EWRF The Place that Triggered My Interest in

Volunteerism
Well, many asked me where did my interest of being a volunteer started from, and the only
answer I give everyone would be EWRF. EWRF stands for Educational, Welfare and Research
Foundation which is an NGO that has Intervention, Prevention and Support programs for the
development of the Indian Community in Malaysia. I had no idea that such an NGO existed until I
stepped my feet in UPSI. I got to know about this NGO through a friend, where she encouraged
me to join a camp in PLKN Geo Kosmo that was conducted by EWRF for High Secondary
Schools students and that camp was known as CSI Camp.

CSI stands Civil Society Intervention which helps the academically poor performing students and
problematic students to engage themselves in various kinds of activities that could unleash their
potential talents and skills that EWRF could identify and guide them towards a brighter and
greater future. Before this camp, I was not that fascinated about the idea of being a volunteer,
but after the camp, I realised that being a volunteer was all I was looking for in my life. And now, I
am well known in my university for the projects and programs that I am volunteering in such
NGOs and this makes me to feel really proud about myself.

Thanks to EWRF for giving me such a wonderful experience and recognition among the people
from my university and also from other places as well. In this article, I would like to share about
EWRF and some of their activities, so that those who are interested in being their volunteers
could always feel free to join them.

ABOUT EWRF
EWRF was formed in 1979 to improve the social, educational and economic welfare of the
marginalized Indian Malaysians, particularly students from poor homes. In the initial years, our
activities were directed more towards average and high achieving students, with the objective of
improving their academic results to enable them to fill up the allotted places in local public
universities.
However, today the alarming incidences of crimes committed by youths have made EWRF
review its focus. Serious social problems besieged students to become academically challenged.
School dropout rates have risen with a corresponding rise in juvenile and criminal activities.
Poverty and the sub-culture of poverty are identified as the key reasons. Our programmes today
are designed to address the social behaviour and education level of the underachievers. Over
the years we have benefited thousands of people from the community particularly students.
EWRF today has 23 branches nationwide with more than 300 volunteers and members.