It was indeed a personally rewarding experience for us as we come together to refine the livelihood of those who have been in our country from the earliest of times. Our Phase 1 of ‘Orang Asli – Light Up Lives’ Programme took off fruitfully last year, when the MAF administered a 2-day ‘Light Up Lives’ program through the weekend of 15th February 2017 for the Orang Asli of Kampung Rako Baru, Cameron Highlands.

To kick-start the assignment, a group of 38 volunteers from AEON CO. (M) BHD., AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad., and university students gathered themselves and built 60 solar panels from scratch on the first day.

Day 2: At the early sunrise of 7am, the volunteers had gotten ready to brace through a 6-hour challenging journey ahead to Kampong Rako Baru, persevering across the woods of wet and slippery soil and rapid rivers tenaciously in 4WDs. Nonethelesss, the group arrived safely after ascending a mountain and crossing a river at approximately 2.00pm and was introduced to the village Head, Tok Batin Bahlai A/L Bongsu and the rest of the villagers.

Without further delay, the group committed themselves around the village to install the solar panels with the help of the friendly villagers of Kampung Rako Baru that has a current occupancy of 40 families. Upon completion, the volunteers got themselves acquainted with the orang asli as they waited for sunset to ensure that all the solar panels light up effectively at night, for the villagers and children to move about and play safely after sundown.