The Joyful Learning programme, conducted at the Community Learning Centre (CLC) within the oil palm plantation of United Team Trade (UTT) in Balairingin, Sarawak, represented a meaningful effort to bring inclusive and engaging education to rural learners. Organised through a cross-border collaboration between Tanjungpura University (UNTAN), Pontianak, the Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development (FCSHD), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI), Kuching, the initiative reflected a shared commitment to enhancing educational access and quality in underserved contexts.
Targeting young learners at both the preschool and primary levels, the programme aimed to cultivate confidence, motivation, and a positive attitude towards learning. It encouraged children to reflect on the purpose of education and articulate their aspirations. Framing school not only as a place of instruction but also as a stepping stone to future possibilities, the session invited learners to see themselves as active participants in shaping their own development.
Interactive learning activities were central to the programme’s delivery. These included basic numeracy exercises introduced through practical games, and an engaging module on time awareness, designed to support students’ understanding of daily routines and personal organisation. Through these sessions, students were provided opportunities to interact, ask questions, and collaborate with peers, creating a participatory and encouraging learning environment.
Facilitators observed that such approaches were effective in strengthening learners’ engagement while supporting core educational competencies. Importantly, the programme modelled a form of instruction that balances academic goals with socio-emotional development, reinforcing the notion that meaningful learning must be both relevant and joyful.
Teachers reported that the experience introduced fresh pedagogical strategies and helped reframe the classroom experience as one rooted in connection, empathy, and inspiration. By promoting self-belief and curiosity among learners, the programme contributed to a broader vision of education that nurtures both skills and aspirations.
The Joyful Learning outreach initiative demonstrates the importance of sustained, collaborative efforts in extending the reach of educational opportunity. For UNIMAS, the programme reflects the university’s continued commitment to community engagement and translational education, where disciplinary knowledge is applied in ways that directly benefit society. Through such partnerships, educational outreach becomes a channel not only for knowledge transfer but for empowerment and inclusion, ensuring that all children, regardless of background, are equipped to dream, grow, and learn with confidence.
Contributed by Dr Ida Juliana Hutasuhut