Metro

Monday November 9, 2009

Mercy Malaysia is 10 years old


MERCY Malaysia, an international NGO that was started by a group of backpacking friends, is celebrating its 10th year this year with a series of events to mark the anniversary.

The highlight of the celebrations will be its annual fundraising dinner which will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on Nov 13.

For auction: Raja Riza Shazmin (left) and Associate Professor Dr Mohamed Ikram Mohamed Salleh, executive committee member of Mercy Malaysia with items to be auctioned during the fundraising dinner on Nov 13.

The entertainment at the star-studded event will be provided by Ning Baizura, Jaclyn Victor, Ferhad and Indonesian jazz singer Andien.

Mercy Malaysia honorary secretary and legal counsel Raja Riza Shazmin Raja Badrul Shah said the dinner was to show the NGO’s appreciation for the support given by their corporate partners and the more than 5,000 volunteers who had been involved in numerous projects in Malaysia as well as in Myanmar, Sudan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and China.

“We are also looking at this opportunity to raise funds for our activities via the buying of dinner tables and auctioning of interesting items by our entertainers, such as paintings, handicraft and also artworks sponsored by our corporate partners,” added Raja Riza.

All profits from the event will be channelled to Mercy Malaysia’s Humanitarian Fund to support the current humanitarian response (the Padang earthquake in Indonesia and Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines), as well as ongoing programmes and initiatives on healthcare and risk reduction for vulnerable communities.

Guests will also get a chance to win lucky draw prizes such as massage packages, hair and make-over vouchers and two MAS flight tickets to Istanbul, Turkey, via the grand lucky draw. Other sponsors include Khal Hair Salon, Triknight Communications Sdn Bhd, Mozalyn Holdings Sdn Bhd, Citra Zurzana Sdn Bhd (Dewi Day Spa), Ratu Collection Sdn Bhd, L’andara Corporation Sdn Bhd, Unilever Malaysia, Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, The Legend Hotel and Studio 51 Sdn Bhd.

The other interesting event that will be held in conjunction with the celebrations is the International Humanitarian Conference on Nov 13 and 14 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

Organised in collaboration with the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the international conference will adopt the theme of “Collaborating in a Changing Humanitarian Environment for Effective Response”.

“The conference is aimed at looking at how collaboration can be improved to better respond to humanitarian crises.

“The recent disasters in Padang and Manila showed the greater need for local and regional NGOs to have a common platform to share knowledge and to network as disasters in this region are quite a certainty every year, and collaborations are imperative for a more effective humanitarian response,” said Raja Riza.

Speakers from all over the world including UN Assistant Secretary-General of Peacebuilding Support Judy Cheng-Hopkins, (who will be delivering the keynote address), UNHCR representative Alan Vernon, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society representative Jason Smith, Mercy Malaysia president Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus and former Mercy president Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, who is now UNFPA’s Chief Humanitarian Response, are expected to deliver their papers during the conference.

“As a non-profit organisation, Mercy Malaysia relies solely on funding and donations from organisations and individuals, to continue our services in providing medical and humanitarian assistance.

“It is my hope that more from the corporate and public sector will come forward and provide support and financial assistance, especially during this financial crisis, by participating in both our annual fundraising dinner and International Humanitarian Conference.

“We all know that helping people to survive is not only a noble, but also a challenging task as it may even involve personal risks. Each and every one of us can play a role, whether to raise awareness about a situation or cause, raise funds or be on the frontlines. We cannot just stand still and watch,” said Raja Riza.

Pledge forms for the fundraising dinner are available via www.mercy.org.my or just telephone directly to 603-2273 3999 for further information. Tables, priced from RM5,000- RM30,000, are still available.

As for the conference, those interested can register online at www.mercy.org.my/ihc2009 or enquire directly at conference@mercy.org.my.

The fee for the two-day conference is RM500 for Malaysians and US$350 for non-Malaysians. The fee for the pre-conference workshop on Nov 12 is RM50 for students and RM170 for professionals. Special discounts will be given to groups of five to 10 delegates.

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