Written by Grace Pui Tze Phing & Associate Professor Dr Dolly Paul Carlo
The Social Work Programme students who’re on their fieldwork practice once-a-week, specifically the final year student on semester 1, session 2025/2026 has called their wrap up of summative CARE Project on the 11th December 2025 (Thursday). Students were distributed into 10 different social services agencies to learn in their one-a-week full day practice. The involved agencies were the Pejabat Kebajikan Masyarakat Kota Samarahan (JKM), Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching (RSK), Pusat Pemulihan Samarahan (PPS), Halfway Home-Sarawak Mental Healthy Association (MHA), Hope Place Kuching (Hope), Sarawak Deaf Community Services Assciation (DS), Sarawak Cheshire Home, Pusat Pendidikan D’WIRA (D’WIRA), Persatuan OKU Kuching (House of Joy), and the One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC).
Students were guided through class discussion in practicing the professional social work assessment skills (observation, communication, critical thinking) and intervention skills even before they stepped into different agencies. They were briefed repeatedly the purpose of doing their fieldwork practice in the real world – the learning lab of Social Work. As they started their journey stepping into the agencies weekly, from time to time the students needed to always ponder on what are the issues or challenges faced by the agencies and who are the targeted group involved. They also assessed the existing underlying needs of the targeted group or related agency and did their best to came out with a project that they decided which fits the best to solve the issue or fulfill the needs. Then, in the launching or closing ceremonies, on this day, students handed over their works which would be beneficial and most probably sustainable to the related agencies. Whatever works or products that they have made real are practically “Connected in Care, United in Action” Their social work was not a one-time off project or a quick-fix surface solution to a social issue. Instead, it’s a product of continuous observation, listening, communication, critical thinking, and diligent team work.
- Introducing helpful system of documentation or recruiting volunteers (JKM & Hope Place);
- An awareness transmitted through brochures about the targeted group (PPS & MHA);
- 3. A clay-hand-crafts mirror project as platform to interact and listen to stories of the elderly (RSK);
- 4. A set of Emoji games designed by to guide residents acknowledge their emotions (Cheshire Home);
- A website created to publicize the existence agency and its handmade products (House of Joy);
- Videos created to raise public’s awareness about the agency and its needs (DS & D’WIRA);
- A super-parent empowerment programme to parents of children with learning difficulties (OSEIC).
These works are meant to be the spark of hope and care to the target group of each and every agency. As a baseline which the target group or residents of the related agencies felt themselves are given respect, dignity and worth.
We also like to share our gratitude to the agencies who are willing to accept out students learning in their real-world lab and work closely with us to witness the growth of students in this project-based learning project.
“For whatever we do, we need to do from our heart. Only by then, we can sustain it of the best we can,” said the founder and headmistress of Pusat Pendidikan D’WIRA, Mdm. Jap Siew Moi, who has led the agency for 16 years long.
“Before we do anything, we must first accept them of who they are. Respect them, love them and care from them,” said the Halfway Home staff and Manager, Puan Remi ak. Inggor, who has worked for the agency for 30 years.
The world is too big and there is so little that we can do. But at least for whatever we do, we bring small changes. By seeing small changes on the targeted group and witnessing the growth of our Social Work students. This fieldwork practice has marked a meaningful learning journey for these students.
FSSH – A Partner for Social Change