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EWRF – The Place that Triggered My Interest in Volunteerism

Maya Nair
Feb 25, 2016
2 min read

Well, many asked me where did my interest of being a volunteer started from, and the only answer I give everyone would be EWRF. EWRF stands for Educational, Welfare and Research Foundation which is an NGO that has Intervention, Prevention and Support programs for the development of the Indian Community in Malaysia. I had no idea that such an NGO existed until I stepped my feet in UPSI. I got to know about this NGO through a friend, where she encouraged me to join a camp in PLKN Geo Kosmo that was conducted by EWRF for High Secondary Schools students and that camp was known as CSI Camp.

CSI stands Civil Society Intervention which helps the academically poor performing students and problematic students to engage themselves in various kinds of activities that could unleash their potential talents and skills that EWRF could identify and guide them towards a brighter and greater future. Before this camp, I was not that fascinated about the idea of being a volunteer, but after the camp, I realised that being a volunteer was all I was looking for in my life. And now, I am well known in my university for the projects and programs that I am volunteering in such NGO’s and this makes me to feel really proud about myself.

Thanks to EWRF for giving me such a wonderful experience and recognition among the people from my university and also from other places as well. In this article, I would like to share about EWRF and some of their activities, so that those who are interested in being their volunteers could always feel free to join them.

ABOUT EWRF

EWRF was formed in 1979 to improve the social, educational and economic welfare of the marginalized Indian Malaysians, particularly students from poor homes. In the initial years, our activities were directed more towards average and high achieving students, with the objective of improving their academic results to enable them to fill up the allotted places in local public universities.

However, today the alarming incidences of crimes committed by youths have made EWRF review its focus. Serious social problems besieged students to become academically challenged. School dropout rates have risen with a corresponding rise in juvenile and criminal activities. Poverty and the sub-culture of poverty are identified as the key reasons. Our programmes today are designed to address the social behaviour and education level of the underachievers. Over the years we have benefited thousands of people from the community particularly students. EWRF today has 23 branches nationwide with more than 300 volunteers and members.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY EWRF