KUALA LUMPUR: A group of students from Kolej Mara Banting hopes to alter the perception that they are too young to effect change by embarking on a project to help the Muslim community in southern Thailand this June.
The 24 International Baccalaureate (IB) students will be providing English lessons at Maahad Wangthong Wittaya in Phang Nga, as well as food and kitchen supplies.
Project (RICE4LIFE 3.0) president Asyraf Mohd Azmi, 18, said the students were aware of the challenges faced by the community.
“We wish to help them within our means and make a difference there,” he said, adding that the project was a continuation of work carried out by a previous batch which had successfully conducted RICE4LIFE 1.0 and RICE4LIFE 2.0.
He said this was also part of a 180- hour programme under IB’s “Creative, Activity and Service (CAS)” requirement.
RICE4LIFE 3.0 vice-president Nurnaily Athirah Khairul Effendy, 19, said the activities that they would carry out included providing the villagers with kitchen and food supplies, and English classes for the children.
“With help from the villagers, we will also be cooking for them.”
She said the group would repair some facilities at Maahad Wangthong Wittaya.
Nur Khalida Kamarudzaman, 18, said many people had the perception that students could not do much for the wider community.
“We want to change that perception. Although we might not be able to provide them money, we can put in effort and launch donation drives.
“By doing so, not only can we help the community but the public as well,” said Khalida who is in charge of fundraising and sponsorship.
Meanwhile, one of the RICE4LIFE 3.0 project advisors, Fazila Zakaria, who is also a teacher at Kolej Mara Banting, said: “Through the project, the students will get to experience what it is like to live in that community and see the problems they face. It will also help foster strong working relationships among the students.”