With the aim to create awareness of showing love and care for the old folks as well as to entertain them through performances, a group of Public Relations (PR) students of UTAR Kampar Campus organised an event called, “The Golden Age Charity” for senior citizens at Rumah Sejahtera Gopeng on 6 March 2020. Parked under UTAR PR CSR Project 2020, the PR students had a fruitful and meaningful time with all the senior citizens throughout the event.

The event kick-started with a morning dance performance by all the students and volunteers before providing services to the senior citizens. Students were divided into groups to clean rooms, wash toilets and clean dusty windows. Besides, due to insufficient water supply, the students also helped to install a water pipe under the guidance of the Rumah Sejahtera Gopeng President, Wong Kit Lin.

The event was then followed by an interaction and entertainment session. The volunteers were chit-chatting, playing games and even offered massages for the senior citizens. In addition to that, the programme also saw Andrewins Saloon hairdressers giving free hair cut services to the senior citizens.

The students also prepared lunch for the senior citizens. They distributed food, provided by sponsors, to the senior citizens. The senior citizens also had a chance to enjoy a variety of activities prepared by the students. Among the activities conducted were live band, dramas, storytelling, singing, Chinese orchestra, Cantonese opera and dancing. During the live band session, all the senior citizens sang and clapped together, and one senior citizen even stood up and cheered.

One of the senior citizens from Rumah Sejahtera Gopeng Wong Kam Wah said, “It is the happiest day in 2020 and I love the lively ambience. I like the last drama performed by the students.” Some senior citizens said that they appreciated what the students have done and that they were very happy. They even commended our project’s objectives and hoped that UTAR students could continue to organise more such programmes.

The president of Rumah Sejahtera Gopeng Kit Lin enthused, “I am so thankful to UTAR and its students for organising this meaningful event and bringing happiness to all the senior citizens here.” He also encouraged the students to study hard and contribute to society once they have achieved success in the future.

Foo Chia Chyi, the Project Director of the event thanked everyone for giving a helping hand to run the event smoothly, especially the president of Rumah Sejahtera Gopeng and her PR lecturer Diong Fong Wei.

UTAR PR CSR Project 2020 was carried out by 150 undergraduate students of Bachelor of Communication (Hons) Public Relations of UTAR, Kampar Campus in March 2020 to fulfil the coursework requirement of a course – UAMP3084 Corporate Social Responsibility. The students were divided into 12 groups in carrying out various CSR projects concerning economic, environmental and social demands in meeting the needs of the local community members and also promoting environmental sustainability in order to improve the life of the people in Perak.