KUCHING: The Swinburne Sarawak’s Student Leadership & Volunteer Programme (SLVP) of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus managed to collect a total of RM1,800 and two bags of pet food during its five-day donation drive for Save our Strays (SoS).
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus’ Business student, Mark Liao Jun not only understood the importance of academic excellence but also how he and other students can contribute and make a difference to the society.
Liao and members of Swinburne Sarawak’s Student Leadership & Volunteer Programme (SLVP) collaborated with Save our Strays (SoS) to organise a donation drive to help the non-profit organisation to raise money for their cause.
“SLVP believes volunteering is a good way to make new friends while enhancing one’s practical experience. We believe leaders are made through volunteerism,” said Liao.
Meanwhile, according to Mark, a final year Human Resource Management student, as a leadership programme, this collaboration is one of the ways the students form a connection with organisation outside of Swinburne Sarawak.
“Through this project, we hope to promote the development of a highly emphatic culture where individuals acknowledge the need for community engagement. More importantly, it gives members the opportunity to enhance their social, managerial and idea developmental skills,” he said.
Mark added that 15 SLVP members were involved in the programme.
“They were tasked to design the publicity materials, man the booth during the fund-raising and oversee to back-of-the-house preparations,” he said.
Rahf ElMahdi, a Foundation student from Egypt, was happy to be involved in the fund-raising.
“Everyone should be aware that it is not only humans that need help, but also animals. This initiative put the spotlight on the struggle animals face either as a result of lack of care from owners or illnesses the stray faces,” said Rahf.
For Christabel Gomez, she was initially apprehensive that the collaboration would not garner enough support.
“But I was surprised that the donation drive turned out really well, even in that short span of time. I am thankful to be given the opportunity to be part of this event,” said the first year Accounting and Finance student.
She added that they have collected more than they hoped for and the support they received from staff and students was overwhelming.
In order to ensure success of the project and to raise funds for future projects, SLVP also organised a burger sale during the university’s Club Recruitment drive where for each burger sold, RM1 was donated to S.O.S.
Swinburne Sarawak’s Student Leadership & Volunteers Programme aims to provide students the opportunity to be involved in events organised university-wide as well as in the community. SLVP presently has more than 300 registered members serving various initiatives and activities.
