HARI GELANDANGAN SEDUNIA
Hari ini merupakan Hari Gelandangan Sedunia. Komuniti gelandangan sentiasa dekat dihati saya memandangkan saya telah bekerja dengan komuniti ini selama hampir 4 tahun. Saya telah berjumpa dengan banyak orang dari pelbagai latar belakang dan mendengar berbagai kisah hidup mereka. Pengalaman ini banyak mengajar saya erti hidup dan mengubah perskpektif saya secara peribadi.
Saya pernah mendengar kisah penderaan fizikal, lisan dan emosi, terutamanya daripada kaum wanita. Komuniti gelandangan datang dari pelbagai latar belakang, jantina, kaum, agama, orientasi seksual dan setiap daripada mereka mempunyai cerita mereka yang tersendiri. Cerita yang acap kali saya dengar adalah bagaimana mereka mempunyai keadaan keluarga yang sukar sewaktu membesar dan situasi ini menyumbang kepada pelbagai masalah dalam kehidupan mereka.
Dalam situasi pandemik Covid-19, komuniti gelandangan telah banyak terkesan. Beribu gelandangan telah ditempatkan di tempat perlindungan sementara sewaktu sewaktu pandemik ini. Sekarang, banyak gelandangan telah kembali ke jalanan dan berada dalam situasi yang sukar.
Rakyat Malaysia telah datang bersatu padu melakukan yang terbaik untuk membantu komuniti ini. Antara kisah yang menarik adalah bagaimana syarikat Uniqlo Malaysia telah membantu golongan gelandangan untuk mengubah hidup mereka. Tujuan bantuan ini adalah untuk membantu mereka mengubah hidup dengan mempunyai pakaian baru sewaktu mencari pekerjaan. Pihak kerajaan negeri Johor pula telah membantu dengan membantu 1000 gelandangan mencari peluang pekerjaan.
Gambar dibawah adalah daripada Chow Kit Kids Project beberapa tahun lalu. Saya berharap semuanya kembali normal dan saya dapat kembali untuk berkhidmat untuk komuniti ini.
Ainie Haziqah
Ketua Wanita Muda Negara
WORLD HOMELESS DAY
Today is World Homeless Day! Homeless community has always been very close to my heart since I've started working with this community since almost 4 years ago. Along the years, I have met with a lot of people; each with different stories to tell. Engaging with this community has truly taught me to look at life and its meaning from another set of lenses and perspective.
I've heard stories of terrible physical, verbal, and emotional abuse; especially from women. Homeless community consists of people from different walks of life regardless of one's gender, race, sexual orientation as well as religion. Most of them however, have had very difficult family situations when they were growing up. This issue subsequently has contributed to problems throughout their lives until they unfortunately ended up in the homeless community.
Needless to say, during this pandemic, homeless community in Malaysia is part of the communities which has been affected the most. Fortunately, steps were taken and they were housed in temporary shelters during Malaysia's COVID-19 lockdown. Now though, many of them have returned to the streets and are now living from hand-to-mouth. We as Malaysians have come together to help this community before and I believe this effort would continue onwards.
One of fascinating stories I've read is how Uniqlo Malaysia gave free clothes to the community. The aim of the clothing program was to encourage those suffering on the streets to turn over a new leaf. Having fresh new clothes will help them to look more presentable when they go out to search for new job opportunities. Another amazing effort is an initiative by Johor state government to help 1,000 homeless people in securing jobs.
The pictures below are snippets from the time when I was working on Chow Kit Kid Projects! I hope everything is going back to normal and I would be able to go back to serve this community.
Ainie Haziqah
Ketua Wanita Muda Negara
#WorldHomelessDay
