Miri – 25 October, 2010 – Since its successful charity event conducted for Sarawak Children Cancer Society last year, the Curtin University Sarawak’s student volunteer body – Curtin Volunteers (CV!) is renewing its commitment in continuing support for charitable organisation – Sarawak AIDS Concern Society (SACS).
The annual fundraising event traditionally takes place at Bintang Megamall on Saturday, 30th October 2010 from 9am to 5pm. Similarly to preceding years, exciting games and attractive prizes will be lined up for the occasion. Apart from that, performances by Curtin Cheerleading Club, dance, sketch and musical show are some of the activities to be showcased. Following that, SACS will conduct an extensive exhibition of AIDS and HIV positive to increase better awareness of the malady.
Sarawak AIDS Concern Society or SACS is a non-profit organisation dedicated to lend hands in several aspects. The Society disseminates information of AIDS and HIV in order to dispel its myths and eliminate stigmas attached to it. Additionally, promotes and protects the rights of people living with HIV and ultimately provide peer support to families and people living with AIDS and HIV positive.
Project Manager, Rahmah Wahap-Nicholls says the Society particularly aims to spread awareness to evade ‘stigma’ mind-set towards AIDS and HIV positive patients as well as instilling vigilance of how the disease is transmitted only through certain means.
“Based on an extensive outreach programmes we conducted, it is made known to us there is a rampant ignorance among people of this virus. We are often misunderstood as trying to dictate people of how they should live their lives. By distributing condoms, we are not promoting pre-marital sex but merely want public to know the precaution steps not to conceive the virus”.
The Curtin Sarawak CV!, Sarawak Chapter members will be collecting donations from the public, urged to lend a full support to this cause. As the major volunteer organisation at the University, CV! has held annual fund-raising events to support various charitable organisations, including the Miri Old Folks Home, Methodist Children’s Home, Lembaga Kebajikan Anak-anak Yatim Sarawak (PERYATIM), the Miri Centre for the Blind, and the Palliative Care Association of Miri.
Earnings from the donation will be utilised to operate SACS’s outreach activity within Miri and Baram. “Patients in the interior refuse to mobile from kampung to the city in seeking treatment, giving the excuse of high transportation cost. We would like to use this fund to support and encourage them to attend to medication”, as Rahmah vindicates.
Student Organising Chairperson Wong Kah Wai says, “Both Curtin Volunteers! and the Sarawak AIDS Concern Society look forward to a successful event full of fun and merriment this weekend. We invite everyone to come and give their support for the cause and have a great time partaking in the fun activities we have lined up.
Membership to SACS is open to all public and will be made open on fundraising day. Fees are ranged from RM2.50 for students below 18 years old, RM 5.00 for adults, and RM 20.00 for NGOs or associations per annum. Alternatively, one may opt for a lifetime membership for RM 50.00 one time payment.
More information is available at www.curtin.edu.my or contact Curtin Sarawak at 085 – 443 939 or email [email protected]
Curtin Volunteers! (CV!) Sarawak Chapter is a student-run, non-profit organisation of Curtin Sarawak consisting of students and staff committed to supporting the community in the spirit of volunteerism. Since its formation in 2002, CV! has been actively involved in a variety of community service activities and programmes.
The Sarawak AIDS Concern Society (SACS) is a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in HIV/AIDS work. It was formed on the 19th May 1998 with the aim of addressing HIV/AIDS issues in Sarawak. The approach of the Society is non-judgmental and holistic in nature, focusing on preventive education and working with people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Society recognises that everyone is susceptible to HIV/AIDS regardless of age, race, gender or status in society. The Society intends to educate Sarawakians about the facts and myths regarding HIV/AIDS, to reduce the stigma attached to it and to promote effective preventative measures in dealing with HIV/AIDS.
Knowledge alone about HIV/AIDS is not sufficient in stopping the spread of the virus. Social conditions such as discrimination, stigmatisation of marginalized groups and unequal gender power are all part of the problem. It is the aim of the Society to address these issues and provide emotional support.
