Youth volunteers unite to share kindness for special needs children

"I hope you guys take the time to get to know the special needs community. Don't rush to criticize and discriminate against them, and work to understand them and their world so we can dispel our misconceptions about them." 

AIESEC volunteers appealed to all to create a more inclusive world in which those with special needs too can live in peace.  

Photo: Sunway AIESEC  members

Children with disabilities in Malaysia are often hidden, portrayed negatively and socially excluded, face stigma and discrimination on a daily basis, and are increasingly marginalized from special needs communities, according to a UNICEF study.

To this end, AIESEC brings the "Get Fit, Get Inclusive" program to special needs communities to help them develop and adapt to mainstream society. 

Prior to the official event, volunteers learned about special needs communities and outreach with friends through online seminars, and invited guests introduced volunteers to the process, teaching presentation skills, leadership and teamwork skills and facilitation skills to raise awareness of the community. In addition to this, AIESEC organizes crowdfunding campaigns where volunteers provide financial support to communities in response to the concept of sustainable development to raise public awareness.

The event was held at IMC Puchong, where volunteers interacted with the community online to better understand their needs in workshops and hands-on activities. Under the patient leadership and guidance of volunteers, children in the special needs community made handicrafts, painted murals, and learned dance, which cultivated the communication and motor skills of the children in the process.

Photo: Online workshop for volunteers

After the seminar, volunteers jointly produced a public welfare video to promote and publicize the special needs community on social media to improve the inclusiveness of netizens.

Photo： Volunteers and special needs community

AIESEC is a non-political, independent, non-profit organization run by students. They help today's youth make a positive impact by organizing social projects related to the SDGs and encouraging young people to participate. As of today, Sunway AIESEC has held 3 workshops with a total of 45 participants, and 87 workshops completed independently by community children, raising a total of RM6,687 and RM6,934 through promotions on social media.