Written by Dr Athirah Azhar
The Social Work Programme (Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities) has implemented the Community Resilience Experiential Learning (CARE) project through the Fieldwork Practice course SSS3074. This course is for final-year students and is coordinated by Dr Athirah Azhar, with Dr Dolly Paul Carlo as co-supervisor. The course involves student placements in various agencies around Kuching and Samarahan. Each placement involves four to five students, and they are required to attend the agency once a week throughout the semester (from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. every Thursday).
Through this course, students have the opportunity to directly interact with clients served by the agencies. During the placement, students planned their respective CARE projects at the agencies, which required the approval of the agency supervisor and monitoring by the course lecturers. All CARE projects were carried out in 10 agencies during May and June 2025.
In addition to the agency placements, students are also required to attend weekly Fieldwork Practice classes, which focus on reflection and discussions based on their experiences in the agencies.
The ten CARE projects implemented under the theme Community Cohesion Towards Sustainable Development in the Fieldwork Practice course are summarised as follows:
Project 1: Dari Dapur ke Hati
Agency: Samarahan Division Social Welfare Office (PKMBS)
PKMBS provided students with the opportunity to carry out their CARE project in collaboration with the Children’s Activity Centre (PAKK) in Kota Samarahan. The project aimed to support the social and emotional development of children through team-based activities such as making pancakes. This fun and engaging activity was not only enjoyable and beneficial for the children, but also offered students the chance to develop communication skills, group management abilities, and community collaboration experience.
Project 2: Tangan Kecil Langkah Besar
Agency: Persatuan dan Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Terencat Akal (PERKATA)
The goal of this CARE project was to create a cheerful and conducive environment through light physical and creative activities, while providing participants with the opportunity to build lasting memories together. The programme began with an aerobics session facilitated by the students to promote physical fitness, followed by fun games such as tossing beanbags into hoops and carrying balls using hoops. Participants then worked together to decorate the school area with creative decorations made from recycled materials. Throughout the programme, participants demonstrated a strong spirit of cooperation and interacted positively with one another.
Project 3: Senyuman Baru di Setiap Dinding
Agency: Hope Place
Hope Place is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to assisting and contributing to the local community, ensuring they enjoy a better quality of life. For the CARE project, students helped clean and brighten the client’s home by painting it to create a more conducive and comfortable environment. In addition, a representative from HOPE also obtained details from the client to assist in the application process for monthly living assistance.
Project 4: Hak Mereka,Tanggungjawab Kita
Agency: Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre @ Special Needs Excellence Centre (SNEC)
SNEC is an agency established to provide services and vocational training to the community of persons with disabilities (PWD). At present, there are 17 students registered at SNEC. As part of the CARE Project, a series of workshops were conducted to inspire this community, reinforcing the message that they too are capable of working just like others. They were also introduced to opportunities available after completing their training at SNEC, guided on how to prepare a CV, and inspired through success stories of PWD individuals who have excelled in their respective careers.
Project 5: Hold Hope, Chase Dreams
Agency: Sekolah Tunas Bakti (STB)
STB is a federal agency under the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) that serves to assist at-risk youth as well as those in need of care and protection. The children here are aged between 10 and 18, with a total of 43 residents. The CARE project carried out included reflective activities such as self-awareness sessions and guidance on life direction after leaving STB, interactive activities, as well as the provision of reading materials and revision books related to the SPM examination.
Project 6: Dari Pemulihan ke Kebebasan: Cara Urus Diri dan Duit Tanpa Stress
Agency: Desa Bina Diri (DBD)
DBD is a shelter home for the homeless and destitute. This CARE project aimed to raise awareness on the importance of self-management and financial management, provide basic knowledge of financial handling, and sharpen self-care skills. Two talk sessions were conducted: one on personal hygiene management covering hair care, bathing, clothing, nail care, the use of slippers, and menstrual hygiene management accompanied by simulation activities; and another on temporary financial resources, which introduced short-term financial assistance, support agencies, and temporary job opportunities.
Project 7: Tabung Harapan: Satu Sen, Satu Jiwa
Agency: Halfway Home, Sarawak Mental Health Association
This project aimed to provide moral support and basic necessities to residents, encourage active involvement from the wider community, and establish an accessible and sustainable donation channel. One of the identified issues was the lack of funds to cover daily living expenses, while the main weaknesses included limited capital, equipment, and raw materials. Nevertheless, the project’s strength lay in its existing human capital, residents who are interested and skilled in cooking and small business ventures, with the potential to participate in small-scale entrepreneurial activities to supplement financial resources.
Project 8: Kebun Kita, Cerita Kita
Agency: Rumah Seri Kenangan
This welfare institution provides care, protection, and support for senior citizens. RSK houses 55 residents aged 60 and above who have no caregivers, no permanent home, or the means to support themselves, and who may experience loneliness, depression, or ill health. The CARE project involved planting aromatherapy and vegetable crops such as mustard greens, decorating the garden with recycled materials, planting lavender flowers, and providing reflexology therapy, all to support mental health, encourage healthy lifestyles, and brighten the surroundings.
Project 9: Empowering Parents, Nurturing Behaviour
Agency: The Salvation Army
The CARE project at the agency held a sharing session with parents and guardians, with the objective of educating them on effective evidence-based parenting strategies. These strategies included establishing consistent household rules, applying positive reinforcement, staying calm before responding, and practising good communication, all aimed at encouraging positive behaviour among the children under their care.
Project 10: Mari Mendengar dengan Mata, Bercakap Dengan Tangan
Agency: Persatuan Perkhidmatan Komuniti Orang Pekak Sarawak
The students’ CARE project at this agency involved producing educational flash cards featuring the basics of Malaysian Sign Language (BIM). The flash cards serve to enhance learning effectiveness and make it easier to remember BIM fundamentals such as the alphabet, emotions, numbers, and greetings. Their use also makes BIM learning sessions more interactive and enjoyable, thereby strengthening the role of flash cards as a medium for delivering basic BIM knowledge.
FSSH- A Partner for Social Change