RCE Kuching - 2021
Protect the Unfortunate – Help and Donate Project
Region:
Asia-Pacific
Country:
Malaysia
Location(s):
KUCHING, SARAWAK
Address of focal point institution for project:
Lot 2976, Block 7, Muara Tebas Land District, Sejingkat, 93450 Kuching, Sarawak.
Ecosystem(s):
Target Audience:
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area :
Kuching is one of the twelve administrative divisions of Sarawak in Borneo. It is the most populous division of Sarawak comprising the districts of Kuching, Lundu and Bau with an area of around 430 sq km. Kuching is also the capital of Sarawak and occupies both banks of the Sarawak River. This event was held at Kuching Waterfront. With its natural beauty and historical significance, Sungei Sarawak’s potential as a tourist attraction has never been overlooked by the authorities. The local and tourists can also enjoy the heritage buildings alongside the river banks.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses:
Most of the families involved are daily wage workers, senior citizens and families whose incomes have been severely affected during this pandemic. Young people express concerns about the toll on mental health, employment, disposable income
and education I Disruptions in access to education.
and education I Disruptions in access to education.
Status:
Ongoing
Period:
July, 2021
Rationale:
During the COVID-19 pandemic there is a greater need to support community, family and friends who are affected by it. To give back to the community as well as help those in need, RCE Kuching organized a donation drive in collaboration with one of the stakeholders, HIDUP (Pertubuhan Habitat Indigenous Daerah Untuk Permulihan) in July 2021. The donation drive collection period was open for 5 days from 24th July to 30th July 2021, at UCSI University Sarawak Campus. It was open for the university community (students, staffs, and other workers) to contribute to this donation drive.
Objectives:
- To collect goods-in-kind and work with one of RCE Kuching’s stakeholder to distribute the goods to the communities who have been adversely affected by the pandemic
- On-going project will target different communities according to their needs and as advised by the RCE Kuching stakeholder (HIDUP)
- On-going project will target different communities according to their needs and as advised by the RCE Kuching stakeholder (HIDUP)
Activities and/or practices employed:
The campus communities including RCE Kuching Youth Ambassadors were given about a week to source for donations in the form of dry, canned foods to allow for these to be distributed to indigenous groups who have been most affected by the pandemic and the restrictions brought about by the state government. One of the RCE Kuching stakeholders, HIDUP, an NGO that deals with the welfare of disadvantaged indigenous groups in Kuching, was able to provide advice on the communities in need as well as assist in the distribution of the goods.
Size of academic audience:
Around 60 indigenous families
Results:
Some of the donated items were eggs, mineral water, salt, sugar, flour, cooking oil, rice, instant noodles, assorted biscuits, drinks, toiletries, and other necessities. The donated goods were distributed to 46 families in Kampung Quop in the month of August led by the chairman of HIDUP, Mr. George Young Si Ricord Junior and a few team members. These items were handed over at the blockade tent at the road leading to the village proper. There are more than 400 households in this village that are affected by the lockdown. Most of the families involved are daily wage workers, senior citizens, and families whose incomes have been severely affected during this Movement Control Order (MCO).
In addition, some of the goods were also donated to Kampung Sinar Budi, near Raja Charles Brooke Memorial Hospital, at13 mile, Jalan Puncak Borneo where Puan Betty and her family members of 15 persons got stranded at a farming plot of land at the Sri Muhibbah locality. The family consisted of 2 babies, a 1-year-old infant and a 4-year-old toddler. RCE Kuching is looking forward to organizing another Donation Drive to continue to help the communities in need throughout the pandemic.
In addition, some of the goods were also donated to Kampung Sinar Budi, near Raja Charles Brooke Memorial Hospital, at13 mile, Jalan Puncak Borneo where Puan Betty and her family members of 15 persons got stranded at a farming plot of land at the Sri Muhibbah locality. The family consisted of 2 babies, a 1-year-old infant and a 4-year-old toddler. RCE Kuching is looking forward to organizing another Donation Drive to continue to help the communities in need throughout the pandemic.
Lessons learned:
This donation drive allowed for a few stakeholders within RCE Kuching to come together and use their strengths to do what is required to ease the financial burden of some of the families identified. This will be an on-going exercise for as long as donation drives are possible and the RCE Kuching community is willing to contribute with donations-in-kind.
Relationship to other RCE activities:
-
Funding:
Donations-in-kind (Cash was not accepted – only non-perishable food items were accepted)
Pictures:
File Name | Caption for picture | Photo Credit |
---|---|---|
FOOD 3.jpg (132.88 KB) | Food repacking | |
FOOD 1.jpg (132.99 KB) | food preparation 1 | |
FOOD 2.jpg (127.39 KB) | food preparation 2 | |
FOOD 4.jpg (133.4 KB) | Food preparation 3 | |
FOOD 5.jpg (133.25 KB) | food prepareation 4 | |
Food Distribution 1.jpg (102.46 KB) | Food Distribution 1 | |
Food Distribution 2.jpg (101.2 KB) | Food Distribution 2 | |
Food Distribution 3.jpg (103.16 KB) | Food Distribution 3 | |
Food Distribution 4.jpg (143.56 KB) | Food Distribution 4 | |
Food Distribution 5.jpg (153.88 KB) | Food Distribution 5 |
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Indirect
Disaster Risk Reduction
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth
state:
Direct
Update:
Yes