BENITA'S SEPATU RAYA PROGRAMME BRINGS FESTIVE CHEER TO ORPHANS IN BANGI

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- The Association of Women and Wives of Bernama Employees (Benita) continued its Sepatu Raya Programme tradition by providing support to 28 orphans and underprivileged children from the Rumah Bakti Nur Ain care centre in Bangi, Selangor, in conjunction with Aidilfitri.

Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said the annual programme is organised to celebrate the festive season while bringing the spirit of Aidilfitri closer to orphans and children in need.

She said Benita makes it a point to donate to different orphanages each year to ensure that children from various locations have the opportunity to receive new Raya shoes.

“We want to give these children the opportunity to experience the excitement of preparing for Raya while bringing them joy in conjunction with Aidilfitri.

“I hope this moment will become a beautiful memory that the children from Rumah Bakti Nur Ain will always remember,” she said when met at the Sepatu Raya Programme held at the Bata Ampang Point outlet in Ampang Point Shopping Centre today.

According to her, the programme was also made possible through the support of Bernama’s strategic partners, including Mamee-Double Decker (M) Sdn Bhd and Bata Malaysia, as well as contributions from Bernama employees and retirees.

Nur-ul Afida said the initiative forms part of Bernama’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, which have benefited more than 600 orphans and underprivileged children since the programme was introduced.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nur Ain Bangi Welfare Organisation, Shaizul Karnon Nasir, expressed appreciation to Benita for selecting Rumah Bakti Nur Ain as this year’s recipient of the Sepatu Raya donation.

He also hoped more organisations and individuals would come forward to assist the children at the welfare home, particularly during Ramadan and ahead of Syawal.

Meanwhile, Mamee-Double Decker (M) Sdn Bhd director (Islamic Affairs and Business Relations) Ahmad Syukry Ibrahim said the company remains committed to continuing its collaboration with Bernama in promoting its products and supporting the ‘Mamee Prihatin’ CSR programme, which has been implemented since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For one of the recipients, 18-year-old Muhd Aidil Abdullah, the donation from Benita Bernama was especially meaningful as it enabled him to celebrate Aidilfitri with a new pair of shoes.

“For Raya preparations, if there is a sponsor, then we will have new Raya clothes and shoes. If there is no sponsor, then there will be none,” he said.

The teenager, who lost his father when he was 10, is currently staying at the welfare home.

Another recipient, Shaira Adelia, 12, also expressed her appreciation to Benita Bernama for the new Raya shoes she received.

“It has been four years since I last had new Raya shoes. I am very excited and happy to be able to buy new shoes for Hari Raya this year,” she said.

-- BERNAMA