CSR SECT 5 – 2021/2022

NUR AFIFAH BINTI NURMIRAFUDIN

2015346

Volunteering at PERTIWI soup kitchen

I volunteered at a soup kitchen with my friend and her family in high school.
The aim of this program is to provide a humanitarian food aid service to the
homeless and hard-core poor. We bought packs of food, drinks and even ice
cream to distribute to them. When we arrived, we organised the food and drinks
on tables and each one of us stood at a table and distributed them. The homeless
and hard-core poor lined up and had one volunteer per person to help them
navigate where to go and help them hold their food packs.

There were also other stations such as a barber station where the people can go
and get free haircuts and a medical corner where the people could go get check-
ups for free. My friend’s sister was a third year medical student at the time and
volunteered to help. We followed her to the medical corner where I watched her
give check-ups to the people. The organisation also provided second-hand
clothes, bags, hot coffee/tea for them. After we distributed the food, I went
around and chatted with the people and the kids as well. I listened to them talk
to me about their family and also about the food and how happy they were to
receive it. They thanked me many times and were very cheerful.

During this experience, I was inspired and it felt heart-warming to see so many
people volunteer and willing to sacrifice their night to help the needy. When I
saw the homeless and poor smiling and laughing with their family and their kids
after getting food, drinks and snacks it made me realise how ungrateful we are
sometimes for the things we have and the privilege that we get. For example to
be able to study, to be able to work, to have a house, clothes, food and
healthcare. They were also not ashamed to receive help and instead welcomed
it. Some of them were friendly and started conversations and made jokes with
us while others were a bit shy and quiet. From this I learnt that to need help is
not something we should be ashamed of and we should sometimes let our ego
down and allow others to help us. It also taught me how I can use the privilege
that I have such as money, health, time and knowledge and help other people
who are less fortunate. I also hope that when the time comes and I become a
doctor, I can volunteer my services and skills to the people who need it the
most.