KARL ISKANDAR Ahmad Bakri, 15, started assisting the less fortunate when he was only nine.
His mother, Noorianti Zainol Abidin, 50, not only instilled in him the value of sharing, but also aided him in gathering resources to help those in need.
From a young age, he realized that some people did not have enough money to afford food for themselves.
“My mother was always finding ways to help others beyond occasional giving.
“She wanted our project to be more organized and reach a larger number of people,” said Karl Iskandar, who is an only child and a student at SM Islam IQKL.
Noorianti said their initiative called “Projek Kongsi Pahala Kasihnyakarl” started in October 2017.
Since then, the pair, who reside in Shah Alam, have assisted over 1,000 individuals.
“I wanted to teach him the importance of giving instead of accumulating wealth and material possessions for ourselves.
“I told him that instead of buying more toys, he could use the money to help others who don’t have enough to eat,” said the businesswoman, who used to work in the corporate sector.
Egg-citing journey
Noorianti used to take Karl Iskandar to mosques and surau from a young age.
Both of them noticed that the small cupboards where donors could contribute food items for the underprivileged mostly contained dry foods like flour, rice, and sugar.
“We noticed they were mostly carbohydrates. Karl suggested eggs, which are a good source of protein,” Noorianti stated.
Karl Iskandar mentioned that he and his mother have distributed approximately 100,000 eggs, covering Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pulau Langkawi, and areas in Kedah.
“I haven’t been very active since I’m in boarding school now, but I will go out to distribute aid during school holidays,” he said.
They rely on contributions from friends and family to sustain the charity project.
Karl Iskandar also uses his pocket money, including what he receives during Hari Raya, to contribute.
Karl Iskandar (right) started donating eggs at a young age to mosques to boost the protein intake of recipients.
“Sometimes he will forego buying toys because he wants to purchase food items to donate,” said Noorianti.
She hopes that more children and young adults will step forward to assist those in need.
“It is important to teach the young the value of sharing and helping others.
“The satisfaction you get will surpass that of buying something for yourself.
“It doesn’t have to be a lot; what matters is building that habit early.
“There is a lot of talk about inclusivity and not leaving anyone behind.
“On a personal level, this is how we can initiate change.
“There’s always someone we can lend a helping hand to,” she added.
Karl Iskandar stated that the project has taught him the importance of sharing what he has with others.
“It feels good to bring joy. I have also realized how generous people around me are through their contributions,” he added.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
