Introduction

 

In this project, we were required to plan and carry out a fund raising program for the Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang Selangor (PKKCKS), The module was designed to foster care and concern for the children of the house, thus leading to realization of the needs of the community, environment and world at large, and to develop a sense of personal and social responsibility. Through this project, we would be able to apply our skills and knowledge to solve real-life problems.

 

 

 

Project Objectives

 

Through this project, I have:

• gained a sense of social responsibility

• promoted a culture of caring and respect for the children of PKKCKS

• made an effort to be a responsible citizen who understands the community around me, and the relation between myself and the target community.

 

 

 

Learning Outcomes

 

Through this project, I have developed:

• Communication skills for collaborations with the society or works that make contributions to the society

• Awareness for a variety of problems that call for action, and the ability to critically analyze the approach to scientifically solving the problem

• Information management skills in the long run

• A sense of social responsibility and be able to portray leadership qualities while working as a team. 

 

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Submission Requirements

 

This project consists of :

• A personal reflection journal

• A video documenting our efforts during the project

• An A4 bound report

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Link to Video: Video documentation for Community Service Initiative PPKCK Fund Raising

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Community Service Initiative PPKCK Fund Raising Video Documentation

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Reflection

 

For this project, my groupmates and I decided to join the fundraising team for the PKKCKS to raise money for disabled children. Being architecture students, it is extremely difficult to take time out of your day just to spend on anything but studio and design, However, this project has provided me with the rare opportunity to engage in service to the community as a group, to spread awareness and foster concern for the mentally disabled children of the PKKCKS and the chance to feel as if we made a difference in their lives and the lives of the people, societies and communities we had involved in this project. I feel grateful for this opportunity to see beyond myself and to others that need my help in the world. 

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Through this project, I feel like I have been able to step up to the challenge by actually participating in group discussions and suggesting ideas for the fund raising program. It is difficult for this many people to work as a team and contribute good ideas that work and compromise ideas that wouldn't. However, through this project, I then can gauge using personal experience, the types of projects that work, and the types that do not based on audiences and target groups. It helped m better my leadership skills as we brainstormed for ideas, finally settling on collaborating with the program team to produce a set of merchandise that we would sell at 2 events, the Charity Baazar and the Art For All Exhibition. We took many of the children's artworks and involved a third party sponsor, WOUNDS Apparel, who sponsored a t-shirt design based on the children's artwork. I sensed a feeling of responsibility when speaking to third party companies to request for sponsorships as I wanted to make them aware of the children's predicament and to share my excitement that we were doing something that could actually help the children have better lives as a caring community and I wanted to tell them that they were doing something greater than themselves, not for personal gain, but for a good cause and the welfare of the children. 

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After this project, I must say, I feel more strongly about the welfare of disabled children. Seeing their house, the way at least 20 of them lived in a single bungalow house, how they were fed and how they slept in discomfort and isolation from the society who could not connect with them as if out of pity or fear. I must admit, I was once one of those people, judging them from the outside. However, after spending time with them, thinking of ways to help them, seeing them and experiencing the way they think and see things, I have become more emphathetic towards them. They are the same as us, just wanting to belong to a house and family, and if I can do that by raising money to provide better accomodation and meals for them, as well as providing funds to hire more helpers that understand and care about them, I would, and I would try my hardest to help others see things from my perspective as well. Not in a judgemental and distant way, but in a compassionate way, as the children need help from us all.

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I am very happy that we were able to raise a little over RM2000 for the children, that we spent time designing merchandise for them, the shirts, badges, keychains and bookmarks, that we displayed their art proudly at Taylors, and that we got to spend an enjoyable time with them all throughout this project. I can only hope that the money we raised helps them to have a better and richer life despite their disability. 

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To conclude, I truly feel like a responsible citizen, that I took 10 weeks of my time and spent it not on myself, but to help a group of people that needed help, I also realized that doing an act, no matter how small, that reaches beyond yourself and pushing yourself for the sake of others is an act of giving back to the society and has an impact on others, namely the children of the PKKCKS. I believe that our program has enriched the lives of all parties involved, our sponsors, group members and the children, and I am grateful indeed for this opportunity and project.