Undergrads' outreach provides self-sufficiency skills for the homeless

The Star

8 hours ago

Lee washes motorcycles at the transit centre to earn an income. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI, KT GOH/The Star (Above) Residents filling moulds with a soap mixture during the training session in soap-making.
A GROUP of second-year communication students from Uni­versiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has taken community outreach to the next level by equipping
transit home residents with practical life skills to support independent living.
The half-day programme, held in two parts, at the transit centre in Jalan CY Choy, Penang, focused on hands-on training in basic urban farming techniques and soap-making using recovered cooking oil.
(Left) USM students teaching urban farming basics to transit centre residents.
Other activities included a traditional game-based race, gotong-royong, oral health talk and a lively community celebration..
The occasion was hosted by radio DJ Fara Fauzana, whose lively and engaging presence elevated the mood of participants.
Project adviser Prof Dr Jamilah Ahmad said the project was part of the students' coursework to shape them into socially responsible graduates, while
the activities were designed to equip the residents with practical life skills they could use when they leave the centre.
Eighty residents also learned to prepare nutritious meals using common household ingredients.
They were guided too on basic hygiene and self-care which are crucial elements in supporting their transition back into society.
The outreach was implemented under the university's Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (Sulam) platform and supported by National Cancer Society Malaysia (northern region), the School of Biological Sciences USM and the Northeast District Health Office.
USM School of Communica-tion undergraduate programme chairman Dr Suriati Saad and the transit centre's general
manager Nazatulwanis Mohd Khorish were also present, lending support and encouragement to the students and participants.
According to Nazatulwanis, the transit centre has a capacity for 88 residents, with separate dormitories for men, women and the disabled.
It also has facilities like laundry, a cafe and a community centre.
'The centre is just a temporary shelter, not a long-term home, and residents can
stay for a maximum of two weeks, with the possibility of extensions depending on individual circumstances.
'We also work closely together with more than 400 non-
governmental organisations, companies and institutions to help provide the residents with food and other needs,' she said.
Penang social development, welfare, and non-Islamic affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the programme highlighted USM's continued efforts to nurture socially responsible graduates and promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through direct community involvement.
In her address, Lim commended the students' efforts and highlighted the transformative power of collaborative outreach.
'(Helping) the residents build their confidence and motivation to rejoin society is a noble achievement.
'This proves that unified efforts between institutions and communities drive meaningful change,' Lim noted.