Traditional Lion Dance, Malaysia

Zone 4B

Highlights

CountriesCentres/
Groups
SSSIO
Members
SSE
Students
ISSESathya Sai
Schools
Brunei160---
Cambodia138---
Indonesia764,2461,09112
Lao PDR4223--1
Malaysia665,7903,90211
Philippines21345711
Singapore191,771554-1
Thailand82135511
Total17712,4755,65947

Indonesia

Tree Planting
Health Screening
Taal Volcanic Erruption Service

SSSIO volunteers from Singapore organised a health screening camp on 16 June 2019 at the Sathya Sai Centre in Batam, the largest city in the Riau Islands. SSSIO members from Medan, Indonesia and Young Adults from Malaysia assisted at the camp. A team of medical doctors, dentists and nurses provided healthcare to 120 patients, including vision and dental care.

In the Pura Bukit Gondol area in North Bali, as part of a Go-Green initiative, 50 SSSIO members, including Young Adults, planted 300 saplings of mango, sawo, guava, durian, banyan and cimeng trees and several types of flowering plants. This project was intended to benefit the local community and beautify the Govardana hill.

Malaysia

Walk for Values
SAIRAM Johor Flood Relief
SAIRAM Johor Flood Relief

The SSSIO has been recognised by the National Blood Bank in Malaysia as the single largest Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the country that organises blood donation drives regularly. More than 500 volunteers participated in a blood drive held between 7–9 February 2020, during which donors gave over 2,600 pints of blood.

In December 2019, many states in Malaysia were affected by floods due to heavy monsoon rains. On 22 December 2019, SSSIO Young Adult volunteers from the SAIRAM Johor Flood Relief Team distributed dry rations such as rice and canned food items, sanitary products, and formula milk to needy families who were severely affected.

On 25 August 2019, 25 Young Adults organised a Walk for Values at Jalan Raja Dihilir, Ipoh, in collaboration with others, to raise the awareness of human values in the community. The event, attended by about 1,000 people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, featured many activities, such as hand painting and making placards with environmental messages on the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and booths on human values and animal awareness. A float showing the five human values was also on display.

Philippines

Blood Donation
Disaster Relief

On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Poornima on 18 May 2019, the SSSIO organised a blood drive, in partnership with the Philippine Blood Center, a government blood bank that provides blood to the needy, free of charge. Assisted by two doctors and four paramedics, 25 people donated more than 11 litres of blood.

Mindanao island, the second-largest island in the Philippines, was hit by three devastating earthquakes in October 2019 that displaced more than 260,000 people. SSSIO volunteers sprang into action and collected nearly 900 kg of relief supplies. Partnering with volunteers of the Asian Development Bank, SSSIO members visited Mindanao during 9 –10 November 2019, and distributed clothes, blankets, and essential groceries to about 2,500 survivors of the natural disaster.

On 12 January 2020, the Taal volcano in Batangas province erupted, causing widespread destruction and displacing more than 57,000 people. Since 16 January 2020, SSSIO volunteers have distributed about 400 bags of essential groceries, blankets, goggles, sanitary napkins, and footwear at various evacuation centres.

Singapore

Service to Migrant Workers
YA Retreat
Service to Migrant Workers

On 22 December 2019, SSSIO volunteers in Singapore entertained nearly 150 migrant workers from South India with a special programme that included artists from a local Indian TV channel.

Thailand

Community Adoption
School TV Donation Service
Mangrove Planting

On 22 April 2019, seven SSSIO members planted 70 mangrove trees in Bangpoo, near Bangkok, to celebrate Earth Day. On 24 April 2019, they distributed apples and ice cream to 300 labourers at a local construction site. The volunteers also helped to increase the awareness of human values by holding up signs with value messages written in Thai.

Every year, SSSIO members volunteer at the Good Shepherd Sisters’ Home, which serves at-risk female youth and women. On 6 May 2019, 19 volunteers distributed grocery items to the residents to commemorate Easwaramma Day. At the end of the year, more than 25 volunteers, including Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) children, brought Christmas cheer to the nearly 70 residents with prayers and devotional songs, and a nice programme organised by the SSE children and the residents.

Every week, 30 volunteer teachers conduct value-based English classes at the Samakhee Songkraw School in Bangkok. Recognizing the importance of learning English through a visual medium, five SSSIO volunteers donated eight 40-inch television sets to the school on 3 July 2019, to help the children improve their English.

On 31 August 2019, SSSIO volunteers distributed essential grocery items such as rice, oil, sugar, noodles, milk, and cookies, as well as diapers to impoverished families and the elderly in Lopburi, in central Thailand. The volunteers returned on 7 December 2019 to distribute blankets, diapers and 32 grocery packages to the elderly and families in need.