Stepping up activities with social, green impact

A NON-profit organisation based in Johor is planning to conduct more activities with social and environmental impact.

Social Hero Foundation trustee Datuk Seri Teo Shiok Fu said the proposed programmes for next year included feeding the homeless and needy in Johor Baru.

“We are planning to engage single mothers to cook well- balanced meals to be distributed to the targeted homeless and underprivileged groups.

“We believe that such activities will have a meaningful impact on the entire community and can be expanded once it’s launched,” Teo said.

He said the foundation was also planning to conduct a coral restoration project in Mersing.

“This includes a clean-up activity to reduce pollution and promote the growth of marine life, which would help local fishermen whose livelihood depended on the fish population”, he said.

This would help safeguard food security as well, he added.

“The foundation also aims to plant trees and conduct flood preparation workshops in three flood-prone districts – Segamat, Kota Tinggi and Mersing – next year.

“We aim to carry out these projects with our Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Award (Imsha) winners, sponsors, donors and relevant government agencies to make a difference together.”

Also in the pipeline, he said, was the foundation’s seventh Imsha to identify and recognise civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and non-governmental individuals (NGIs) in 11 categories for their selfless contributions to the community and society in Johor.

“From 2014 to 2019, Imsha in partnership with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, received 1,410 nominations from the public.

“This resulted in 120 Social Hero award winners, comprising 60 NGOs and 60 NGIs,” said Teo, adding that Imsha was recognised as a Good Practice Sustainable Development Goal Award Provider by the United Nations in Malaysia.

He said the programmes for next year would be conducted with the sponsorship and donations from its first fundraiser, which was a 3km and 5km walk in collaboration with the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB).

More than 500 participants took part in the walk, starting from the MBJB office in Jalan Dato’ Onn.

The event was flagged off by MBJB secretary Miswan Yunus, who represented mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman.

“It was also our way of encouraging the public to walk with their loved ones for a good cause and to promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Teo. — By YEE XIANG YUN