Curtin Malaysia students reach out to special needs children

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Chong (standing fifth right) receiving a certificate of appreciation from Ting, witnessed by others.

MIRI : A group of ten committee members of the CPA Australia Student Charter of Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently visited the Association of Parents with Special Children (Pibakis) Miri centre in Lutong here.

“The visit was part of the student charter’s community outreach programme that aims to connect its members with the less fortunate members of the community through visits and community activities,” the visit’s organising chairperson Thomas Ting said.

Pibakis Miri adopts and runs a community-based rehabilitation (PDK) programme that includes an Early Intervention Programme (EIP) for special needs children below seven years of age to stimulate their development and provide pre-academic sessions, a Day Training Programme (DTP) to teach living skills and provide vocational or educational training, carrying out physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and organising social and outdoor activities for the children.

Prior to the visit, the students organised a donation drive at the Curtin Malaysia campus to collect unused clothes, old magazines and cash for the children.

They also organised a fundraising sale that saw charter members selling fruits, homemade cupcakes and drinks to the campus community.

Proceeds from the sale were used to purchase foodstuff and gifts for their visit to the Pibakis Centre.

Upon arrival, the group was warmly welcomed by the centre’s principal, Chong Bee Lan. Throughout the day, the students organised fun activities such as an ice-breaking session, games as well as a photography session with the children and staff of the centre.

According to third-year accounting and finance student Celyne Foo who was part of the group, the visit was a very meaningful one as the group got to actively engage with the special needs children and learned a lot about the centre’s operations.

She hoped more students from the university will join the student chapter’s future activities of similar nature.