Big-hearted gesture

7-ELEVEN Malaysia collaborated with its start-up NGOHub Asia in another CSR endeavour. This time, the kindly pair conducted a "gotong-royong" - a community-effort clean-up initiative - at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Enggang.
The resident tribespeople, the Cheq Wong clan, are known as one of the smallest orang asli tribes in Malaysia. The village, discovered by Zawiyah Ali, houses 30 impoverished families. It is located in Lanchang, Pahang.
Part of the effort saw the volunteers from both 7-Eleven Malaysia and NGOHub Asia furnishing the village's six-year-old learning centre. Floor mats, educational posters and stationery supplies created a better learning environment for the tribe's children.
The clearing and cleaning of common spaces and drains/water ducts ensued, followed by the distribution of essential provisions and goodie bags for each to take home.
A happy Zawiyah was grateful for everything, including the support. She was also touched to know there are people "out there" who care. She said that public donations and medical care to support the livelihood and well-being of the tribesfolk were other areas of assistance the community seek.
"We are happy to have spent time with the community here and to see the smile on their faces when they received their supplies and goodie bags was especially rewarding," said 7-Eleven Malaysia marketing general manager Ronan Lee.
Lee also said that he hoped the children will now be able to further develop their knowledge and skills in the "enhanced" learning centre and that the public will assist with the welfare and educational needs of this community.