Eye Believe event by FCI final-year students bring blindness awareness

Front row, from left: Mr Raduan, Dr David Tneh, Ms Lim, Dato’ Thomas, Puan Rosnah and Karen Chong

Eye Believe, an event organised by the Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI) Corporate Communication final-year students, was held on 6 September 2023 at Sungai Campus. Its primary objectives were to heighten awareness about the visually impaired community, and promote the creation of an inclusive society that warmly embraces and supports individuals within the visually impaired community.

The event, which was held in collaboration with the Society of the Blind in Malaysia (SBM) and the Malaysia Association for the Blind (MAB), was supported by YYC Advisors, IOI Foundation, Vida C, FreshKon, and Metro Optical Group. It was also supported by media partner MY FM.

Present at the opening ceremony of the event were Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKJ) Councilor Ms Lim Kim Eng, MAB Chief Executive Officer Dato’ George Thomas, SBM Kuala Lumpur Branch Head Pn Rosnah binti Ahmad, FCI Dean Dr David Tneh Cheng Eng, FCI Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr Cynthia Lau Pui-Shan, FCI Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Ts Ang Kok Yew, FCI Department of Mass Communication Head Kenneth Lee Tze Wui, FCI academic Mr Raduan bin Sharif and Eye Believe Project Manager Karen Chong Kah Yee.

Ms Lim said, “In a world often characterised by its fast pace and constant change, it is rare to find moments of genuine significance – moments that remind us of our humanity, our interconnectedness, and our potential to bring about change. Today is one of those rare moments. The purpose behind this event resonates deeply with me, and I believe it resonates with all of you as well. We have come together to increase awareness for the visually challenged community and create an inclusive society with the visually challenged community.”

Ms Lim delivering her speech

Dato’ George Thomas said, “Today, our efforts have been woven together by a common thread – the belief that by joining forces, we could create a lasting impact on creating awareness and an inclusive society for the visually impaired. The journey has been marked by shared challenges, innovative solutions, and the joy of witnessing progress unfold before our eyes.”

 

Dato’ Thomas delivering his speech

Mr Raduan, the representative of the FCI Department of Mass Communication Head, said, “As greatest joy comes from witnessing the growth and development of our students, each one of you brings a unique perspective, a diversity of experiences, and a hunger for knowledge that keeps the learning environment alive and dynamic. I am constantly inspired by your enthusiasm and your dedication to expanding your horizons.”

Mr Raduan expresses delight over the students’ efforts

Karen Chong said, “The theme of today’s event is inclusivity, one that resonates deeply with all of us. It reflects our shared commitment to increase awareness for the visually impaired community and create an inclusive society with the visually impaired community. Our agenda is packed with exciting sessions, enlightening keynote speakers, interactive workshops, and opportunities for networking and collaboration. I encourage each of you to actively participate, ask questions, share your insights, and connect with your fellow attendees. Together, we can make this event a truly enriching experience.”

Karen Chong delivering her speech

The event featured a total of three exciting activities, namely Eye-Ron Man, Lens of Love, and I’ll Be Your Eyes, You’ll Be My Hand.

For the “Eye-Ron Man” activity, the visually impaired showcased their talent for singing and playing the harmonica. They also set up booths to sell handcrafted products and homemade muffins. Massage booths were also set up and all the masseuses were visually impaired. After that, a sharing session was organised for the attendees. The session featured speakers who were visually impaired. They were invited to share their life journey. “Lens of Love” is a gallery section where artworks from the visually impaired were put for sale. The proceeds of the artwork went to MAB and SBM.

Since the mooncake festival was around the corner, students and the visually impaired were paired up to make lanterns. The session, which aimed to nurture inclusivity among the students and the visually impaired, was successful as the teams collaborated and communicated well with each other.

Organising committee members, from left: Yap Yen Yang, Evelyn Chen Mei Mei, Tan Ai Nie, Karen Chong Kah Yee, Dato’ Thomas, Bradley Kueh Shi Kwang, Yap Hui Shan and Shelby Gui Chin Fung

From left: Dr Wong Huey Siew and Anna Loo sharing their life experiences

SBM’s members performing a song

Lantern-making session

A group photo featuring SBM, MAB and FCI students