By Syawanie Zaini
GOMBAK, 5 December 2019: A forum on “Women & Volunteerism” recently held at Experimental Hall, IIUM was designed to create awareness among people on volunteerism and their responsibility for helping those in need.
The forum featured three speakers: Madam Siti Rahayu Baharin, the founder of ‘Buku Jalanan Chow Kit’, Miss Siti Hajar binti Wan Ibrahim, the volunteer of MYCorps and Madam Hajjah Asral Widad binti Ahmad Asnawi, the founder of Pusat Kecemerlangan Pendidikan Ummah (PACU) and Darul Insyirah.
It was held for the “Women Empowerment Project: Symposium of Srikandi” organised in collaboration of Pembina IIUM, Ma’ aruf Club, Harmoni IIUM, ‘Silat Cekak Hanafi’ and ‘Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia’ (PKPIM IIUM).
Siti Rahayu Baharin raised the issue that the volunteerism programme such as Soup Kitchen Soup might turn people to become homeless as food is now readily available.
The forum highlighted, “If we want to help people, with the help of God everything will go well. As volunteers, we planned only for their needs, for needy people, the rest trust in His power.”
Meanwhile, Siti Hajar binti Wan Ibrahim said her friend managed to get the donation for volunteerism although just within two months for them do all the work. She added, “We need to have the blessings from parents and be brave to be woman volunteers.”
In the forum session, Rahayu Baharin, also known as Cikgu Ayu said that “volunteerism is our responsibility, do not give excuse.”
Hajjah Asral Widad binti Ahmad Asnawi, the founder of ‘Pusat Kecemerlangan Pendidikan Ummah’ (PACU) stated that PACU is a place for volunteerism, “such as at Darul Insyirah, Projek Tuisyen Ummah, i- Backyard Science, Raudhatul Huffaz, i- Backpackers and ‘Kelab Relawan Ummah'”.
The forum was conducted in Bahasa Malaysia with three sessions for each speaker and ended with Question and Answer (Q and A) session.***