Students spend holidays giving back to society

Wong (third from left) singing Christmas carols with the KLUF team.

WHILE most school students are resting at home or out shopping this holidays, others are opting to do charity and be involved in volunteer work instead.

Most people her age are still taking a break after finishing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam, but 17-year old Wong Valvet is all ready to volunteer for a Christmas outreach activity for the homeless organised by the Kuala Lumpur Urban Fellowship (KLUF).

KLUF is a non-profit charitable organisation in Petaling Street which helps the homeless and needy by providing free food, free medical check-up and even a place for them to shower.

“We show our love to the neglected by singing carols with them, inviting them for a Christmas dinner at the KLUF centre and presenting them with gifts.”

“What is more important is that they receive the love they seldom get and know that society still cares for them,” said Wong.

Shuvalakshimey Veethasalam, 15, will be volunteering this holiday at Paws Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a non-profit animal shelter for abandoned and neglected animals based in Subang Jaya.

At such a young age, Shuvalakshimey aspires to be a veterinarian in the future, which led her to make the decision to volunteer at the animal shelter.

“Volunteering in PAWS will give me first-hand experience of taking care of animals besides getting to study their behaviour as this is related to my ambition.

“I have to fill up a volunteer application form as well as go through an interview first before I can start,” said the 15-year-old animal lover.

Activities as a PAWS volunteer include feeding the animals, cleaning their sheds, taking them out for walks and bathing them.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Siti Khairina Mohamad Fikri, who is an eco-volunteerism enthusiast, plans to join volunteer activities hosted by World-Wildlife Fund Malaysia while waiting for her SPM results.

She was the Eco Captain for the Eco Schools of Malaysia when she recently participated in the 4th International Eco-Schools Conference 2015 with 180 participants from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines where urban climate change was discussed.

Those interested in volunteer activities and charity work can head to the Twitter page @YouthMalaysia, where various volunteerism opportunities and charitable events are shared for youths.