Written by Grace Pui Tze Phing, FSSH Lecturer
Final-year students (Semester 2, Session 2025/2026) from the Social Work Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), organised a CARE Project entitled “Understanding Rehabilitation – The First Step Towards Acceptance and Change” at Sekolah Tunas Bakti (STB). The programme concluded successfully, leaving many meaningful and memorable experiences for both the students and residents. Students were responsible for coordinating logistics, conducting interactive activities, and facilitating sharing sessions with the residents of STB.
A total of 94 Social Work students participated in the programme under the supervision of Mdm Grace Pui and with the support of Dr Kamsiah binti Ali. The programme also involved 49 residents of STB, who were accompanied by five officers and teachers.
Prior to the programme, preparations were made to ensure smooth collaboration with STB through discussions with the Residents’ Welfare Officer, Mdm Haliza binti Din. As part of the project, food contributions were presented to STB on the morning of 18 May 2026 (Monday), a day before the interactive activities took place. The contribution was received on behalf of STB by its Headmaster, Mr Boniface anak Julai.
On the day of the interactive activity, Social Work students commenced the programme with a simple opening ceremony, beginning with a welcoming speech by the Headmaster of STB, Mr Boniface anak Julai. In his speech, he expressed his appreciation for the initiative, highlighting the importance of raising awareness and fostering acceptance and understanding towards the children at STB. He also encouraged the students as they continue their journey in developing the knowledge, skills, and values of the social work profession. He emphasised the important role of social workers in supporting individuals in need through professional assessment, intervention, and advocacy.
Following the opening speech and presentation of appreciation tokens, the programme continued with a briefing by the Deputy Headmaster of STB, Mr Harsat bin Ahmad, before the residents arrived at the event hall. He provided a clear explanation of the system and services offered by STB in the rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law. The briefing also covered relevant provisions of the Child Act 2001 and the procedures involved in the placement of children at STB, giving students a better understanding of the rehabilitation process and the institution’s role in supporting young individuals.
The programme continued with ice-breaking activities and interactive games conducted by representatives of the Social Work students as the residents arrived at the event hall. The residents were divided into small groups of four to five participants, with each group supported by five to six Social Work students serving as facilitators. The creative ice-breaking activities provided an enjoyable opportunity for participants to get to know one another, helping to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
After the ice-breaking session, participants took part in a series of interactive games that filled the event hall with laughter and enthusiasm.
The programme then continued with a life-sharing session through song performances by the residents. During the session, some residents were moved to tears as they expressed their longing for their families and homes. Their stories touched the hearts of the Social Work students, while the students’ sharing and words of encouragement provided motivation and support to many of the residents. Through listening to their experiences and voices, the session fostered a deeper sense of understanding, empathy, and acceptance towards the residents of STB.
This CARE Project successfully achieved its objective of addressing the underlying needs of children at risk by helping them feel accepted, respected, and valued. At the same time, the programme enhanced the experiential learning of Social Work students by providing them with a deeper understanding of children involved in juvenile delinquency and allowing them to apply social work knowledge, skills, and values in a real-world setting.
It is hoped that the experience gained through this programme will encourage students to better understand the communities they serve, apply their professional skills and values effectively, and make meaningful contributions towards improving the well-being of individuals and communities in need.
FSSH – A Partner for Social Change