Cover image via SAYS
1. Lex Low has a skin condition but it was out of this predicament that led him to start the #heavenonearth initiative with his friends
Image via Lex Low Instagram
Through the #heavenonearth initiative, Low and his team of volunteers distribute food to the homeless on the streets. Low also puts his skills to good use as he offers to cut their hair.
Beyond street-feeding, lending a sympathetic ear and keeping people neat, Low is out there to empower the homeless with his skills
Image via The Star Online
Connect with **Lex Low here.**
2. Like Low, 25-year-old Mastura M. Rashid also has a vision to get the homeless off the streets through her social enterprise, The Nasi Lemak Project
Although challenges such as the lack of funds to sustain the her social enterprise can be rather discouraging, Mastura is determined to continue helping the homeless and also the needy children in the kampungs
Image via The Nasi Lemak Project Facebook
Join **The Nasi Lemak Project here.**
3. Age should never limit us to do the things we think is right – that is what 18-year-old Aidille Iman taught us
When social media was being flooded by racist messages as a result of the Low Yat brawl, Aidille wasn't happy.
"I was sad. My adopted brother is a Chinese convert," Adille said.
"We eat and live together in peace. I didn't like what was happening nor do I support it," he said.
So, he did what he could to inject some positivity back into reality – he went to Low Yat to sing Michael Jackson's 'We Are The World' with the shopkeepers.
Aidille Iman (left) with the staffs at the Oppo store in Low Yat Plaza.
Image via The Malaysian Insider
Although things didn't went as smoothly as he thought it would, Aidille's simple gesture brought warmth to the hearts of Malaysians in the little that he did
4. Racial and political tension can be overwhelming, so Lydia May Wong led her team to inspire Malaysians with hope and optimism through the #JomKawan project by Volunteers Unite
The idea of **#JomKawan** (colloquial Malay for Let's Be Friends) project is to ease racial, social and political tensions by bringing Malaysians together, regardless of their race, religion or political inclinations, around a shared belief.
The first activity under this project was simple – let people feeling about Malaysia through simple things. **A group of volunteers went went to the Kuala Lumpur Sentral railway station with a mat, packets of nasi lemak, a congkak board and marbles, a piece of black cloth that bore multi-coloured handprints and the words JomKawan, and a handwritten sign that asked "What do you love about Malaysia?".**
They randomly approached people, inviting them to take a load off and spend a few minutes on the mat for a chat. They asked what it was about the country that Malaysians treasured most.
If there was one thing we can learn from Lydia, it is to see the good in all Malaysians
Image via Lydia May Wong Facebook
Be a part of **Volunteers Unite here.**
5. Nurainie Haziqah Shafi'i is a 25-year-old lawyer who frequently volunteers to help the underprivileged since 2009. She eventually founded 'Happy Bank', a non-governmental organisation started by a group of friends to help the needy.
Image via The Star Online
Recently, Nurainie and her team of volunteers, who call themselves the Happy Bank Crew, made Raya more memorable by cooking for 1,000 Rohingya living in several villages
Join the **Happy Crew here.**
6. You would think that full-time medical students have their hands full but Sean Thum proves otherwise. Sean is a full-time medical student who consistently finds time to volunteer himself for good works.
Image via Sean Thum Instagram
The 23-year-old started volunteering work since his secondary school days under St John Ambulance. Sean currently assumes the role as Malaysian Liaison Officer for **UKECharisma**, an organisation that orchestrates volunteering projects.
He first joined **UKECharisma** [a branch of UKEC (United Kingdom and Eire Council of Malaysian Students)] as a volunteer last year. As **UKECharisma** conducts education projects to teach English at local primary schools, Sean helps to coordinate projects by being the mediator between the committee and the schools they are working with.
Juggling between his studies and personal life, Sean has also been volunteering at various organisations including Kechara Soup Kitchen
"I hope that our *rakyat* realise that *sedikit-sedikit lama-lama jadi bukit* (a Malay proverb that means a little effort put forth consistently will add up to something greater) and take up volunteering," Sean said.
**"Every small part we do to contribute to the betterment of our socoety and country can only result in a positive change to the society and country."**
Image via Sean Thum Instagram
Join **UKECharisma here.**
7. You have probably heard of Syed Azmi for his projects such as #SuspendedMeals and Free Market on social media but you may not know who are his friends that are partnering him to spread kindness and foster unity among the public. Meet the team:
Image via The Star Online
These seven individuals often work together as a group but they also champion their own special causes with others
One of the super seven's project – Freemarket Canteen at a school in Pasir Mas, Kelantan
Image via The Star Online
**Follow Syed Azmi** and be inspired!
We also want to give a special shoutout to Project B, a beautiful cafe with minimalistic design. However, the most beautiful thing about this cafe is not the design but the people who are working at the forefront and behind the scenes – teenagers aged 17 to 20.
Image via The Malay Mail Online
A collaboration between The BIG Group and the Berjaya Cares Foundation, Project B aims to empower the children through vocational education and transform them into contributing members of society.
**Project B** is a cafe staffed and fully run by the children, under the guidance of all partners. This programme serves as a platform for them to gain work experience, harness their skills and potentially discover their talents.
Usually, there is a minimum of 6 students working at the cafe, three at the back-end and three at the front-end. These students will only work the morning shift, from 11am to about 4pm.
Image via Project B
These teenagers, students from the **Dignity for Children Foundation**, generally spend about three days at the cafe and the rest of the week in class. Essentially they are doing charity, which is to do trade, and eventually the cafe would need to make a profit. Proceeds from the cafe will then go back to **Dignity for Children Foundation**, to sustain the programme, and to continue providing help and education to the underprivileged and less fortunate children.
Get to know more about Project B here.
