From soup kitchen to coral reefs: Ihsan Johor’s sustainable impact

In 2016, Pertubuhan Ihsan Johor began a mission to serve communities through key clusters like Rumah Ihsan Johor, Sekolah Ihsan Johor, Squad Ihsan Johor, and Dapur Ihsan Johor.

A shift in focus towards disaster assistance saw the NGO extend help beyond Johor Bahru, reaching other states facing similar challenges.

Farrah Baptist, Ihsan Johor’s Chief Executive, emphasised the need for assistance beyond their initial projects, especially the crucial Dapur Ihsan soup kitchen, amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ihsan Johor empowering Mersing fishermen

Ihsan Johor gained acclaim as a 2018 Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards recipient in the ‘Social Innovator’ category for constructing 36 homes over two years using an innovative building system.

This system, designed by its President Hj Md Razin, an architect, showcases the organisation’s commitment to addressing housing needs for families in need.

Collaborating with government departments, NGOs, sponsors, and partners in 2023, Ihsan Johor focused on aiding fishermen in Mersing, one of Johor’s poorest districts.

Farrah highlighted the dire circumstances faced by the fishing community, earning less than RM500 a month.

The year 2023 marked a significant collaboration for Ihsan Johor as they joined forces with 10 government departments, seven NGOs, sponsors, and partners in a mission to aid fishermen in Mersing.

Facing economic hardships exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related challenges, fishing families in Mersing struggled to make ends meet.

“Fishermen earn less than RM500 a month from fishing, and that’s below the poverty line,” stated Farrah, shedding light on the dire circumstances faced by the community.

Ihsan Johor tackles Mersing’s challenges head-on

Among Johor’s poorest districts, Mersing encountered a decline in fish yield due to climate change and damage to fishermen’s nets and traps caused by commercial trawlers; Ihsan Johor’s comprehensive project aimed to create supplemental income while addressing environmental concerns.

The initiative included assistance with Roselle plant cultivation, and sustainability efforts such as coral restoration, removal of the destructive crown of thorns, the creation of artificial reefs and fish sanctuaries called ‘tekun’, and beach cleanups.

Mangrove and casuarina seedlings were also planted to address erosion and protect the beaches and coastline.

“We also removed tons of discarded nets left by fishing trawlers under the sea, which are harmful to marine life,” Farrah revealed.

“This is the third year we are conducting this mission with the villages in the five islands of the Mersing district,” Farrah emphasised, underlining the ongoing commitment to the community.

Mersing project creates sustainable solutions

The project in Mersing aimed at alleviating economic struggles and with the collaboration of various agencies, including the police, emergency services, and disaster relief teams also included preparing the communities for the East Coast Monsoon.

“The participation of these agencies allowed us to rehearse collaboration with them, in preparation for the monsoon,” Farrah added.

First aid workshops were also included in helping villagers deal with injuries and emergencies while waiting for the arrival of emergency services.

Apart from the challenges faced at sea, the villages also must deal with significant monkey populations on land. Farrah highlighted the collaboration with the Wildlife Department (Perhilitan), in mitigating human-wildlife conflicts.

“For instance, Pulau Pemanggil has more monkeys than humans. These primates are a nuisance, often disrupting the fishing families’ attempts at agriculture to supplement their income, and they damage nets too,” Farrah noted.

As a non-governmental organisation with less than 20 members, Ihsan Johor relies on 30 dedicated core supporters and a pool of 300 volunteers.

They are known as Ihsan Johor Rangers. Weekly, Ihsan Johor organises a foodbank, a food rescue initiative with Lotus’s Desa Tebrau, where they collect from the supermarket to give to people in poverty.

“These rescued food items are expired according to the labelling, but they are edible, and recipients must consume or cook them within one or two days,” Farrah noted.

Food items no longer appropriate for human consumption are sent to the Kluang Mini Zoo.

Operating on a monthly budget of approximately RM5,000.00, the organisation relies on the generosity of donors to sustain its diverse humanitarian projects.

From disaster relief initiatives, and weekly assistance programmes, to the Mersing project, Ihsan Johor’s multifaceted approach underscores its commitment to making a lasting impact on communities in need.

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