Influence for change
> Selangor Princess speaks at Sunway’s social marketing seminar
SELANGOR Princess Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was invited by Sunway University to deliver a talk on social media marketing.
“Last year, we saved three tonnes of surplus food that went to feed up to 3,000 people, but this year, we broke the record.
“We saved five tonnes of food just from Ramadan, and that went to feed over 6,400 people – the homeless, urban poor families, the elderly, disabled kids and refugee children,” said Zatashah, speaking on the success of her campaign #zerofoodwastage that examined remaining/excess food from hotels.
While the seminar largely focused on campaigns of the Selangor Princess and its effects, the evening moved into Q&A session involving faculty and students.
The point raised was on child marriages, which had a snowball effect.
Queried by a student on how society could bring change on the legality of child marriage, Zatashah replied, “There are a lot of problems out there on child brides, I completely agree. But the way to do it is to petition, get your voice heard, and let them (the lawmakers) know this is not acceptable”.
“For me, anyone under 18 is a child. It’s a very difficult situation; but try to influence, show support and spread the word,” she said.
The mover and shaker, who has raised concerns and shed light on some eight or more pressing social concerns, encouraged the audience to talk about such important issues with others, “recruit them, and like dominoes, create a movement”.
The seminar, titled “Creating Influence for a Cause”, was organised by Sunway University Marketing Society (SUMS), which is headed by event directors Chin Chee Hean and Lian Jue Xin.
It was made possible with the help of its club adviser Dr Derek Ong and officiated by Sunway University Marketing Society Dean Prof Steve Williams, moderated by the head of the Marketing Department Dr Michael M. Dent and supported by department academicians.
More than 150 people who attended the seminar were said to have gained “priceless knowledge on the importance and power of social marketing”.