Community Enhancement Day project connects university community with villagers

Miri – 26 May 2015 – The Humanitarian Affairs Curtin Sarawak Student Chapter recently concluded its ‘Community Enhancement Day’ project at Kampung Damai Senadin located just a stone’s throw away from the university’s campus.

80 students and staff of Curtin Sarawak took part in the chapter’s inaugural volunteer project which was executed over a one-month period from 26 April to 10 and 24 May 2015.

The project is aimed at improving the living conditions of the needy in Miri city, particularly in neighbourhoods surrounding the Curtin Sarawak campus, through activities such as educational and DIY sessions, ‘gotong royong’ and basic first aid training.

The volunteers helped rebuild and refurbish a bridge and other structures in the village, conducted English reading sessions, delivered a motivational talk, and taught the villagers carry out do-it-yourself (DIY) projects of their own, as well as how to respond and prepare for emergencies through first aid training.

At present, the village has no access to clean water and electricity. The 20 odd predominantly Iban families rely on diesel generator as their source of electricity.

Organising chairperson Sam Tze Mun hopes the villagers will be inspired to embrace the English language as a form of communication and that the newly-restored bridge will improve access to the village.

Meanwhile, Humanitarian Affairs Student Chapter vice-president Aaron Lim Chee Ren expressed his delight at the success of the inaugural project.

“I hope the profound appreciation shown by the villagers will motivate our staff and students to continually give back to the community in any way possible,” he said.

The event was supported by Misarma Enterprise Sdn. Bhd, Assistant Minister of Communication and Assistant Minister of Sport Datuk Dr. Lee Kim Shin, who is also the chairman of the university’s management board; the university’s library, and Leadership and Entrepreneurship Centre (LEC).

Humanitarian Affairs Curtin Sarawak Student Chapter is part of the Humanitarian Affairs United Kingdom, a London-based social enterprise. The organisation empowers young people in bringing about positive social change by initiating and supporting humanitarian relief efforts and development programmes around the world.

Through such activities, the student chapter at Curtin Sarawak provides students and staff the opportunity to engage in humanitarian service, strengthen their cultural understanding, and develop a lifelong commitment in volunteerism to benefit communities in poverty-stricken areas.

For more information on the student chapter, email humanitarianaffairs.curtin@gmail.com or visit the Humanitarian Affairs Curtin University Sarawak Campus Student Chapter Facebook page.