KUCHING –Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus marked the sacred month of Ramadan with heart and purpose through the Swinburne Sarawak Ramadan Outreach & Charity Bazaar 2026, a meaningful initiative that brought together students, staff, and the wider community in a shared celebration of compassion and unity.
Held from 2 to 6 March 2026, the event comprised a Charity Drive, a special Charity Buka Puasa dinner, and a lively Charity Bazaar on campus – reflecting the spirit of Ramadan through generosity and festivity.
The centrepiece of this year’s outreach was the charity drive, which accumulated RM5,000 worth of contributions from 38 generous donors. The donations, which comprised duit raya, baju Melayu, and essential food items including rice, flour, cooking oil, biscuits, and sugar, went towards supporting Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah, a local orphanage.
The handover of the monetary contributions and food essentials took place during the Charity Buka Puasa dinner on 4 March 2026. In a gesture of appreciation, each donor also received a traditional kek lapis as a token of gratitude for their generosity.
The Charity Buka Puasa dinner embodied the essence of Ramadan, fostering a shared sense of warmth and togetherness. Thirteen children from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah were welcomed by the Swinburne Sarawak community as guests at the dinner, making the evening especially memorable. For many present, it was a heartfelt reminder that the university’s responsibility extends beyond the classroom – touching lives within the wider community.
Professor Dr Ida Fatimawati Bt Adi Badiozaman (right) presents gifts to one of the children from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah, as Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah House Warden Encik Muhammad Al-Hasyer Bin Abdullah Sani looks on.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Charity Bazaar, held alongside the Charity Buka Puasa dinner, Swinburne Sarawak Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Dr Ida Fatimawati Bt Adi Badiozaman thanked all the donors for their generosity and commended the committees, vendors, and volunteers who made the event a success.
“Ramadan is a meaningful time centred on reflection, gratitude, compassion, and giving. These are values that resonate across cultures and faiths. Our gathering this evening reflects those shared values and reminds us that at Swinburne, diversity is respected, genuinely celebrated, and lived,” she remarked.
Welcoming the children from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah, she said, “To our young guests, we hope this evening brings you warmth and that you will leave with fond memories of Swinburne, knowing that you are valued and supported by a wider community that cares about your happiness and well-being.”
Complementing the charity efforts, Swinburne Sarawak’s Charity Bazaar drew over 200 visitors daily, filling the campus with the sights, scents, and sounds of the season. Twenty-two booths, featuring a mix of student-led enterprises and external vendors, offered an array of food and refreshments, creating a festive atmosphere at the start of the new semester.
In addition to its vibrant offerings, the bazaar also supported the initiative’s charitable cause, with proceeds from booth rentals channelled directly towards the charity fund.
The donations are presented to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah. Seen are Professor Dr Ida Fatimawati Bt Adi Badiozaman (centre), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Baiturrahmah House Warden Encik Muhammad Al-Hasyer Bin Abdullah Sani (second from left), and other representatives from Swinburne Sarawak.
Swinburne Sarawak’s Ramadan Outreach & Charity Bazaar 2026 stands as a testament to the university’s commitment to holistic education – one that nurtures not only academic excellence but also social responsibility, empathy, and civic engagement. Events such as this reflect the belief that a university community is most impactful when it engages beyond its walls and uses its collective strengths to uplift those around it.
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