For 17-year-old Muhammad Aris Farizat and younger brother Adam Mukhriz Abdullah, Hari Raya is a bittersweet time of year. As schoolmates prepare to balik kampung with their families, the siblings will return to Yayasan Kasih Sayang Negri Sembilan, the shelter home where they have lived for over a decade.

The centre, which houses underprivileged children aged 10 – 17, is the only home they remember. Despite their circumstances, though, the brothers still look foward to celebrating with fellow residents.

Muhammad Aris, a Form Five student from SMK Senaling near Seremban, said while the festive atmosphere may not be the same as in a kampung, caretakers and well-wishers made sure the children did not miss out.