LETTERS: The Covid-19 pandemic has brought together people from all walks of life through the spirit of volunteerism. We see volunteers helping vulnerable people, groups and communities.
The hashtag #kitajagakita has increased the spirit of volunteerism.
In March, 80,000 people signed up to be members of Malaysia Vaccine Support Volunteers. Most were university students.
The motivation for volunteering during the pandemic reveals that some wish to give back or do something good for the nation. Volunteering helps people to overcome feelings of anxiety and powerlessness.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have donated millions of ringgit and tonnes of food supplies.
Independent groups, NGOs, companies and people have established networks to help the disadvantaged survive the pandemic.
Mercy Malaysia, Kechara Soup Kitchen, Food Aid Foundation, Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia and Malaysian Relief Agency are examples of groups that have taken on the responsibility of confronting the social effects of Covid-19.
Individual initiatives — such as from Ebit Lew (a preacher), philanthropist Kuan Chee Heng (or Uncle Kentang), Syed Azmi Alhabshi (an activist for women and children) and Datuk Jovian Mandagie (a fashion designer and businessman) — have helped through their volunteerism and donations.
Malaysian fashion designers, through the Malaysian Official Designers Association, have initiated campaigns to buy and sew personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontliners.
Universities, such as UiTM, UMP, Unisel and UKM, have provided hand sanitisers and PPE to frontliners, as well as healthcare, food baskets and digital devices for online classes to students.
Nineteen vaccination centres at institutions of higher learning provide 14,000 vaccinations each day.
More volunteers are needed to serve there. Volunteer recruitment drives have attracted many young people to join.
Research has shown that the increase in volunteer work across the globe was prompted by many factors, including the desire to give back to society.
Furthermore, volunteering may help with emotional and social wellbeing, improve people's life satisfaction, as well as being beneficial for physical and mental health.
The pandemic has taught us lessons about appreciating family and friends, caring for the less fortunate, embracing greater connectedness and reconnecting with one another. We can fight this crisis together.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR MAHADIR LADISMA @ AWIS
Director of Community Network Centre, Office of Industry, Community and Alumni Network and senior lecturer, Faculty of Administrative Science & Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
PROFESSOR DR ROSHIMA SAID
Associate Fellow, Accounting Research Institute,
Faculty of Accountancy, UiTM
SALMIWATI OTHMAN
Deputy Registrar, UiTM