A total of 250 volunteers gathered at the Federal Territory Mosque on March 23 for the Baju Raya Project, an initiative that collects and distributes thousands of traditional Malay outfits such as baju kurung and baju Melayu to orphans and single mothers.

Volunteering has become a yearly tradition for Khairunnisa Roslan, who has participated in this initiative for the past four years.

“It is one of the ways we can give back to those in need in a different way. Before this, I would always give donations in the form of cash. Now, I contribute through my efforts,” she told FMT.

Like other volunteers, Khairunnisa arrived at the mosque at 7.45am, ready for a day of checking clothes for quality, organising them into specific categories and sizes, and folding and packing them into plastic bags for distribution.

The initiative typically gains momentum at around 10am, as queues of cars begin to form around the mosque. Volunteers streamline the process by collecting second-hand clothes directly from contributors’ cars to mitigate congestion.

Another volunteer, 36-year-old Zuraidah Zaharuddin, said it was important that all Malaysians could celebrate Raya with joy, regardless of background.

“I hope that those who receive these clothes will be as happy as we are collecting and organising the clothes,” she said.

By noon, traffic dies down and volunteers start loading their cars with clothes-filled bags which are distributed to 15 orphanages around Kuala Lumpur.

Nothing makes volunteer Arsyad Abdul Aziz happier than knowing that people can benefit from his hard work.

“Although these clothes are not new, they are still nice and in good condition. I’m happy people can make use of them,” he said.

Old clothes, new life

Without the tireless efforts of programme organisers Adib Khalid and Aida Sue over the past 12 years, Baju Raya Project would not have achieved its success.

Adib, an insurance agent, said he commits all of his time during Ramadan to organising the initiative, driven by his passion for the cause.

He said despite long hours of work processing 5,000 to 7,000 pieces every year, the volunteers’ efforts reward them with a sense of fulfilment.

A Raya to remember

Haziq Hakimi, 15, an orphan from Rumah Titian Kaseh who received a baju Melayu set, said his favourite part of the initiative was seeing the orphanage come alive with vibrant colours, as the children put on their new clothes.

“I feel happy that people are giving us clothes that we would otherwise not be able to afford,” he said.

Puteri Nurul Fateen Najiha, 17, another orphan, said she was grateful she could celebrate Raya this year looking and feeling stylish.

“I love baju kurung with batik patterns and I received a lot of those. I hope this initiative will continue for years to come,” she said.

Orphanage warden Haslinda Dol Hamid said the initiative had helped to alleviate the orphanage’s financial burdens.

“When people give us these clothes, only then do the children feel the festive spirit of Raya,” she said.