By Katie Claudia Gerry (Year 1, English for Global Communication)
One of the main challenges in education today is cultivating the love for reading. Studies have shown that factors such as lack of engaging reading materials, limited reading resources, unsupportive environment and low student awareness contributed to declining reading habits. To top it off, a growing dependency on digital devices has further pulled young minds away from traditional pages.
With the aim to foster interest in reading, 64 first-year students from the English for Global Communication (EGC) program at the Faculty of Education, Language and Communication (FELC), UNIMAS recently launched a community project titled “Word Heroes of the Future” at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tebedu.
The program, organized as part of the PBW1043, Critical Reading course, focused on bringing the joy of reading to the primary school students, aged 5 to 9 years old. As a foundational pillar of the initiative, the EGC students organized a university-wide Book Drive. The collected reading materials were proudly presented to the school’s Headmaster, Cikgu James Mandar, and the Penolong Kanan 1, Cikgu Elmar Tom, to enrich the school’s library resources.
To maximize engagement, the UNIMAS students designed a variety of interactive, reading-related activities tailored to different age groups. From preschool pupils to Year 3 students, the sessions were crafted not just to make reading fun, but also to spark curiosity and boost confidence in verbal communication. Through gamified storytelling, interactive vocabulary puzzles, and collaborative reading challenges, the young “Word Heroes” of SK Tebedu discovered that books could be a gateway to adventure rather than just a classroom chore.
For EGC students, the benefits extended far beyond fulfilling an academic requirement. The project served as a real-world testing ground, allowing them to develop their leadership, communication, and volunteerism skills outside the traditional lecture hall. This included managing large groups of energetic children and coordinating logistics that requires adaptability and teamwork. Undoubtedly, those are some of the qualities essential for their future careers. Furthermore, this initiative significantly strengthened the bond between UNIMAS and the rural communities of the Serian district.
The laughter and bright smiles left in the classrooms of SK Tebedu bear testament to the program’s success. By planting the seeds of literacy early, the “Word Heroes of the Future” project did more than just handing out books, it ignited a sustainable curiosity in these young learners. As these primary students continue their educational journeys, the memories of their older UNIMAS mentors will serve as a reminder that reading is actually a form of superpower. For FELC and UNIMAS, this successful collaboration reinforces their ongoing commitment to community empowerment.
Photo by Shamimie Izly binti Gani