The White Flag Campaign (Click to Read)
Trigger Warning: Suicide Mention
Due to the alarming rise of suicide cases in Malaysia following the third and extended Full Movement Control Order (FMCO), the White Flag Campaign was introduced by Malaysians as a signal for help especially in terms of food supplies. Those who need food supplies were called to raise a white flag outside their home. This would notify others to provide assistance and relevant help.
The third FMCO was implemented on 1st June 2021. The lockdown led to many losing their source of income either due to layoff or being sent on unpaid leave, rendering them unable to provide for self nor family. The financial constraints and being locked up indoor for a prolonged period of time might have contributed to the increasing suicide cases.
This campaign hoped to encourage the Malaysians to reach out and not despair on their own to the point of taking their own lives. #KitaJagaKita
Sources
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/07/01/flying-start-to-white-flag-project-as-malaysians-rise-to-help-the-needy/
Our Initiative
1st July 2021
In the light of these recent events, Nur Jauhar joined in the initiative to extend help to those who needed it. We collected donations to fund our small project to distribute food packs to the needy in surrounding areas.
This small project was in collaboration with Shahfiz Trading that is also based in our area. The grocer has been a long time collaborator in our past projects.
The prepared food pack consisted of the following:
1. Rice
2. Eggs
3. Sugar & Salt
4. Tea
5. Kicap Jalen
6. Flour
7. Cooking oil
8. Rice noodle
9. Onions
10. Potatoes
Initiative Accomplished
7th July 2021
As of Wednesday (7th July 2021), Nur Jauhar managed to raise a total fund of RM5,565 and helped more than 111 families extending more than Selangor area by a few families.
Even though the initiative started from the White Flag Campaign, the execution deviated from the method of identifying those in need of help. Through aid by focal persons that were more knowledgeable of those people in need within their own areas, we managed to identify a housing complex with multiple families who could use our help.
By 3rd July 2021, we managed to gather a team of volunteers to purchase and package the first round of food supplies into a total of 25 food packs. Nur Jauhar was a long time customer with Shahfiz Trading in Prima Saujana, hence the acquisition of the food supply was smoothly done with the cooperation from the supplier. With the help of the focal person, we informed the families regarding the distribution. On the day itself, our team smoothly and successfully distributed the food packs to all of the families in need within the housing complex.
The eggs that were part of the food packs distributed.
Each family got one pack of rice included in the food pack.
Our team assembling the food packs.
The food packs ready to be distributed.
Some of the recipients of the food packs.
Our founder giving away the food pack to one of the recipients.
Beside reaching out to focal persons, Nur Jauhar also published a Google Form online for those who want to get in touch with us for help instead. From the 5th to 7th July 2021, a total of 11 food packs were given out. Many of them were mostly families within our base, Kajang, but one of the submissions also came from another state.
For this distribution, the recipients were given an allocated time frame for them to pick up the food pack prepared by the supplier. We also had volunteers that helped deliver the food packs to those who were not able to pick it up themselves. Our collaboration with Shahfiz Trading allowed us to help those in need while we were also supporting a local business.
Responses from some of the recipients
Contents of the food packs
Apart from the mentioned distribution methods, Nur Jauhar also helped other bodies by contributing food supplies and monetary donation for food coupons. This allowed us to extend help beyond our area and enabled the bodies to better aid their people.
Two of the bodies we reached out to were Surau Al-Hidayah and Surau Sri Saujana.
Overall, the breakdown of the contribution can be seen as below.
25 food packs distributed at housing complex (3rd July 2021)
7 food packs Google Form (5th July 2021)
2 food packs Google Form (6th July 2021)
2 food packs Google Form (7th July 2021)
45 food coupons worth donation to Surau Al-Hidayah (7th July 2021)
30 food packs worth of monetary contribution to Surau Sri Saujana (7th July 2021) and food supply (10th July 2021)
Nur Jauhar would like to thank every party involved especially the volunteers and those who made donations. Thank you for putting your trust in us and for helping us with this noble cause. We pray that all the good that came from this initiative will come back to you in higher multitudes.