Curtin Sarawak IEEE Student Branch brings cheer to special children

Miri – 2 May 2012 – About 20 members of the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Student Branch of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently paid a ‘With the Love of Curtin’ charity visit to Pusat Pemulihan dalam Komuniti (PDK), the day care centre for special children run by Persatuan Ibu Bapa Kanak-Kanak Istimewa (PIBAKIS), bringing much cheer to the special children there.

According to organising chairman Angie Liong, the visit was one of several events organised by the IEEE Student Branch this semester. She said it was initiated by the head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) of Curtin Sarawak’s School of Engineering and Science, Dr. Ashutosh Kumar Singh, who wanted to take the IEEE Student Branch’s community outreach activities to a new level and give its members greater opportunity to contribute to society as part of their learning beyond the classroom.

Liong added that the objective of the visit was two-fold, the first being to help raise the awareness of the general public towards the existence of special children in the community, and secondly, to spend some time interacting with the children and learning more about their special needs, care and education.

While at the centre, the students were briefed on PDK by person-in-charge Chiong Bee Lan, which included the screening of a short video on PDK. They also engaged the children in some games, colouring and singing sessions, and exercises, which they thoroughly enjoyed. In addition, members of the Curtin Wushu Club entertained the children to a wushu performance, and the students threw a lunch for the children and staff of the centre.

Prior to the visit, the IEEE Student Branch held a fund-raising drive for PDK at the Curtin Sarawak campus, selling handicrafts made by the special children, and collecting donations from students and staff. The funds raised will go towards purchasing stationery for the children’s daily activities.

Established in 2000, PIBAKIS runs the government-sponsored PDK programme for special children at the centre. The centre was initially set up by a group of parents with special children with the aim of providing their children with professional therapy, treatment and living skills training. Through the years, the centre has played a crucial role in providing group support, talks and family-oriented activities for parents with special children in Miri.

IEEE, founded in the United States, is the world’s largest technical professional society and serves to advance innovation and technology for the benefit of humanity. Its members consist of professionals from the electrical, electronic and computing fields as well as areas related to science and technology. The IEEE Student Branch at Curtin Sarawak was established in 2008 and currently has about 50 members.

IEEE Student Branch members bringing smiles to special children at PDK.

Members engaging special children in a game.

Members with some of the special children.

Posing for a group photo with the children.