By: Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo: Marina Ismail
Serdang, July 19 (UPM) - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) hosted a programme called the ‘Free Market’ as one of its community outreach activities providing free items, new and used that were still in good condition for the poor.
The programme which was organized for the first time was part of the UPM corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities aiming to help people who were in need through a community service programme.
Programme director, Rafidah Sadarudin, said the uniqueness of the ‘Free Market’ was the absence of monetary transactions and the people deserving of help were able to pick the items for themselves for free.
"Among the people that we are aiming to help are the orphans, asnaf (beneficiaries), single mothers, and we ensure that only selected items which are still in good condition are allowed to be given away," she said at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Arts and Cultural Centre, where the programme took place.
She added, the programme also taught the meaning of sharing with those who were in need.
"This programme is not about how fast or how many they can grab the goods, instead we allow them to take their time in choosing the goods they wish to pick," she said.
Among the items collected through public donations for the programme were clothing, appliances and home furnishings, books, shoes, electronic devices, kitchen utensils and toys.
Meanwhile, some 1,000 visitors attended the programme comprising various charity bodies such as Baitul Kasih, Aman Cahaya Keajaiban NM Organization, Dengkil Orphanage, Gombak Single Mothers Association, Madrasah Adiniah, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens who came from Serdang Kuala Lumpur.
Among other services provided at the free market were haircut, photography sessions with animals, portrait sketching, corporate massages and magic shows. - UPM
