MIRI: Over 70 Curtin undergraduates recently partnered with the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Miri branch to help needy families.
This group of final year degree students from the varsity here are those taking the General Studies or Mata Pelajaran Umum (MPU) Team Leadership and Community Service unit. Their partnership with DBNA is for the purpose of helping families whose livelihoods have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic since early this year.
Their joint project involved a donation drive by the students to raise funds to purchase daily essentials for the needy families, and then the distribution of the items to eligible families was done through their collaboration with DBNA Miri branch.
DBNA Miri branch has been providing aid to less fortunate Bidayuh families in Miri since April to lessen their burden during the movement control order (MCO). Between April and May, the branch raised enough funds to help 90 families in Desa Senadin, Permyjaya, Tudan, Piasau, Kampung Bidayuh Lusut, Bukit Peninjau and Niah.
“DBNA Miri branch is honoured to be invited to collaborate with the Curtin students on this project. Many less fortunate families have been adversely affected by the pandemic and we are glad to be able to help ease their burden,” said DBNA Miri branch vice-chairman Christopher Narang.
Meanwhile, one of the students involved in the project, Danny Jau Karing, commented that for students, getting involved in a community service project was not merely about helping those in need, but also an opportunity to develop teamwork and leadership skills.
“It is Curtin University’s mission to engage communities and change lives, and we proudly represented Curtin in fulfilling that mission here in Miri. At the same time, we learned a lot about ourselves and how important a concerted effort by everyone can lead to the success of a project,” commented Danny.
Presenting the donations to the families on Sunday (Oct 4) were Danny and another student Jeremy Lim Zi Xian. They were led by their lecturer Valerie Velina Nagreg, who is the coordinator of the MPU units.
Also present during the event were Christopher, DBNA Miri branch secretary Caroline Siburat and executive committee members Derek Cornas, Albert Jeris and Valentino Ivan as well as volunteer and trainee counsellor from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Martin Okoronkwo Elias A.
