MIRI: The Sarawak Federation of Women Institutes (SFWI), the oldest women organisation in Sarawak, has started implementing its newly launched community project, ‘SFWI Care and Share’.
Its first project was donating to five less fortunate members in Serian District, on May 27, in conjunction with Gawai Dayak celebration.
The recipients were Rugayah Gunyau (SFWI Kampung Kajuh Kuhas) who was hospitalised at Hospital Serian, Deena Damung of SFWI Kakai, Jonok Bawol of SFWI Sorak Dayak and Nurhidayat Abdullah @ Hellen, of SFWI Tarat Mawang who is suffering from breast cancer.
Leading the members in presenting the food parcel and cash to the recipients were Salbiah Abdullah, chairman of the Welfare, Recreation and Social Committee, who is also an exco member for the SFWI Miri/Bintulu.
Also present were Rhohanniza Amika, SFWI executive secretary and the Serian District SFWI chairman Wendy Peter Kiang.
The project was coordinated by the Welfare, Recreation and Social Committee of SFWI and among the companies supporting them was Sarawak Flour Mill Sdn Bhd.
“We hope that through such donations and our visits to them could bring some joy to the members especially during festivals like Gawai and Hari Raya.
“A similar project will be held on Saturday (today) for five less fortunate SFWI members in Gedong and Simunjan, while plan is also on hand to extend the project to the children cancer patients at the Sarawak General Hospital in conjunction with this year’s Christmas,” said SFWI spokesperson when contacted Thursday.
The SFWI Care and Share is one of the two community projects launched on May 11 in Miri during the 54th anniversary dinner of the women institute.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib, who is also SFWI patron, launched the projects.
The other project is an interactive SFWI website.
Under the SFWI Care and Share project, the institute will organise fundraising activities to collect donations from the public to assist those in need.
Among the SFWI Care and Share projects planned are providing food for the needy, organise activities for welfare home residents, helping victims of disasters, campaign against pollutions including organising zero waste/recycle/no plastic bag, and promote healthy lifestyle programmes.
The interactive website is to enable SFWI to reach out to members and the public and to attract more women to become members.
These new projects continue to champion the cause of women and to help ensure a happy family institution.
“For a start, we used the initial public donation of over RM4,400 raised during the gala dinner in Miri to kick start our projects.
“In addition to SFWI Headquarters in Kuching, the respective branches too are expected to organise projects in their areas.
For Kuching, apart from the donation, ‘bubur lambuk’ will also be distributed by SFWI Kuching for the Sarawak General Hospital sometime this month,” the spokesperson added.
SFWI is a non-profit making organisation, with 13, 462 members in 362 branches in the state.
Meanwhile, corporations, agencies and individuals interested in collaborating with SFWI in organising the various community projects are encouraged to contact the institute at 082-244015 during office hours.
