Volunteers raise funds to build houses for orang asli

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A GROUP of volunteers started painting houses for some orang asli in Selangor three years ago and realised that they needed more than aesthetic improvements.

“There was a dire need to build houses for the orang asli community. So we gathered money and more volunteers and started to build houses for them,” said Karen Jolly, a member of Epic, a group of individuals committed to making a positive impact in their community.

Realising that they could achieve more as a proper group, they joined forces with the founders of Epic Collaborative and started Epic Homes, which focusses on building sustainable housing for underprivileged Malaysian communities.

“We mobilised designers, architects and started creating homes from scratch,” said Jolly.

For a good cause: Members of the audience enjoying the music during the concert at Publika, Solaris Dutamas, organised to raise funds in aid of the orang asli.

To raise awareness and funds for their efforts, the team recently organised the EPIConcert at the Publika in Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

The 90s themed concert brought audience back to a time when “music was good and life was simple”.

Those who attended the concert received a goodie bag with items synonymous with the 90s like plastic blowing balloons, snacks, coloured lollipops and chocolate packs with toys inside.

“It was a time when most of us were in school and we all had fun back then so we wanted people to re-live those memories,” she said.

At the start of the concert, the announcer led the audience in singing the national anthem and reciting the Rukunegara, very much like a school assembly.

Local band Decimal kicked off the concert with acoustic cover versions of hit songs.

Singer Queenz Cheng from Perlis then took over the stage with her catchy Chinese songs backed by a live band.

The concert continued with performances by local acts such as Sam Wong, Narmi and Paperplane Pursuit.

Besides enjoying the live music, those who attended the concert also received a free root beer and special discounts at a food outlet in Publika.