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IN conjunction with International Volunteer Day, Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) launches MySukarela – a one-stop platform for Malaysians to register as volunteers by matching them with the needs of NGOs, corporations and any events around the nation. A first of its kind in Malaysia, the app offers volunteers, hosts and donors a new and simple way to volunteer which will entirely be led by the NGO communities.
Officiated by Datuk Dr Hishamshah Bin Mohd Ibrahim, Deputy Director General of Health (Research and Technical Support) Ministry of Health, Datuk Wira Dr Hj Bahari bin Datuk Abu Mansor, national deputy chairperson, of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society and Tuan Haji Hakim bin Hj Hamzah, MRCS Secretary General, the creation of the platform is part of MRCS’s ongoing efforts to continue the steady pace of volunteerism amongst Malaysians.
Malaysians have been remarkable with their volunteering efforts and doing their part to bring Covid-19 under control. The Malaysia Vaccine Support Volunteers initiative or MyVAC, which was launched by Ministry of Youth and Sports and MRCS in March in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Ministry of Education, had successfully garnered over 320,000 volunteers to support the vaccination drive. MySukarela represents a culmination of these efforts and was built upon the success of the MyVAC programme.
With support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), MRCS’ partner in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and The Asia Foundation, the MySukarela app provides Malaysians with a more seamless way to continue to do good during and beyond the pandemic. Through the app, interested volunteers may offer their assistance to organisations in need of voluntary services based on their preferred location and time. MRCS has also worked with over 40 NGOs nationwide. By working together, MRCS has successfully provided 35,000 doses of vaccine to the underserved community.
“The MyVAC initiative proved critical in providing much needed support to our frontliners throughout the pandemic. Today, the vaccination effort will focus largely on NGOs taking a leading role to support and run the outreach vaccination targeting the underserved community. I am excited to see the next iteration of this effort.
"I foresee the MySukarela app will not only allow Malaysians to continue their goodwill but also assist NGOs and relevant organisations in fulfilling their volunteering needs,” said Datuk Dr Hishamshah Bin Mohd Ibrahim, Deputy Director General of Health (Research and Technical Support), Ministry of Health.
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“We are proud to share the MySukarela app with fellow Malaysians. Voluntary service is one of the seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, of which the MRCS is a proud member. It is for this reason that we have always sought to cultivate volunteerism through our initiatives, from assisting frontliners during vaccination to providing care kits and mental health support to those in need. With MySukarela, Malaysians now have access to a collaborative platform where the rakyat, NGOs and donors can all come together,” said, Datuk Wira Dr Hj Bahari bin Datuk Abu Mansor, national deputy chairperson, of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
MRCS is also collaborating with Yayasan Malaysian Humanitarian Coordination & Action Hub (Yayasan MATCH), to encourage NGOs to come onboard on the MySukarela platform and provide volunteers with more variations of humanitarian work. To further encourage and supplement the need for volunteers, MRCS also signed an MOU with AirAsia Academy to enable volunteers to have access to training and competency development prior to their deployment in any humanitarian mission.
The MySukarela app is now available for download in both Apple and Google Play stores. – The Vibes, December 7, 2021
