The UCSI Volunteer Club of UCSI University, in collaboration with JAAGO Foundation, organized a community service event called “Stationeries for Smiles” on June 29 to provide essential school supplies to children who are underprivileged. This initiative benefited over 80 students, ranging from playgroup to Class 2 and aimed to encourage both education and volunteerism.
The collaboration happened when the UCSI Volunteer Club proposed the idea to JAAGO Foundation. After several discussions with the Foundation’s Child Welfare Team, both organizations worked together to plan out the event. Preparations included fundraising, collecting donations from students and faculty members, purchasing supplies, arranging transportation, promoting the campaign, and organizing volunteers.
A total of 13 UCSI students, including executive committee members, volunteers, and freshers, participated in the program. According to the organizers, the number of volunteers was strategically determined together with JAAGO Foundation to prevent disruption during the children’s ongoing examinations.
During the event, each student of JAAGO Foundation School received a stationery package that included notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, and other essential learning materials. The club distributed around BDT 10,000 worth of newly purchased stationery, along with additional donated supplies collected from the university community. To make the day more enjoyable for the children, the organizers also presented a football for the school’s sports activities, arranged a drawing competition, and handed out chocolates to every student.
Besides managing the event, the club also introduced a few ideas to strengthen its relationship with JAAGO Foundation. This included presenting UCSI souvenir gifts to the foundation as a token of appreciation. The organizers said that these efforts were intended to build a long-term partnership between the two organizations.
Shah Talha, the Secretary of the UCSI Volunteer Club, who coordinated the collaboration with JAAGO Foundation, said the event was the result of teamwork and careful planning.
“As the secretary, I coordinated our collaboration with JAAGO Foundation from the proposal stage to the execution of the event. The communication part was done by me, then I followed up on approvals, coordinated planning with our panel members, and helped oversee fundraising, logistics, transportation, and overall event management. However, this event was truly a team effort, and every panel member played significant roles in making it happen.”
The UCSI volunteers spent the day distributing stationery packages, interacting with the children, and assisting different parts of the program. This event gave the university volunteers an opportunity to contribute to the community through hands-on service.
The organizers said they hope “Stationeries for Smiles” is the beginning of many future collaborations with JAAGO Foundation. They plan to organize more educational support programs, community service projects, environmental campaigns, and public awareness initiatives that would encourage students to become active volunteers and create a positive impact on our society.
Beyond the distribution of stationery, the event illustrated the mission of JAAGO Foundation, which has spent nearly two decades expanding educational opportunities for children across Bangladesh. The notebooks and pencils were ordinary classroom supplies, but for the children who received them, they marked the start of another school day with the resources they needed to learn and grow.
Photography by: Saraf Najib