As living expenses continue to burden households led by single mothers, students, and staff of INTI College Sabah (ICS) stepped in to support these families through a focused Hari Raya donation initiative.
Led by the “One Can, Sure Can!” committee, the month-long campaign collected essential household items for members of the Persatuan Kebajikan Wanita dan Ibu-Ibu Tunggal Negeri Sabah (Women and Single Mothers Welfare Association of Sabah).
The initiative culminated in a Hari Raya gathering at INTI College Sabah on 30 April 2025, bringing together INTI staff, students, and representatives from the association to share stories, celebrate the season, and explore future collaborations.
(From left) Rabtah Hanum Haji Nosbah, Lecturer at the School of Business, INTI College Sabah; Fatima@Rosni Binti Kamarudin, Secretary of the Women and Single Mothers Welfare Association of Sabah; Roselyn Chua, Chief Executive of INTI College Sabah; Dr. Athanasia Nointin, Academic Dean of the School of Business; and Stanley Lajiun, Head of Program at the School of Business, during the Hari Raya Donation Drive event at INTI College Sabah.
Donated items included rice, canned goods, cooking oil, personal care items, and hygiene products—all selected to meet the daily needs of the families.
“The items were chosen based on practicality and real-life needs, with a special focus on supporting the well-being of families led by single mothers,” said Rabtah Hanum Haji Nosbah, Lecturer at the School of Business and a committee member of the donation drive.
To ensure strong student participation, the campaign was promoted through online posters, campus noticeboards, class-to-class announcements, and social media, including the campus TikTok (@inti_ics) and Facebook pages.
“These channels helped us build awareness and momentum,” Rabtah explained. “The response was heartwarming. Our campus community came together in the true spirit of giving.”
The association, which focuses on empowering women and single mothers across Sabah, described the collaboration as both timely and transformative.
“Our mission is to help single mothers explore income-generating opportunities—whether through jobs, business, or skills training,” said Fatima@Rosni Binti Kamarudin, the association’s Secretary. “But challenges like poverty, childcare, and lack of access—especially in rural areas—can be overwhelming.”
She added that the partnership with INTI began in April through outreach via the association’s Facebook page and has since evolved into a meaningful engagement.
“Collaborations like this raise awareness, unite communities across races and religions, and give our members a sense of visibility and hope,” she said.
Roselyn Chua, Chief Executive of INTI College Sabah, expressed her pride in the students and the spirit behind the initiative.
“At INTI, we believe that education is not confined to the classroom—it extends to how we serve our communities,” she said. “This donation drive reflects the empathy, leadership, and initiative we strive to instil in every student. I am incredibly proud of the team for turning compassion into action.”
She continued, “As an institution, we are committed to building not only skilled graduates but also socially responsible citizens who understand the importance of giving back.”
By turning the festive season into a platform for advocacy and community engagement, the ICS donation drive provided more than just material aid. It brought much-needed visibility to the challenges faced by single mothers and showed how education, grounded in empathy, can create lasting, real-world impact.
INTI College Sabah students loading essential food items into a vehicle as part of the Hari Raya Donation Drive, supporting single mothers and their families across Sabah.