IN AID OF WEST AFRICANS
Yim Ken Fei
Dear fellow Rotarians and friends
In aid of West Africans
IN CONJUNCTION with Human Rights Awareness Month, the Interact Club of SMK Bandar Sri Damansara 1 will be organising an International Understanding Day Carnival tomorrow.
Hosted in collaboration with World Vision, the carnival is themed ‘Tribal’ to depict the essence of the African culture. It seeks to raise funds for the deprived community in West Africa, in particular children, whose rights to food, education, shelter, safety and more are not fulfilled.
Commenting on this initiative, Interact Club president Fatimah Iliyana Lokman, said, “Although our club has just been formed at the beginning of this year, we believe that we can play a role to help the destitute through our maiden project with World Vision. There is a dire need to help the people, especially children in West Africa, considering the fact that it is the poorest region in the world.”
We care: The students showing their support for the cause.“As a group we were struck by information we learnt about West Africa. Across the Sahel region, 13 million people are facing humanitarian crisis and more than one million children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition which can cause death if not treated.
“This was worsened by the recent drought which causes food scarcity and inflation. In Chad, villagers even dig up ant hills to collect the grains that the ants have stored. Mali, which is four times the size of Italy, is overpopulated and more than half of the population are facing food shortage,” she added.
“World Vision is pleased to be able to work with this group of teenagers who have shown such compassion and love for communities affected by the West Africa Famine.
“This initiative by the Interac-tors of SMK Bandar Sri Damansara is truly a statement of youth empowerment and we applaud their noble intentions,” said World Vision Malaysia communications officer Tan Shu Yi.
The carnival will feature performances from talented local acts such An Honest Mistake, Heart A-Tack, Djezna’s Stalker, Syaza & Syaza, DJ Mervin Chin as well as shows from the students such as solo-acting and cheerleading.
Making themselves heard: The Interact Club members from SMK Bandar Sri Damansara 1 conducting a freeze flashmob at their school and also at 1Utama shopping centre.There will also be a fashion bazaar encompassing nine booths of food stalls, game booths, balloon painting and henna tattoo painting.
The proceeds from ticket sales, food stalls, game booths and the others will go towards the poor communities in West Africa.
The carnival will be held tomorrow from 5pm–10pm at the Dewan Serbaguna MPBJ Bandar Sri Damansara.
Tickets to the carnival are priced at RM20 (inclusive of a free tribal bracelet) and can be purchased on the event day.
There will also be a specially organised charity garage sale with proceeds going to Alda Tan, a musician who is currently in a coma and in need of money to fund his hospital bills.
To generate awareness on the campaign to help the children of West Africa, Liya said that the 45 club members conducted a freeze flashmob at their school and also at 1Utama shopping centre recently.
For details on the carnival, call 012-321 8296 (Liya).
Yim Ken Fei
Mobile : +60-12-6832189
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