Volunteer goes International – Welcoming Indian PM to Malaysia

This is one of the best experience in volunteering I would say as we got a chance to meet India’s Prime Minister in Malaysia...!! Yes, on 22nd November 2015, almost 28 students from Sultan Idris Education University went to The Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre as the volunteers to welcome The Honourable India’s Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to Malaysia event. Being one of the youngest volunteer of this event, I was extremely excited. Who would not be excited to meet a Prime Minister from another country? It is a privilege, isn’t it?

We left our university almost around 10am and reached the place around 12 in the noon. We checked in and took our tags as the volunteers and that was totally amazing as we saw hundreds of people were lining up to get the tickets to see the VVIP, and we, the volunteers we really proud that we do not need any tickets to meet such a great man from India. Lucky us..!!! They protocol and security was extremely high and tight as we really amazed by the preparations done by the government of Malaysia and India in order to make sure that the security if the PM is really tight and he is one hundred percent safe being in this convention centre. That was indeed mind blowing to see people crowd was like an ocean outside of the convention centre.

The VVIP arrival started around 4pm and we started our part as volunteers in handling the crowd inside and outside of the convention centre. The moment when Indian PM arrived the whole crowd cheered for him and I almost went deaf with that loud cheer. PM was then safely brought inside the convention centre and to the hall with armed people surrounding him protecting his life. I have only seen such scene in movies but now, right in front of my eyes, truly, I couldn’t believe that PM was actually there few metres away from me.

The whole event ended around 8pm and we headed back to UPSI with thousands of laughter and such a pride among us that we actually spent a day with Indian PM, though not exactly beside him but with him in an event. That is actually more than enough for anyone from university life and also for any young volunteer to be proud of, right? This particular event taught me on how to be extremely patient with such large crowd as it was really tiring handling though it was only for few hours and we had almost 100 volunteers from all over Malaysia. Despite of all the tiredness, fun and amazing yet unforgettable experience mattered the most for me as a volunteer.