Shafin’s earnest mission to help those in need

Mohammed Shafin Arshad from Bangladesh was chosen as one of the Top 10 Young Talents by MonStar Awards 2021 - Asia Young Talent Awards, which aims to recognise young people who inspire others through their contribution to the community.

He is currently studying Computer Science at Multimedia University, Malaysia.

He has been working with Volunteer For Bangladesh, Chattogram district, since 2015. "I learnt a lot through my experiences at this organisation, including leadership and project management skills," he shared.

Under 'Project Waste To Hope', Shafin helped set up four water purifiers and a model toilet for underprivileged communities. This project was nominated in the Sustainable Projects category of the National Youth Assembly 2020.

Shafin was in the student council of his university, where he primarily ensured that every student's rights were preserved. "Our term was hard because it was during the pandemic and most of it was virtual. We made sure that students' mental health did not take a toll, and arranged for financial and food assistance for those who might need them," he explained.

Moreover, his team assisted more than 1,000 international students of the university.

Shafin is also the first international student to be appointed as the President of the IT Society, one of the biggest tech clubs in Malaysia, in 20 years of their history.  Shafin came back to Bangladesh in March 2020. He wanted to reach out to lower-middle-class groups who were harshly affected by the pandemic. He started providing support with his family members through the organisation, Mercy Universe.

They distributed groceries to middle-class families, and raised funds for PPE kits, hand sanitisers, hot meal packs, and day labourer wages. By the end, they distributed food to 5,000 families in Chattogram, along with nearly 50 PPE kits, and 15 litres of hand sanitisers. Shafin was the coordinator for the projects.

He wishes to work on more sustainable social projects moving forward.

The author is a freelance journalist who likes reading, scribbling, and blogging. Email: mislammonamee@gmail.com