Malaysian CARE is a non-profit Christian NGO established in 1979, committed to serving the poor and needy in Malaysia, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Its mission is to empower communities, promote long-term sustainable development, and partner with local churches and the people they serve.

As Malaysian CARE reflects on 46 years of ministry, they give thanks for God’s faithfulness and provision, remaining committed to stewarding every resource entrusted to them. Guided by their 2025 theme from Nehemiah 2:17-18, “Come, let us rise up and rebuild”, they embrace this season as a call to restore and rebuild lives through Christ-centred service.

Their initiatives include prison and addiction recovery support, HIV outreach, financial literacy programmes, sustainable agriculture, special needs resources, urban community work, and scholarships for underprivileged youth, all carried out with compassion and faith.

Prison Ministry
Since 1981, Malaysian CARE has been deeply involved in prison ministry, remaining committed to helping, guiding, and advocating for offenders and ex-offenders.

In Malaysia, the stigma surrounding ex-prisoners runs deep. Many face rejection, unemployment, and fractured family ties after release, often making reentry into society harder than their time served. Barriers to acceptance can push them back into the same cycles of crime and incarceration. Yet with the right support, encouragement, and community, the path from incarceration to transformation is not only possible, it’s powerful.

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A Second Chance – *Joe’s Story
After six prison sentences, Joe was close to becoming another statistic. While still behind bars, he remembered a line from Kelas CARE, a Malaysian CARE prison programme: “Reach out to us when you’re ready.”

As his release neared, Joe wrote to Malaysian CARE for help. That letter became a turning point. After leaving prison, he joined Rumah Petros, a transitional home run by Malaysian CARE. There, he rebuilt discipline, regained confidence, and learned how to navigate life beyond prison. A skilled chef, Joe had the talent but needed structure and belief. With support, he secured two job offers and chose a Brazilian restaurant that valued his passion, not his record. A month later, he was promoted to Demi Chef.

Two years on, Joe has a stable job, a car, a home and a partner. His life is no longer defined by where he’s been, but by how far he’s come. Joe’s journey shows what’s possible when people are seen, supported, and connected. It’s not systems alone that change lives, it’s relationships.

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Journeying with People
Malaysian CARE partners with prisons and volunteers nationwide to provide religious and non-religious classes on character development and resilience building, as well as financial literacy. Their care continues beyond release, through Men’s and Women’s Halfway Homes and community aftercare, walking alongside ex-offenders toward healing and restoration.

Each programme echoes the message: “You matter. You belong. You can rebuild.”
As Malaysia moves toward more community-based rehabilitation by 2030, this holistic approach grows ever more vital in helping ex-offenders reintegrate safely and thrive within their communities.

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Tackling Society’s Perceptions
The YouTurn Project addresses stigma and challenges how society views ex-offenders. Three core values of the project are: Equal Opportunity, Family Reconciliation and Community Acceptance. These play a crucial role in preventing reoffending. Rejection and discrimination often push people back into harmful patterns, while acceptance fosters accountability, hope, and renewal.

Through YouTurn, Malaysian CARE advocates for prison reform and community-based rehabilitation, especially for drug offenders. The project also works to reshape public understanding of addiction by highlighting its deeper causes, such as poverty, trauma, and corruption.

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The Power of Partnership
Partnership has always been central to Malaysian CARE’s mission. Christian Prison Network (CPN) is a network of Christians as the caring body of Christ, serving both prisoners and ex-prisoners in any part of Malaysia in a holistic way. CPN comprises organisations such as Prison Fellowship Peninsular Association (PFPA), Catholic Prison Fellowship Association (CPFA) and Malaysian CARE, as well as individual members who are actively involved in prison ministry.

Beyond the church, Malaysian CARE partners with government prison departments, employers, community organisations, and volunteers – all vital in offering second chances.

They have also had a key role in the work of ISAAC. They say:
‘Malaysian CARE has been a key strategic partner of ISAAC in the Asia-Pacific region, playing a crucial role in facilitating cross-border collaboration. By hosting an international conference in Malaysia, which gathered experts and dedicated workers in the field, Malaysian CARE is glad to be part of the effort in witnessing the exchange of knowledge and experience to strengthen local work in journeying with substance users.’

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Future Development
Looking ahead, Malaysian CARE envisions empowering communities through long-term development and, while Christian support has made a difference among the prison population, they are now focusing on engaging church leadership to drive wider and lasting change.

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Final thoughts

In a world marked by shame and stigma, hope can seem distant, especially for those on society’s margins. 

Malaysian CARE’s approach reminds us:

• To inspire those marginalised by society to believe in a better future by confronting stigma and rebuilding dignity.
  
• To provide practical support like housing, employment, training, and community ties, that foster real change.
  
• To strengthen networks among volunteers, churches, employers, and organisations that create opportunities for reintegration.
  

Through such efforts, ex-prisoners can see that prison is not the end of their story. With people willing to walk alongside them, they can rise up, rebuild, and step into a hope-filled future.