IWK Cares celebrates brave young hearts
AT Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd, the act of giving goes beyond environmental responsibility — it extends to serving the community and the people we engage with every day.
Through our flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, IWK Cares, we focus on creating long-lasting, meaningful initiatives that uplift those who need them most.
During this festive season, we believe that everyone deserves to experience the joy and cheer of Hari Raya.
In light of this, IWK Cares has initiated two meaningful initiatives in collaboration with Hospital Tunku Azizah (HTA) and the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), aimed at bringing smiles to those facing health challenges.
As part of our community outreach, the IWK Cares team made a heartfelt visit to the paediatric ward of HTA on April 22, 2025, sharing the spirit of the season with young patients undergoing treatment.
A total of 100 children received specially prepared goodie bags containing milk, biscuits, stalked dates, a healthcare kit, and colour pencils — all thoughtfully selected to prioritise their well-being while adding a spark of joy to their daily activities.
IWK's chief operations officer (COO), Ir. Mohd Taufik Salleh and IWK's head of corporate communications, Wan Esuriyanti Wan Ahmad were also present to personally hand over the goodie bags and duit Raya to the children, sharing in the joy and celebration.
Continuing the festive spirit, and in collaboration with NCSM, hosted an uplifting Hi-Tea session for cancer survivors and their devoted caregivers at IWK Eco Park @ Pantai Dalam on April 25, 2025.
The event aimed to celebrate their strength and resilience, extend support
to those still on their health journey, and honour the invaluable role of caregivers.
Taufik, and chief corporate officer (CCO), Azuan Ahmad Zahdi, along with the management team, were present to share the celebration and personally distribute goodie bags and duit Raya to 30 children from B40 families affected by cancer.
'At IWK, we are not just committed to the preservation of the environment, but also to the community.
'We are grateful for the opportunity to share a little happiness with these children, survivors, and their families this Raya. Our hope is that these small gestures of kindness remind them that they are not alone on their journey.
'Through IWK Cares, we strive to create a positive impact beyond our core operations by fostering care and connection within the community we serve.
'We are honoured to share this festive season with those who continue to inspire us with their strength and resilience,' said Taufik.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
Unbroken spirit: Mazwan pursues degree despite rare disease
KUALA LUMPUR: No one would fault Nong Mazwan Fitri if he gave up on his dream of earning a psychology degree, given his rare condition, but quitting is the last thing on his mind. For the past 27 years, Mazwan has lived with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. The rare genetic condition causes bones to be very fragile and susceptible to fractures. Throughout his life, Mazwan has fractured over 100 bones, each one causing him excruciating pain. "The pain I experience is not ordinary. Even the slightest movement can break my bones," Mazwan told the New Straits Times. "I have faced many challenges while studying, but I keep pushing forward because I believe education is important," said Mazwan, who will graduate from Open University Malaysia next year. Mazwan has not received treatment for his condition since 2018, as his family cannot afford it. Despite the challenges, he refuses to let his condition break his spirit, especially during celebrations like Hari Raya Aidilfitri. "I celebrate Hari Raya with my family as always, even though my condition makes it more difficult," he said. Subang Jaya Medical Centre orthopaedic surgeon Dr Roshan Gunalan said brittle bone disease was caused by a genetic mutation that led to a decrease in Type 1 collagen, making bones more brittle. "Brittle bone disease is not just about fragile bones. "It can impact the skin, teeth, and even the heart, making comprehensive medical care essential." While the disease poses challenges for people like Mazwan, support groups such as the Malaysian Rare Disease Society (MRDS) strive to offer help and resources. "MRDS will take them under our wing," said the organisation's vice-president, Allida Muhammad Said. "We offer daily help through WhatsApp chats. We have a large group with nearly 40 people and families affected by the disease." Allida said there was a shortage of genetic specialists and counsellors in Malaysia. She said that genetic counselling was crucial in helping people understand complex genetic disorders and inherited health conditions. "Malaysia has only about 15 genetic specialists and the same number of genetic counsellors nationwide, far too few to meet demand."
The Star
17-05-2025
- The Star
Reclaiming motherhood after loss
Apple of their eye: (From left) Raihan, Ahmad Nazri and their son Ahmad Hafiy Haizen with Dahlia Diyani Naa'ira; Wati and Norizal with Nur Adriana. KLANG: After losing their own special needs children, two mothers discovered that the most healing path for their broken hearts is the one that leads them to channel their love towards other children facing similar challenges. They each adopted one of a pair of twin girls with Down syndrome, giving the sisters a loving home while preserving their bond. It began when Raihan Kamaruddin gave birth to her daughter Jasmin, who had Down syndrome, in 2014. 'Jasmin was also born with severe heart defects and an underdeveloped anus. 'She underwent three heart surgeries and remained in hospital from birth until she passed away the following year,' said the 47-year-old mother from Ipoh, Perak. Devastated, Raihan spent two years in grief until she received an invitation from a private orphanage in Kuala Lumpur. A visit to the home, accompanied by her husband and her teen son, changed everything. 'We were shown a pair of twins with Down syndrome. 'We fell head over heels for the younger girl,' Raihan said, adding that her husband Ahmad Nazri Md Rejab also felt an instant connection with the three-month-old baby. With the consent of the baby's mother – a foreigner impregnated by her employer – Raihan, who works at a legal firm, adopted the younger sibling Dahlia Diyani Naa'ira, as the family could not afford to raise both sisters. Back home, she could not stop thinking about the older twin, Orked Diyan Nahila, fearing the girl might grow up alone in the orphanage once her birth mother returned to her home country. She reached out to her friend Wati Hamzah, also 47, from a support group for mothers who had lost their special children, and asked if she would consider adopting the other child. Wati had lost her three-year-old daughter to leukaemia not long after Jasmin had passed away in 2015. She and her husband, lorry driver Norizal Salleh, brought the older girl back to their home in Melaka. The couple, who have four biological children aged 16, 18, 22 and 24, renamed their new daughter Nur Adriana Diyan after their late child. Although the sisters, now nine, are raised in separate homes, Raihan and Wati make sure they celebrate their birthday and Hari Raya together. 'We want their bond to remain strong as we can see how close they are and how much they love each other,' said Raihan. Although Nur Adriana Diyan is non-verbal and Dahlia Diyani Naa'ira has limited speech, the twins, who also face other health issues, seem to communicate well in their own special way. Wati said the girls have also brought both families closer. 'We are now like one big family, and we thank our special girls for bringing us all together,' she added. And now, Raihan's only concern is that her daughter has yet to be granted citizenship. 'Wati's daughter has already received citizenship as the adoption was formalised through the Welfare Department, but ours is still pending as we adopted the baby directly from the mother and the orphanage,' she said.
The Star
12-05-2025
- The Star
S'gor expands OKU programmes
Anfaal (back row, centre) cutting a cake with the children during the event in Shah Alam. SELANGOR is set to launch Yayasan Insan Istimewa Selangor, a RM4mil foundation that will take over and expand work currently handled by Jabatan Anak Istimewa Selangor (Anis). The foundation, expected to begin operating in August, will focus on delivering care, aid and development programmes for persons with disabilities (OKU) including children, youth and adults. Selangor women empowerment and welfare committee chairman Anfaal Saari said the state would be allocating RM3mil for programme development and RM1mil for the foundation's administrative operations in the initial stages. The foundation, she said, would also be registered, allowing it to receive tax-exempt donations and public funding. 'With this foundation, we aim to build a Selangor that is inclusive and compassionate, where no one is left behind,' Anfaal said during a Hari Raya gathering in Shah Alam which highlighted autism inclusion. The event, jointly organised by Wanita Berdaya Selangor and Jabatan Anis, included autism-friendly activities, performances and exhibits. The event, which also served to commemorate World Autism Awareness Month, drew more than 1,000 participants. Wanita Berdaya Selangor is a state-linked agency focused on empowering women through education, entrepreneurship and community leadership, while Jabatan Anis provides early intervention and therapy for children with special needs. Many of the children who participated in the event had benefitted from the state's early intervention therapy programmes. Between March 27 and April 18, Jabatan Anis disbursed RM500,000 in aid to families, covering medical costs, therapy tools and educational support. 'We focused on ensuring that new applicants, especially those who had never received aid, were prioritised,' said Anfaal. Yayasan Insan Istimewa Selangor is set to expand this support system to reach more individuals with disabilities. Anfaal said the formation of the foundation was aligned with the state's wider care economy policy on uplifting care recipients and caregivers including parents, women and the elderly through structured and long-term welfare initiatives. Selangor was also expected to launch a statewide OKU policy providing a comprehensive framework for improving accessibility support services and social inclusion, she said. During the event, five single mothers affected by the Putra Heights explosion were each presented with RM2,000 in cash aid from Wanita Berdaya Selangor. 'These women were among those most affected and the contribution sends the message that the state sees them, supports them and stands in solidarity with them,' Anfaal said. — By AYUNA SHAMELIN
