SELANGOR (April 11): S P Setia Foundation organised a weekend with the orang asli community in Bukit Tampoi, Dengkil for its Sincerely Setia Volunteer Weekend engagement programme on March 18 and 19.
The event, which was held in collaboration with Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS) and Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) involved more than 80 volunteers from S P Setia's Team Setia and also staff from YSS and IEM.
According to a media release from S P Setia, the programme was “conducted in alignment with S P Setia Foundation's second and third trust objects, which are to assist in meeting the needs of those Malaysians who are underprivileged, disabled, poverty-stricken or critically ill, assistance in advancing the education of disadvantaged pupils in Malaysia, as well as assistance through activities in connection with the promotion of national unity, through sports, culture, or the arts, particularly amongst the youths of various races”.
On the first day of the programme, volunteers took part in cleaning activities around the school compound and painted the classrooms at SK Bukit Tampoi (A), Dengkil. Volunteers also visited Kampung Bukit Tampoi dan Kolam Air Bangkong to distribute food packs to the villagers, while volunteers of IEM dan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia conducted science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-driven activities to share their knowledge with the local orang asli children. After a hands-on weaving activity with the local orang asli community, the evening ended with a cultural exchange karaoke session.
The second day started with an “uplifting Zumba session” with villagers from Kampung Kolam Air Bangkong. This was followed by career-sharing sessions by icons from the orang asli community, such as Puan Nur Raziana Ramli, who is a successful entrepreneur in the breeding of Trigona stingless bees, as well as Puan Ani A/P Amat who served the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) as a staff nurse of the medical unit. The programme closed with a drumming performance by the local children, guided by S P Setia's Setia Harmony arts and culture group.
“I hope the spirit of volunteerism does not end with this programme and that it has provided valuable experience and awareness for us all to not be afraid of being closer to the community who need our help regardless of our race or religion,” said Datuk Zuraidah Atan, chairman of S P Setia Foundation and a director of S P Setia, during the closing ceremony of the programme.