104 A-HEART Volunteers Celebrated
Kangar, 6 Jun – 104 Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Autism Hub for Educational Resources and Training (A-HEART) volunteers were recently honoured in a special A-HEART Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Ceremony at the Hotel Putra Regency, Kangar.
They consist of UniMAP Bachelor and Diploma students involved in various A-HEART programmes since 2013.
UniMAP Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Fo’ad Sakdan said that becoming a A-HEART volunteer and being committed to the development of the community of children with special needs, and children with autism to be exact, has become a new cause for celebration for the University Corporate Social Responsibility volunteerism programme.
“Unlike other volunteerism programmes, A-HEART volunteers are not constrained by any other university co-curriculum programme structures.
“They joined A-HEART on faith to contribute to the well-being of society,” he said.
He added that the holding of several A-HEART programmes provided the volunteers with brand new experiences.
“They learned to manage the promotional programmes, arrange activities, work as a team, manage budget, bring in the involvement of friends and the community, and develop their own capabilities and soft skills.
“These are the skills and experiences that the university wishes to bestow to our students in an effort to produce a balanced graduate,” he said.
Among the programmes organised by A-HEART were the Autism Walk in 2014, Al-Quran Reading Classes For Special Children (KEMANIS) which is held every Saturday, Love OKU Project which holds social visits to Community Rehabilitation Centres (PDK) in Perlis and the A-HEART Festival.
It is interesting that starting from the Autism Walk programme, A-HEART began to approach the public with numerous social and educational programmes.
“A-HEART volunteers visited various welfare agencies such as the PDK to learn and understand more about these special children.
“Moreover they also endeared themselves to the Raja Muda Perlis and the Raja Puan Muda Perlis resulting in the A-HEART Festival 2016 that took place from 25 to 27 March and generated RM 500,000 through various entrepreneurial programmes during the festival,” he said.
From the impact of the festival, UniMAP plans to eventually build the RM 5 million UniMAP A-HEART Autism Centre to provide services to the autistic in the northern region.
