Having experienced poverty, they believe small acts of kindness make a big difference
A GROUP of friends who grew up amid poverty, lack of access to education and other social issues have now become a beacon of hope for families facing hardship.
The Unity in Diversity Welfare Association (UIDWA) that started with 20 people from Port Dickson and Seremban in Negri Sembilan seven years ago soon tripled in membership.
Its president P. Nithya, 42, started the charity group with her husband, R. Suresh Khanna 47.
Their efforts were initially on an ad-hoc basis, but friends and acquaintances soon joined in after learning about their work.
“Many of UIDWA members struggled with hardship during their childhood and know how it feels to go to bed hungry or to grow up without access to education.
“Now that they are doing well, they have a desire to help, especially children and single mothers, so that they do not experience the same misery,” she said.
In July, UIDWA began offering free meals to the needy, operating from a corner shop in Port Dickson they refer to as the “canteen”.
About 100 people now receive freshly cooked lunches there five days a week.
“Since September, we have also been preparing meals at the same location to send to Kuala Lumpur four days a week, providing lunch for another 100 needy and homeless people.
“The operation costs RM18,000 to RM20,000 a month, including salary for a cook and two kitchen hands.
“It is borne by the members who contribute RM100 to RM1,700 each,” said Nithya.
The couple and four friends volunteer full-time at the canteen.
“It makes us happy when those who frequent our canteen thanks us or say that the food was delicious.
“Many regulars tell us that by having a free meal here they can save for their children’s education, tuition fees or even bus fare.”
The menu changes daily, with vegetarian meals offered on Fridays.
Any surplus food at the end of the day would then be delivered to B40 families by volunteers.
Nithya said a small number of diners would leave donations.
She said the group’s first major project was in 2018 when they provided daily free lunch for a year to 200 students at two Tamil schools in Port Dickson.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, UIDWA supplied dry rations to 3,500 families in Port Dickson and the Klang Valley.
As members increased, UIDWA was able to renovate an old Hindu temple in Port Dickson that had been closed for several years and even paid for its consecration ceremony.
The project costing more than RM1mil began in early 2020 and was completed the following year.
In July 2023, they spent RM40,000 for a badminton court at SJK (T) Tanah Merah and the following month UIDWA donated 10 desktop computers worth RM22,000 to SJK (T) Port Dickson.
“We will also start free tuition classes for those sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam next year.
“Some of our members may not have had the opportunity to go to school, but they know how important it is to have a proper education,” said Nithya.
UIDWA also sponsored school programmes and initiatives to raise awareness about the harms of vaping and smoking.
Individuals approaching them for cash assistance to pay for utility bills and to buy milk, medication or diapers have also been helped.
“Since our aim is to help in any way we can, members also donate blood once a year and will keep doing this for as long as we can,” said Nithya.
She hoped UIDWA would be able to sustain its charitable efforts, adding that their initiatives have attracted interest from others wishing to lend support.
