WHAT if the simple meal you had today was the only one you could eat for the whole week?

I bet that thought hadn’t crossed the minds of privileged Malaysians. Yet, that is the reality for some.

I still remember my first volunteering trip, handing out food and basic necessities to families living in a rural area.

At first, I thought we were just delivering supplies, but when I saw how much a simple meal meant to them, it made me realise how powerful even our smallest actions can be.

To them, this wasn’t just food – it was hope. It was one less day of going hungry. It was proof that someone out there still cared.

I have always believed in doing our part in society. Even before that experience, I had been raising awareness about underprivileged communities in Malaysia, making it my main topic whenever I gave a speech.

That experience only fuelled my drive to do more. Since then, through the nonprofit New Life Foundation, I have been donating RM10 from my allowance every month to support Orang Asli children’s education.

Recently, I went around my neighbourhood collecting clothes, books and toys, adding RM150 from my savings to help struggling families and a kindergarten for their children.

Outside of organised activities, I try to make a difference in small ways. I usually keep a small bag of cat food in my tote and feed stray cats in my neighbourhood.

It might seem insignificant, but for those cats, it’s the difference between having a full belly and digging through rubbish for leftovers. Seeing them eat instead of scavenging always makes my day.

One of my most memorable volunteering experiences was a river-cleaning project. When I signed up, I thought I would just find a few plastic bottles and bags here and there. Instead, I ended up hauling things like old plastic pipes. Someone in my group even found a dead chicken!

Every volunteer ended up with two to three bags full of rubbish from the river. It was exhausting, but seeing how much cleaner the river looked at the end made it all worth it.

Of course, there have been challenges in my mission to make society a better place. Seeing how many people are struggling can be overwhelming. Sometimes, I even wonder if I’m making a difference. But I’m pretty sure everyone who has joined a volunteering activity has felt the same way.

If you want to help but don’t know where to start, just do something. Anything. Donate a little to those in need at the pasar malam, look for a foundation or organisation to volunteer with, or even just be mindful of how your actions affect those around you.

The smallest things can make the biggest impact. You don’t have to be perfect or do something massive – you just have to care and take action.

Eliza, 15, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.