Since its establishment in 2008, OrphanCare has remained committed to addressing two pressing social issues in Malaysia: the institutionalisation of children and the abandonment of babies. One of the organisation’s key initiatives is advocating for reproductive health awareness, particularly among young people.
As the majority of OrphanCare’s cases involve individuals aged between 16 and 25, its outreach efforts focus on schools and universities. In July alone, OrphanCare conducted awareness talks at four institutions: IACT College, SMK Tinggi Port Dickson, SK Bukit Batu Kulai in Johor, and The Peninsula College, Lighthouse Campus in Shah Alam.
The sessions are designed to actively engage students through presentations and group discussions on sensitive but critical topics such as rape and sexual harassment, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment. These discussions aim to empower young people with knowledge, enabling them to make informed choices about their lives and future.
A sobering aspect of these sessions emerges when the speaker asks participants if they have ever experienced rape or sexual harassment. In the many years that OrphanCare has been conducting these talks, the response has never been unanimous “no.” There are always students who bravely respond “yes,” underscoring the ongoing prevalence of such issues in Malaysia.
Feedback from participants continues to shed light on the vulnerabilities faced by young people and reinforces the importance of these advocacy efforts. During the talks, OrphanCare also shares statistics on the babies saved through its programmes. These real-life stories often leave a profound emotional impact, touching the hearts of many and strengthening awareness of the organisation’s mission.
