Even if it is just a modest act of extending a helping hand to those in need, it might serve as an inspiration for others to do the same.
Members of WOU’s Student Council embarked on an exemplary effort when they successfully hosted a food fundraiser in support of the Penang Cheshire Home to commemorate this year’s Deepavali on a livelier scale compared to the muted celebrations observed for the past two years.
Project manager and Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Accounting student, Nirosha Sukumaran, explained her team’s objective is to showcase the significance of the Hindu Festival of Lights and its historical splendour in addition to raising funds for the Penang Cheshire Home.
“Through this fundraiser, we hope to nurture and raise awareness of the importance of supporting our local social service organisations and reaching out to the needy in our community,” she said.
Nirosha and her team began planning and preparing for the event by splitting into smaller groups to complete tasks such as setting up the decorations, ordering the food, and making the kolam. Each team member demonstrated their excellent communication skills as they enthusiastically shared their opinions and ideas to bring the event to fruition.
There was a wide variety of food on sale, ranging from banana leaf sets of vegetarian biryani rice with mixed vegetables curry to laddu (traditional Indian sweet) and Bru coffee (instant coffee), all of which were prepared by Mayura Spice Kitchen.
“We also sold snacks sourced from Kabilu, home-made murukku prepared by the mother of a team member’s friend, and Indian sweets from Thali-NR. These food and delicacies were offered in different combination meal sets,” Nirosha elaborated.
Pre-orders were open until 3 November 2022, and food collection took place on 10 November 2022 at the main campus.
Nirosha hoped that everyone who participated in the cause enjoyed the festivities and gained a deeper appreciation of Deepavali which symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. All proceeds from the food sales and cash donation drive totalling RM885 were channelled to the charity organisation.
“I realised the importance of helping local social service organisations, especially in light of the current hardships and financial challenges caused by inflation due largely to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she emphasised.
Nirosha also expressed her gratitude towards her team members for their outstanding collaboration and support throughout the event.
“I had the best experience working with the team considering this was my first time organising an event. It led me to develop a strong sense of responsibility and was truly a memorable experience,” she added.
Having experienced the joy of giving back to the community and setting a positive example for those around her, she plans to carry on with her charitable activities in the future.