Sunway’s MUFY Students Take to the Streets

“This experience made me realise how fortunate we are - these people don’t even have a place to stay and they survive on the food that people give to them. This trip really changed how I think and made me appreciate what I have now”, said Cherlyn Ong.

Ong together with thirteen students and six lecturers from the Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) programme at Sunway College participated in the Global Street Mission (GSM) Street Outreach Feeding Program at Jalan Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. GSM is a non-governmental organisation that reaches out to the downtrodden and marginalised community in Chow Kit.

MUFY students dishing out food

There, students had a first-hand experience in understanding the needs of the underprivileged as they were assigned to serve dinner and engage with members of the street community. Though initially a little uncomfortable, the students quickly eased into their roles and interacted freely with the street community.

“Through the distribution of food, I noticed that a lot of them are very shy. Maybe at some point, they were ordinary people like us but the fact that they became what they are now really tugged at my heartstrings. So I hope that Sunway can provide more opportunities like this for students to see for themselves and respond to these very real needs within our community”, said Robert Kim.

MUFY students and lecturers helping out at the street feeding program

Asides from lending a helping hand to the cause, members of the MUFY Student Council, students and lecturers had earlier raised funds for GSM through the annual MUFY “Sharity” Carnival. For one day in September, the Energy Hub at Sunway Campus was abuzz with excitement. The Sunway Education community was treated to an irresistible array of food, drinks, fashion accessories, ornaments, collectibles and fun-filled games. The main highlight of the carnival was the “Water Bucket Challenge”, were several lecturers gamely allowed themselves to be doused by their students and managed to raise over a thousand ringgit. A total of ten thousand ringgit was raised through the MUFY “Sharity” Carnival and rather than just forwarding the funds to GSM, the organising committee requested to help out.

“The experience was been very meaningful and has certainly increased my knowledge about the real world out there. My eyes have been opened to the rejected people in our community and how they feel – I truly sympathise with them and it shows that not everything in this world is bright and positive. We need to reach out and help them”, said Chan Chun Fai, a representative of the MUFY Student Council.

The annual student-led event provides an opportunity for all MUFY students to interact and work together while raising funds for the underprivileged in the community. Such events help create awareness on the needs of the community while providing an avenue for the students to respond while at the same time, encourage the development of communication, interpersonal, teamwork and leadership skills.