By CHRISTINE CHEAH
alltherage@thestar.com.my

WOMEN’S rights groups have been tirelessly advocating for laws that could better protect women’s rights, and last weekend they received a timely boost from some young people.

A group of KDU University College students took it upon themselves to make a difference by launching a campaign to raise awareness about gender equality. Last weekend, a group of KDU University College students took the walk of action by launching a campaign to disseminate further the awareness of gender equality among the public.

The theme of the three-day campaign was “Love at Home”, and it saw the students involved collecting pledges from fellow students to help create a world free of violence against women.

They also organised an exhibition at Tropicana City Mall, Selangor to raise funds for the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) Refuge and Childcare Centre. The posters and photos on display all depicted messages speaking out against violence against women. A montage of all the pledges received was also displayed.

WAO executive director Ivy Josiah, who was at the exhibition, said she was impressed by the students’ efforts.

Dr Benny Lim presenting the donation box from KDU University College students to Ivy Josiah.

“It’s good that they are experiencing a wholesome education, and I’m impressed by the amount of research the students put in when they presented their ideas to me.

“As they learnt about domestic violence, I’m proud that they chose to stand up and educate people about it because this is what society needs to know,” said Josiah, who received a mock cheque of RM7,000 at the event on behalf of WAO.

The students also made sure there were some fun elements to the campaign. They organised a “singing mob” with local artistes like Prema Yin, Kayda Aziz, Shamaine Othman and Hameer Zawawi. The students included some fun elements into the campaign by organising a singing mob where they invited local artists such as Prema Yin, Kayda Aziz, Shamaine Othman and Hameer Zawawi to perform for the audience.

KDU University College’s School of Communication and Creative Arts lecturer Timothy Lee said he was proud of the students’ efforts, especially since they handled the campaign mostly by themselves.

“I helped them a little with the event but the posters, montage and the idea itself all came from the students,” said Lee.

One of the students involved in the campaign, Belinda Soh, 19, who is also a Red Ryder with Red FM invited her colleagues there to participate in the campaign as well.

“It’s fun, and the Red FM and 988 announcers were supportive with their pledges. Some of them even shared their pledges on social media,” said Soh, who managed to get Red FM deejays JJ, Lil Kev, Papi Zack and Jeremy Teo all to support the campaign.