By Zulhamka Rosli
GOMBAK: A programme called “BAKSIS TO TERENGGANU 2014″ was recently held (from 10 to 14 June) at Kampung Seberang Takir, Kuala Trengganu involving 70 residents of two Mahallah of IIUM to promote the bonds of ukhuwah with the local villagers and to publicise IIUM to the local community.
Organised by the Mahallah Representative Council (MRC) of Mahallah Bilal Ibn Rabah and Mahallah Nusaibah, the event was held with the objective to expose participants to the society with the view to make them become more caring and responsible citizens.
“This programme is not only for the participants to know about the culture of the state but also to expose them to various activities such as community service”, said the event’s Programme Manager, Nur Awatif Husna.
This programme was also organised to prepare participants to be thankful and to realise the purpose of their life, hence to develop them to become better Muslims.
The Programme Manager said, ”The programme will not only be able to strengthen the ukhuwah among the students but also between the students and the villagers.”
There were several activities organised along the programme such as charity walk, family day and ‘pesta kampung’ or village festival together with cultural night. All these activities were carried out with the cooperation of the villagers of Seberang Takir.
By spending four days in the programme, the participants were able to raise their self-confidence and improve their organisational skills, especially multi-tasking skills. Besides that, they also learned how to overcome the obstacles in organising these activities in constructive and inclusive ways. The programme had really produced some good and quality upshots for the students.
The representative of the Terengganu Menteri Besar (Chief Minister), Encik Mohammad bin Yusof, who was present during the event, had expressed the hope that participants would not only take part in the programme but would also learn the local culture, which he felt, was different from their own.
“The students should use the opportunity to be with ‘keluarga angkat’ (adopted family) and learn something from the family,” he said.
Apart from that, he hoped the students would keep in touch with their adopted families and would not end the relationship once the programme was over.
images by Br. Azril Suhaili