By Nurul Wafa Aula Alias
SATUN (THAILAND), 1 November 2016: A total sum of RM20,000 in humanitarian aid was allocated for the Thai Muslims in a village in Ban Soipet, Thailand, of which the amount was raised by IIUM students through car wash project and through donations raised from companies and the students themselves.
A programme named ‘Blooming Humanity:Road to Satun’ organised by the Mahallah Representative Committee (MRC) of Mahallah Al-Faruq and Mahallah Ruqayyah saw the participation of 78 students of the two Mahallah crossing the Malaysia-Thailand border for a four-day visit to the Thai village from 22 to 26 October to provide services and distribute funds through four major projects.
“We conducted a school project, provided new chairs and tables, and painted the murals to make the school look livelier. This project was intended to encourage students to come to school,” Assistant Programme Manager, Aqilah Humaira’ Mokhtar said.
“We helped to clean the mosque. Besides that, we explained to the villagers about hygiene care especially for their children.”
Aqilah further told IIUMToday that a cultural engaging project was also held with the Satun community through foster family programme with IIUM students.
Included in the programme was help extended in the form of cash and services. A lot of efforts have been made to meet the target amount needed for the programme, Head of Sponsorship Bureau, Naimah Razide Radzi explained.
“Along the programme, we provided them the money as well as manpower by the students. We worked hand in hand to clean the mosque and the school.”
Expressing his excitement on the project, Ahmad Mukkm, who was the imam of Masjid Nurudden, shared his feeling of thankfulness to IIUM students as this was the first time they received such humanitarian aid and assistance from outside Thailand.
“I am so glad to have students coming from Malaysia to clean the mosque and the kindergarten area in the mosque. Thank you for exchanging knowledge with us in this village as well. I hope these activities will benefit both the students and the villagers. We really appreciate their contribution,” Ahmad Mukkm added.
It was learned that a follow-up mission to southern Thailand is expected to be held in March next year.***
