By: Suziana Che Wil

Translation by: Shahirah Alia Azahar 

BANTING - The Alumni Relations Center is once again present with the Mahabbah Link Program for the seventh time. If the year before, the Raudhatul Jannah Orphanage and Asnaf Home received donations in the form of home furnishings and equipment to welcome Aidilfitri, this time the Mahabbah 7.0 Link Program took care of 40 orphans and asnaf children from Rumah As-Solihin, Kanchong Darat, Banting Selangor.

This time around, by emphasizing the concept of sharing sustenance, the spirit of contributing by alumni has been shown alongside the effort to team up and provide fundamentals to celebrate Ramadan, as well as the need for a more conducive learning environment for these orphans and asnaf.

This coincides with the call from the Vice Chancellor of UPM, YBhg. Dato' Prof. Dr. Roslan Sulaiman in the 2023 Vice-Chancellor's Narrative, the seventh effort to 'Unify Alumni Strength' contributions from alumni for the seventh series of the Mahabbah Link Program continued by Prof. Associate Dr. Hamisah Hassan, MyFundAction and YOSH Alumni Chapter, PUTRA Student Alumni, UPM alumni and also individuals.

With a total donation amounting to RM13, 268.30, the UPM Alumni Liaison Center has successfully provided necessities for residents to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri as well as equipment for a more comfortable learning environment. Among those that were successfully provided were the replacement of worn out ceiling fans, wardrobes, foldable study tables, holiday clothes, conservation of common use spaces and house signs were also replaced.

In this program, ARCUPM as an entity that is always a close link between alumni and alma mater, also involved the role of students, especially students from the Chapter Student Ambassador (CSA). According to the Director of ARCUPM, this is as a preparation for UPM students because they will also become alumni in the future. So this kind of early exposure can give them awareness that this kind of community service never ends.

"This disclosure is to prove and show the role of students who will one day become alumni who will continue this continuity and will be boosted again in the future. Through this program it is also evidence that the students' relationship and willingness to be together with the community has already been mobilized while the students are still on campus. If this can be continued and made into a shared spirit of instilling a sense of kindness among human beings, this will show that UPM students have the ability and greatness as desired in the context of creating a civilized society as the nation dreams of today." he said.

Meanwhile, according to the Head of the Mahabbah Link Program, Mr. Norfarhan Norzaini, the program this time has a slight difference, when students who on average have a foundation in agriculture also transfer knowledge to the residents by teaching the correct way to plant Brazilian Spinach seedlings which planted in a pot.

"This is a difference in the program this time. We do not only deliver donations in the form of money but also teach the younger brothers and sisters at Rumah As-Solihin with the knowledge of planting trees. At least it can be used for their daily use while also being able to save costs.” He said.

This program will continue in the future because with the spirit of the slogan 'Strengthen Cooperation with Alumni' many people can be helped with various donations given. The UPM Alumni Relations Center continues to fuel this sense of togetherness with alumni, future alumni and all UPM citizens to jointly preserve the culture of 'giving' for the benefit of the whole world, not limited to UPM students only but also communities that need help.

Date of Input: 13/04/2023 | Updated: 01/09/2023 | suziana.wil