When the NGO Fair was first organised in 2008, little did Dr Julian C. H. Lee know the impact it would have on the students of Monash. It began with the thought of opening up the idea to students that there is more than the corporate world as a potential career choice or as a vocation.

“There were always corporate companies holding fairs and events to recruit students to their fold but there was never a civil society equivalent. That’s how this Fair came about. To tell the students that there is more to the world than just the corporate world,” said Dr Lee, one of the founders of the NGO Fair.

According to Dr Lee, a number of students have linked up with NGOs (non-governmental organisations), either as interns or as potential employees.

“In fact, one of the business students came up to me and said that this Fair changed his life! He had thought his only option was to join the corporate world and that would be the end of it. He hadn’t realised that his skills in Accounts and Business were equally valued, if not more so, by the NGOs, as they too run a form of business.

“He saw that while some NGO employees might have a passion for whatever cause they believed in, they might lack the skills to run the financial or management side of things. And this is where the NGO Fair can help; to provide a link to the right talents.”

This year, with 13 prominent NGOs taking part, it is apparent that Monash University Sunway campus has succeeded in building a bridge between the University and the Malaysian civil society. Students have gone on to do internships in the various NGOs or have even sought employment, recognising the complementing values of the chosen NGO with their own personal beliefs.

With a number of students who have signed up, there were those who also extended a helping hand. They donated money to the various organisations or bought items that were made by people whose causes were being advocated by the NGOs.

This year’s organising co- chairman, Dr Joel Moore, said that the Fair was also used by the NGOs to spread their messages to the students to create greater awareness and a sense of understanding on their respective activisms.

Many sought to have more information especially on causes related to civil liberties, women’s’ rights, humanitarian work, and legal issues.

“This fair provides volunteer opportunities and also getting involved in NGO work as a career path, while broadening their perspective for the future. They also want to be engaging with the community for either a social purpose or for political involvement or activism which I think are rewarding and important, all part of being a citizen.”

Participants for this year’s NGO Fair include UNHCR, Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia, Women’s Aid Organisation, Sisters in Islam, Agathian Shelter, Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women, Pink Triangle, Centre for Independent Journalism, Bersih, the Monash University Volunteer Program and other movements.