FIT SISWI AIMS TO EMPOWER WOMEN AROUND CAMPUS

PENANG, 27 April 2016 – Female students clad in red attire were seen hustling an bustling on bicycles as the second installment of the Fit Siswi program, organized by Students Representative Council (MPP) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), took place at Tasik Fajar Harapan this late afternoon.

            The program challenges female students on campus to a healthier lifestyle. “Students tend to think that they are fit, as long as they don’t encounter any sickness. That is the mindset that we are trying to change.”, said Naimah Amira as the Vice Project Director of Fit Siswi. Naimah, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education in the local APEX university also said that this project will have another installment, which is Fit Siswi 3.0. “We are trying to make the next event a little more auspicious since it will be the final one. We have plans to invite the Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Seri Khairy Jamaludin to be a part of this event so that students feel more motivated to participate in future sporting events in USM. The organizers are hoping to team up with more sponsors in order for the event to reach a greater scale of audience.

The second installment of Fit Siswi is not only free but MyCsd points are also awarded to participants.

            Since the project began in early April of 2016, the organizer had already done Zumba dancing, Aerobics, as well as Body Combat exercises with the female students. It managed to gain the attention of many female students despite the events being carried out under the hot weather, usually on the evenings. Naimah said that one of the reason why this event managed to spark the amount of interest they have gotten so far was due to the fact that only female students were invited to participate in the Fit Siswi program. “Students feel less shy and are more willing to go all out when they are not in the presence of the opposite sex.”, said Naimah when asked what makes this program so special and different from all the other activities that have been organized previously on campus.

            Apart from having major activities like workout dances and cycling adventures around the campus, Fit Siswi also has a weight loss challenge that awaits students who are willing to take up the challenge. Students who take part in the weight loss challenge will have to weigh themselves during the Fit Siswi 1.0 and their weight will be monitored throughout the entire program, where students have to weigh themselves after each installment of the program. Chong Hwai Yee, one of the participants of this challenge hopes to lose weight by the end of this program. “I’ve been attending every installment of Fit Siswi as well as picking up a healthier lifestyle on my own. Besides, I get free MyCsd points and also the chance to improve my health.”, Chong said. The winners will be revealed by the end of the program and attractive prizes await. Students who participate in Fit Siswi can also upload their selfies on social networking sites where the picture with the most like will be awarded with prizes. This particular activity functions dually as a publicity strategy as well as to inspire more students to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Naimah Amira, the Vice Project Director of Fit Siswi.

            “We hope that we can instill the spirit of healthy lifestyle among female students on campus in order for them to realise the importance of having good health.”, said Naimah as she hopes that this project will bring enlightenment to people on campus on the importance of health.