Sangeeta Krishnasamy and Arwind Kumar are the ambassadors of the #StandTogether kindness movement help those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic – especially young people.
Focusing both on mental health and the daily necessities of those in need, the individuals are part of a large group of celebrities who have set out to prioritise kindness in combating Covid-19.
Content creator Arwind has raised nearly RM37,000 in donations through a personal crowdfunding exercise to provide provisions to families in need.
“I’ve always believed in the power of unity, so it didn’t really surprise me that I was able to raise such an amount. I’m also in awe of the really thoughtful donors who would check up on my health and progress,” said Arwind to The Star Online.
Actor Sangeeta Krishnasamy talks about how she copes with the overwhelming feelings during the movement control order (MCO) in her video for Stand Together. The New York Film Academy alumni has also been cooking for several B40 families.
“One of the first things that hit me during the MCO was how daily wage earners, especially single mothers, would survive this, ” she said.
“So I got in touch with (social enterprise) Masala Wheels, who introduced me to a wonderful volunteer Dinesh, and we have identified several families to help by providing food and groceries.”
The celebrities have recorded encouraging messages of kindness and mental health care tips for children, as part of a partnership between #StandTogether and Unicef’s #KitaConnect Telegram initiative.
Adolescents can join the #KitaConnect Telegram channel here. The channel aims to provide information about the current Covid-19 situation, activities that young people can do at home, and videos from mental health experts.
“With this Telegram channel @KitaConnect, we want to address these concerns and engage young people during this MCO period and beyond, ” said Unicef Representative in Malaysia Marianne Clark-Hattingh.
“During this time, young people are affected by the social policy decisions made to contain the virus. On top of that, this public health crisis and the ensuing interventions have brought to light the inequalities many children face, ” added Clark-Hattingh.
“Staying connected can help lift spirits, bolster motivation, and will build empathy towards one another.”
The #StandTogether campaign was founded in 2017 by Star Media Group’s R.AGE team and property developer SP Setia to counter bullying cases in schools and create a culture of kindness across the country.
Keep up with the campaign here.
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