Final year students from Strategic Communication Program Faculty of Education, Language and Communication UNIMAS concluding their community outreach initiative under SULAM (Service-Learning Malaysia). As part of their lasting contribution, the team painted a vibrant mural for the school’s Taman Mini Refleksiologi.
By Marlene Ram Anak Bonnie & Dr Vimala Govindaraju
KUCHING, 27 November 2025 – The halls of Sekolah Kebangsaan Temenggong were filled with laughter and positive energy yesterday as 42 final-year students from the Faculty of Education, Language and Communication at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) successfully concluded their community outreach initiative. The project, themed “Bridging Generations: A Compassionate Charity Initiative Connecting Higher Education Students and Community” with the title “Little Steps, Big Smiles: An Inclusive Learning and Engagement Campaign for Special Needs Children” was an inclusive learning and engagement campaign for the school’s Special Needs Children under the Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi (PPKI). The project was led by Project Director, Marlene Ram Anak Bonnie, and was conducted as part of the students’ PBK4204 Strategic Campaign and Event Management course under the guidance of their Course Instructor, Dr. Vimala a/p Govindaraju. The SULAM (Service-Learning Malaysia) initiative sought to enhance understanding and empathy towards pupils with special needs and support the goals of Quality Education (SDG 4) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
Welcoming 33 PPKI pupils and their dedicated team of three teachers and two Pupil Management Assistants (PPM) from SK Temenggong, variety of activities were introduced, including a Mini Inclusive Sukaneka and Sensorimotor & Interactive Activities, all designed to ensure the pupils could participate according to their individual abilities. Communication & Expression Games and Creativity Exploration sessions were also held to encourage social interaction, collaboration, and provide a platform for pupils to showcase their talents. Beyond the interactive games, the UNIMAS team contributed lasting improvements by painting a vibrant mural for the school’s Taman Mini Refleksiologi and decorating their educational corner.
The fast-paced Cup Stacking challenge was also a major success, with pupils testing their speed and agility. A standout moment occurred when pupil Ahmad Muiz from Team 5 achieved an impressive time of 8 seconds. This achievement highlights the athletic potential of the pupils, as SK Temenggong has a history of competition in the sport, having participated in the Sukan Stacking Pendidikan Khas Daerah Padawan on 22 April 2025. Furthermore, the school’s commitment to inclusive sports is evidenced by its achievements in 2025, including Gold Medals (Johan Emas) won by Nateliy Limai Anak Sedie in the 12-year-old Girls’ Long Jump, and the 4x100m Boys’ Relay team (Muhammad Aamir Ighwan and Davenny Igol) at the Kejohanan Olahraga Pendidikan Khas Peringkat Negeri Sarawak. Additionally, Nur Jannah binti Zubil secured Third Place in the 12-year-old Girls’ Cross Country at the MSS Sarawak Merentas Desa event.
The project fulfilled its aim in providing real-world experience for the final-year students, allowing them to acquire greater empathy and awareness of special needs education. Project Director, expressed hope that the programme fostered sweet memories for the SK Temenggong pupils, provided meaningful support to the teachers, and strengthened the valuable collaborative relationship between UNIMAS and the school community for future inclusive initiatives.
