- Projek Rak Rahmah: UPM Students Lead The Way In Fighting Student Poverty

Barnama

3 days ago

Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors.
Projek Rak Rahmah, initiated by the Student Representative Council of UPM's School of Business and Economics, in collaboration with the School's Student Council and Trimax Club, is not a one-off event.
At a time when many student programmes are carried out without meaningful or lasting outcomes, we – student leaders from Universiti Putra Malaysia – decided to take a different approach.
We strongly believe that student leadership should focus on initiatives that serve the student body rather than merely conducting activities for the sake of it.
It is a year-long, student-led initiative aimed at directly supporting students' daily needs, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.
Many companies did not respond, and some declined. But a few, recognising our sincerity, stepped forward to support and guide us.
The official distribution under Projek Rak Rahmah began on 8 July 2025, but the groundwork started months earlier – searching for sponsors, writing proposals, and facing countless rejections.
True leadership is reflected in actions that address real issues and bring about actual change – no matter how small the action may seem.
The main objective of Projek Rak Rahmah is to provide students with essential items such as snacks, daily necessities, stationery, and digital access – allowing them to focus on their studies without being burdened by basic needs.
So far, the initiative has delivered several meaningful actions:
8 July 2025 – Motivation Day to uplift students emotionally at the start of final exams.
11 July 2025 – Chill with Milo, sponsored by Nestlé Products Sdn. Bhd.
17 July 2025 – Roti Family Mart, sponsored by Kechara Soup Kitchen.
21 July 2025 – Enjoy Hot Maggi Cup distribution, again supported by Nestlé Products.
24 July 2025 – Joint distribution of Roti Family Mart (Kechara Soup Kitchen) and Milo (Nestlé).
Stationery was sponsored by Dr Nor Siah Jahariddin, a senior lecturer at our faculty -proving that even small, internal contributions can spark real change.
Most notably, after persistent efforts, we secured a sponsorship of 10 laptops from FGV Prodata Systems Sdn. Bhd. (a subsidiary of FGV Holdings Berhad).
These laptops will soon be distributed to selected students from B40 backgrounds who lack access to proper devices for online learning and assignments.
Ensuring no student is left behind
The project's distribution is ongoing, and we are committed to continuing it throughout the academic year to ensure that no student is left behind.
Along the way, we've heard powerful stories from fellow students. One recipient of a care pack quietly said, 'I didn't have enough money for food this week. This helped more than you know.'
That was the moment we truly realised the impact of what we were doing.
We are reaching out to BERNAMA, not to seek attention, but with the hope that this story will inspire other student councils and youth leaders across Malaysia.
Projek Rak Rahmah is a replicable model – any university can do it. You don't need a big budget. What you need is sincerity, consistency, and the drive to make a difference.
We call upon all student leaders to look beyond activities that merely entertain and instead invest in initiatives that directly improve student welfare.
Small actions, when done with sincerity, can lead to meaningful impact.
We hope our story will be shared widely to encourage more youths to rise – not just as organisers, but as change makers who genuinely serve their communities.
'A glorious nation begins with students equipped with the essentials to thrive.'
-- BERNAMA
Ilambaridhi Kannan is a member of the Student Representative Council, School of Business and Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).