By Zulhamka Rosli
GOMBAK: A 24-year old IIUM graduate has made this university proud when she received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award from the United States government for making a difference in the community by helping the needy in the streets. Mastura Mohd Rashid who is the founder of Nasi Lemak Project recently received the award from a representative of the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, according to theMalaysianInsider.com.
The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award was created after the legendary former American professional boxer and is given in recognition of efforts of people from around the world who made a difference in their communities. The award is given to both seasoned humanitarians as well as young people.
Mastura Mohd Rashid has been known to be active in volunteerism work: she volunteered for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Â in 2010 and started a learning centre for Rohingya teenagers in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.
The Nasi Lemak Project set up in 2012 was initiated to feed the homeless, which was organised by AMAN IIUM. This project is funded by the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur with the collaboration of T450M (The Four-Fifty Movement). It is currently ongoing in Brickfields, Ampang, and Chow Kit every week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“The idea of Nasi Lemak Project had been in my mind for quite some time because of the plight of the urban poor that I witnessed when I volunteered for soup kitchens. So when I saw the opportunity, I went ahead with it, said Mastura.
œWe received grants from the United States Embassy to run this project but the responses to our search for volunteers wasn’t very good when we first started”, said the assistant for Nasi Lemak Project, Muhamed Ariq, an IIUM economics student.
“We only had 50 members but the number of volunteers eventually increases, Mohamed Ariq added.
The project didn’t just feed the homeless but also provided tuition classes for urban poor kids around Gombak. The classes were fully operated by volunteers, most of whom were from among IIUM students, with some students from other universities as well.
Muhamad Ariq shared his feeling upon receiving the award: œWe are totally proud of it, although we didnt expect to receive any award because the Nasi Lemak Project is just a new NGO, but we are blessed and honoured to be given the award. We would like to thank all the volunteers (300 of them) for making this project possible.
He also added, œWe hope the Project could reach out to more people who are really in need. We hope that we can drive the spirit of helping others to young Malaysians.
œWe (the Nasi Lemak Project) still have a long way to go. But I am thankful as the people whom I deal with, are the ones who are keeping me grounded, said Mastura.
