Have you ever wondered what will a parent or a family member go through of taking care of a child who has cancer? Well, today, the employees from ExxonMobil has taken the attentive to contribute, dedicate, and treasure, the time spend with 18 Cancer Survival children and their siblings aged from 5 - 17.

 

By Sacrificing two back to back Saturdays, 40 employees from the ExxonMobil subsidiaries in Malaysia, divide and conquer into two teams volunteering in a community program with cancer patients and survivors with their loved ones as a part of ExxonMobil’s fifth community program of 2019.

 

There are four ExxonMobil community leaders for the program. The first teamed of 20 ExxonMobil employees were led by Jannatul Najwa and Hidaya Latif, volunteered to conduct a community project at “KidZania,” with children who have cancer, along with their siblings, parents, guardians, and a few facilitators from the National Cancer Society Malaysia center as a part of ExxonMobil’s 5th community program, for 2019.

 

 “Participating in Community Programs with cancer patients and survivors is very close to my heart, because my mother is a survivor herself, I am fortunate to be given a chance to lead this Community Program; it changed my perspective in life seeing how these children, despite their young age, being so strong and persevere to overcome this hardship. Spending a day with them in KidZania, we were hoping that they get to forget their pain just a little bit, have some fun, also to get them the knowledgeable theme park demonstrate and make the kids appreciate how their parents work hard to earn for the family.”  Said Jannatul Najwa.

 

For many cancer patients and their families, the experience of cancer is an intensely stressful journey. Needless to say, these kids, have suffered tremendously from the illness, from both bodily pain and emotional state, The ExxonMobil employees decided on being the caretaker for these kids for a day and bringing them to KidZania for a fun activity day event. Thus, this Community Project intentioned to offer some cheer, support, and encouragement to the children who are currently undergoing treatment or have survived cancer.

 

The program started with the employees visiting the National Cancer Society Malaysia, where they gathered the cancer survival children, their siblings, parents, guardians, facilitators and guided them to the bus provided by the ExxonMobil employees, to transport them safely to KidZania indoor family themed learning Center.

 

From, Nasi-Lemak Kampong, Chinese stir-fried noodles, to great western fried chicken breakfast choices. Along with a nutritious Chicken-Rice lunch, the program made sure that the children were fully energized with well nourishing food before each child is assigned to one ExxonMobil employee for that day as their caretaker and spend the whole day with them entertaining at KidZania.

 

“It is an outstanding experience, of course, we cannot do anything about their illness but to be able to show our warm support and by cheering the kids, hoping that it gives them motivational support and strength to overcome their illness. Further, by bringing them to KidZania can inspire them to fight cancer and to chase their dream in the future,” told Hidaya Latif.

 

The community program additionally gave out five laptops to the National Cancer Society Malaysia Center for the facilitators to use as an upgrading project of the community program, funded body care items to cancer organizations the "Home of Hope" staff to appreciate their time, support, and good deeds to these children and as well provided a tumbler set and a 3-in-1: pillow + blanket +hand warmer to all the children to comfort and keep their food and themselves warm, especially during their stay in the hospital.

 

 

In addition to the main activities at KidZania, the community program prolong for a week by teaming up with the Pink Unity Women cancer survivals on their 5 kilometers walk campaign “Celebrating Cancer Survivor by giving Hope, Touching hearts” at Taman Tasik Perdana Kuala Lumpur. About 100 members who participated in the campaign that inclusive the majority of them being women who survived cancer.

 

 

 

Here, leaded by ExxonMobil final community program leads Habibah Roslan and Ku Swee Sen, the second team of 20 ExxonMobil employees plays their part by aiding in Zumba class workout, organizing a well nutritious fruit breakfast before the walk, providing packed lunch after the walk and giving out gift begs that residing of a Yoga mat, face towel, and a fruit infuser water bottle, all in a theme of pink for the 100 participators.

 

The community program also sponsored an hour of self-defense presentation by two professionals from the HammerFist Cyber-Jaya Martial Arts academy. “The purpose of the self-defense presentation is to teach critical components of self-defense to all participants, in hopes that it will help in their daily lives,” explained Ku Swee Sen, one of the committee leads.

 

Nonetheless, the cherry on top of the program is when all the employees who had volunteered also joined in the 5 kilometers walk with the 100 participants at the park in all glory. It’s been a busy week, yet the employees proudly supported the community program on cancer awareness, cheering for the patients who currently have cancer, or celebrating to the ones who had fought cancer.

 

ExxonMobil’s community program with cancer patients and survival is the fifth and the final community program arranged by its representatives for 2019, which highlights this event would generate a sustainable impression and positive transformation in the community.