisation Yellow House Kuala Lumpur have officially unveiled their newly rejuvenated premises at Kampung Ampang Campuran, Ampang, Selangor, on Saturday.

YTL Foundation is the main partner for the project, and YTL Construction is the design and build partner.

The rejuvenation project of the 1,583 sq ft single-storey detached house, which was formerly used as a shelter for the underserved community, took 18 months to complete and costs RM275,000 to build.

The rejuvenation project was partly funded by YTL Foundation (RM50,000) and Yellow House (RM50,000), with the remaining raised through fundraising, corporate sponsors and individual donors.

The rejuvenated house now comprises a main living hall, a small courtyard and two rooms.

“We wanted to create a space where it is sustainable and open. The previous structure was dilapidated and not very welcoming. So, we decided to use sustainable materials such as bamboo and recycled plastics for the construction of the house,” YTL Construction director Yeoh Pei Tsen told The Edge on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony.

“A raised roof is built to bring in natural light and ventilation, while a central courtyard allows space flexibility for an open and inviting atmosphere,” she added.

The house was built in the 1980s by Yellow House’s founder and president Shyam Priah’s father and grandfather. Since Yellow House’s inception in 2011, the house has served as the centre for Yellow House’s operations and a shelter for the homeless, refugees, as well as hosting international volunteers.

“The new face of Yellow House today is a standing reality thanks to the incredible support of YTL Foundation and YTL Construction, as well as corporate partners and individual donors who share our vision for the betterment of marginalised communities. It is not just an aesthetic upgrade, it is a functional space. Yellow House is now able to significantly enhance our impact and offer a wider range of programmes to meet the evolving needs of our community,” said Shyam during the ceremony.

Apart from being the base of Yellow House KL’s operations, Shyam said the space will now be partially occupied by a farmer’s market, where small farmers in Ampang and other beneficiaries such as the homeless will have an opportunity to sell their produce directly to consumers, bypassing the middlemen.

“Other projects such as the shelter and lodging for international volunteers are currently on hold as we are looking to tweak such offerings to better suit the current revamped space,” said Shyam.

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