INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT UNGS 1201 - 2110554

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT (EMILIA NATASYA)

Attach above is the link to my individual assignment for UNGS 1201, entitled 'Malaysia Flood Catastrophe 2021'

GROUP PROJECT UNGS 1201

LOVE YOUR ENVIRONMENT - GROUP 1

Attach above is the link to our group project, entitled 'Love Your Environment'.

REFLECTIVE 3 - CARE FOR YOURSELVES AND OTHERS

 

In this third reflective journal of mine, I'd like to share an experience regarding my Covid-19 vaccination shot on 16th July 2021. For me, I think this personal experience closely related to the SDG number 3 - good health and well-being.

I could still vividly remember, during the first times when the vaccines were being launched by WHO and government, there were several parties and groups of people objected and refused to get themselves vaccinated as they believed in the rumors and conspiracies about the vaccines. For instance, it was widely spread that some people said that the vaccines could make us infertile and that it can lead to long-term effect. This is absolutely false. 

Actually, I was a little bit afraid to take the shots too as I was worried that it will bring any side effects to my body coz as we all know, the Covid-19 vaccines were still new and anything might happen to the receivers of the vaccines. However, I got convinced by my parents that the vaccines were totally fine and safe. From there, I've gained much more confidence to take my shots. 

On the day of my vaccination shot, there were many people queueing up to enter the MAHSA hall. I waited patiently and completed all the consent forms and required procedures, helped by the MyVac volunteers. The process was smooth and the doctor was nice too. The jabbing process only took less than 2 minutes and I was really surprised of how fast the process could be! I was very impressed by all the volunteers as they helped us very much and all those processes would surely took time without them.

Covid-19 vaccines

I personally realized that this Covid-19 vaccinations is super important as it could help us reach herd immunity and lower down the spread of disease from person to person. I learned that it is not easy for the government to convince 100% of the community to get their shots although the privileges that are gained by the vaccinated person is numerous, in fact countless, however there are still some of the citizens who are still not confident with the vaccines and refuse to get themselves vaccinated.

In my opinion, we as a responsible citizen, must comply and adhere to whatever initiatives that are being carried out by the government as it is for our own good too. I'll take the Covid-19 vaccines as an example. Even though we are already in the modern and sophisticated era, it doesn't mean that the peoples minds are align with today's technological developments. There are plenty of people who refused to take their vaccinations mainly because they believed in the rumors and conspiracies about the vaccines. We must eliminate this kind of thinking as it absolutely false and untrue. We have to follow the words of the professionals in the biological field as they have the knowledge and know better about the situations and how to respond to it. And in fact, this vaccination initiative is a crucial step to maintain the community good health and well-being in fighting against this pandemic disease.

REFLECTION 2 - IQRA', IN THE NAME OF YOU LORD.

 

For this second reflection entry, I'm going to write about a personal experience which closely related to SDG number 4, quality education.

Before Covid-19 became pandemic on March last year, I've been attending a Tahfiz Class which only took place on Sundays. Concisely, this Tahfiz Class was being held in a small mosque near my house and it was opened to all children, teenagers and youths aged around 5 until 22 and it started at 8.00 am and finished at 12.30 pm. The class was classified into two groups, boys and girls and was further divided into a few halaqah (groups). What's most interesting about this class was, it was a class that was opened to all, free of charge. The class also organized various interesting activities such as archery and annual Raya Festival.

This Tahfiz Class had allowed me to memorize few Juz of the Holy Quran including the selected Surahs such as Surah as-Sajadah, Surah al-Waqiah, Surah al-Mulk and many more. I've been attending the class since I was in Year 6 in primary school until 18 years old (the Covid-19 outbreaks). I couldn't tell how grateful I am for this priceless opportunity to be able to memorize few surahs of the Holy Quran. I could still vividly remember how patient were the teachers in the class, despite some of us were still learning to recite the Quran from the Muqaddam. The Tahfiz Class offered its platform to all students regardless of our backgrounds and level of education. This literally relatable with the SDG number 4 - quality education. 

The students waiting to perform Dhuha prayer while listening to morning tazkirah given by the teacher in the class. 

As for me, I think the most challenging moments were to attend the class consistently, as it was on weekend which was the 'rest time' for students like me, especially when it was exam period. Sometimes I found it difficult to always feel motivated to go the class. However, I'd always remind myself that this was part of my responsibility as Allah's servant on this Earth. I need to learn and memorize His words as it is one of the ways to gain blessings and rahmah from Him. I told myself, if I could not prepare myself for the Akhirah now, then when?  In fact, in every single thing that we do, we must always remember that this is all for the preparation of the Hereafter as it is our ultimate and final destination. 

Students in their respective halaqah.

Picture taken during annual Raya Festival.

Furthermore, I also think that the memorization process could sometimes be challenging and arduous for a non-religious school student like me. For me, the memorizing wasn't that difficult, but to maintain and retain the memorization in our memory was hard. And I know, all of the Hafiz and Hafizah feel the same too. Therefore, I'd always make sure that I will do the Murajaah session with the ustazah first thing when the class started. Besides, I'd also put on the Quranic recitation by Sheikh Mishary and Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamidi mostly on my Youtube playlists. This literally helped me to remember the Quran better in many ways.

Archery session.

From this experience, I learned that it is very important to appreciate and value all the time we have to learn and study and memorize the Holy Quran if we have the opportunity to do so, because we wouldn't know how much time we left in this world. Even now, I couldn't stop thanking The Almighty God for giving me a precious chance that not everybody gets. I miss going to the Tahfiz class very much. The benefits that I gained from it was numerous and the pleasure of attending the class was indescribable. I feel amazed with the committees of the Tahfiz Class because they were very dedicated to organize it to make sure all the children and teenagers in the community received quality education without anyone being left behind. They've opened a platform for the young generations to learn the Quran and religious knowledge to be well prepared for the upcoming challenges in this world and as preparation of the Akhirah too. Alhamdulillahi 'Ala Kulli Hal.

REFLECTION 1 - HUNGRY NO MORE!

Back then when I was a CFS student in International Islamic University Malaysia in Gambang, I was a subcommittee of the Welfare Bureau under Mahallah Fatimah Representative Committee. There were various programs that we had organized and conducted under the guidance and supervision of our fellows. One of the programs that I remember is the 'Box of Love' program. I can say that this program closely related to SDG number 2 i.e zero hunger. 

The donation box on the first three days of collection.

The objective of this program is to provide food for students in need, free of charge. The concept is 'from students to students'. Concisely, this program was to inculcate and instill a sense of empathy and care for others in students' selves. A donation box was being placed by the Welfare Committee at the pantry of each floor in the mahallah. Students who wished to donate may put the foods or drinks or snacks inside the donation box. And then, whoever feel that they needed foods but insufficient of money to buy it, they could take the food from the box for free. 

As for the challenges to execute this program, before we launched it, we have to think about the strategic place to put the donation box and how to let students to acknowledge about this zero hunger campaign. To come up with the solutions, we had decided to place the box at a place where students usually go or visit to ease them to donate or take the foods. On top of that, to let the students acknowledge about this program, we had constantly distribute the posters and reminders to the groups of hisbah and mahallah that whoever wanted to donate or take the foods, they were free to do so. While, to encourage students to participate and donate, the committee had promised to reward the students who contributed, with starpoints. 

"Box of Love" poster that was being disseminated on the online official groups.

After launching it, the 'Box of Love' program had become a success. Plenty of kind-hearted and generous students donated and plenty of them took the foods for free too. The program indeed worked out as we expected, and even better. It received some unexpected and great response from the residents of Mahallah Fatimah. The efforts and strategies that we had made to make sure this program would turn into a success were perfect. From this program, I've learned that teamwork was critically important to make a program doable and being executed well. 

The foods and snacks in the donation box after a few days launching.

 Obviously, this program had positively impact both parties of students. The students who contributed were able to develop empathy and generosity in themselves while the other party of students were able to enjoy the foods and drinks together without being left apart. As we acknowledge, those who are in need of food and basic necessities, they will not openly tell others about it as they are shy and do not want to burden anyone. Therefore, by coming out with this brilliant alternative, these students won't have to be ashamed to ask or take the food anymore as it is always available at the pantry on each floor of the mahallah.

Through this program, I personally realized that there were actually various platforms and alternatives to help those in need, and it was not difficult to be executed. Furthermore, I also realized that it is such a great ni'mah to have enough food to eat, enough garments to wear, and a place to live. It was dawned on me that we should always be grateful with every single thing that we have and we should not complain on anything that Allah has given us because there are more unfortunate people out there who can't even afford basic life necessities. 

If I were given the same opportunity to conduct this kind of program again in the future, I'd love to multiply the donation boxes and distribute more of them at different places, so that it could be reached to more students. I feel contented to be part of the committee of this campaign as it really opened my eyes of the new things I haven't known before. I learned about teamwork and critical thinking and gain new experiences that I'm sure will benefit me in the future. Alhamdulillah!