UTM Faculty of Education has organized weekly charity activities known as the Free Meal Project and the Free Market Project to assist the underprivileged students.
The projects have been continuously carried out for four semesters with the initiative of providing a little relief for students who do not have a scholarship for their studies.
The Programme Coordinator of the Free Meal and the Free Market Project, Dr Farahwahidah Ab. Rahman said that these projects were also an avenue for generous contributors to perform an act of charity by pooling the donation to help the students.
“As many as 100 packs of the free meal are distributed at Level 1, C13 Faculty of Education every Sunday to the students who bring their metric card as proof.”
“Besides food, some free stationery is also available for students to take away for their own use at the Free Market,” said Dr Farahwahidah.
The projects are led by lecturers of the Faculty of Education and also assisted by volunteers from UTM students from different faculties to distribute the food. Besides assisting, these projects are also promoting the spirit of volunteerism among the students.
“The food ‘Nasi Kukus Ayam Berempah’ was brought from the Kolej 9 cafeteria where the owner shared the same aspiration for charity works. The generosity of Mr Jalil, the owner of the cafeteria, helps the project by continuously providing the same quality of Nasi Kukus Ayam Rempah at a lower price.
“Last semester, the undergraduate students from the Living Skill Education programme of Faculty of Education prepared the free meals as part of their assessment for SPPL 2122 Food Preparation course conducted by Dr Nornazira Suhairom,” she said.
There are also some lecturers like Dr Hadijah Jaffri who contributes sets of new stationery to be distributed for free among the students.
Dr Farahwahida also urged the UTM citizens to keep on contributing goods and energy to sustain this welfare activity.
“We welcome any donations from the staffs and students to donate for Free Meals, stationery, as well as assistance for food distribution work.
“All this can be done by contacting us through email, nfwahidah@utm.my. Pictures of the activity can be viewed by visiting the Faculty of Education official Facebook,” she said.