JOHOR BARU: Laughter and excitement filled the air as disadvantaged children selected new clothes for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, a rare experience for most of them.
The opportunity was made possible by a group of young volunteers who aimed to ensure that no child misses out on the festive celebrations.
Group vice-president Muhammad Dzulhakiem Alias said this year’s programme benefited 51 children, including several from the Johor Down Syndrome Association.
He added each child, along with their parents or guardians, would be given RM250 for festive preparations, which includes purchasing new clothing for the forthcoming celebration.
“This is the seventh year we are organising the programme. It started in 2018 when a group of friends came together with the intention of helping those who are less fortunate,” he said yesterday.
According to Muhammad Dzulhakiem, the group decided to include children from the Down syndrome community this year to raise awareness about the condition.
“We chose them because March 21 is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, and we wanted to highlight and celebrate this special community,” he added.
Muhammad Dzulhakiem said the group, known as Gems and Jewels, began as a small circle of friends who have known each other since their secondary school and university days.
He added that over time, the group grew as members invited their friends to join the effort to help vulnerable communities.
“Initially it was just a handful of us, but friends started bringing their friends, and slowly the network expanded. Today, the group has around 300 volunteers, with most of them comprising youths,” he said.
Muhammad Dzulhakiem also said many of their volunteers were willing to travel from outside Johor Baru, including Pontian, Simpang Renggam and Batu Pahat, just to take part in the charity initiatives.
He added that social media platforms such as Instagram have played important roles in attracting new volunteers.
“Through social media, more people learnt about what we do and wanted to be part of it.”
Apart from individual donors who contribute financially, Gems and Jewels also works with another non-governmental organisation to run crowdfunding campaigns to support its charitable activities.
Beyond the shopping programme, the group also regularly carries out outreach activities for the homeless, such as distributing food.
They also conduct clothing recycling drives at Masjid Mutiara Rini, gathering unwanted clothes for repurposing or redistributing to those in need.
“Last year alone we managed to collect nearly 100 tonnes of discarded clothing through the recycling programme,” Muhammad Dzulhakiem said, adding that the group hopes to continue expanding its initiatives to help more communities in the future.
