IIUM Leads The Way in Community Engagements Wrapped in UN's 17 SDGs

In a striking display of community engagement and academic excellence, the annual Usrah Symposium at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Pagoh Campus brought together students and judges from academia and Charity organisations to showcase community projects centred around the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Representing Yayasan Suria were Founder, Secretary James Ho, and volunteer Lo Seong Foon. In contrast, Ihsan Johor was represented by its CEO, Ms. Farrah Baptist. The Symposium, on June 13 this year, was held across IIUM's four main campuses in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, and Pagoh. Read more about empowering communities through education here.

The Pagoh campus is the Faculty of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages, and the Usrah projects featured 16 student groups tackling various problems facing communities in the area.

IIUM Pagoh a University for the Community

IIUM's Pagoh campus prides itself on its closeness to communities and on promoting sustainable solutions to community issues in the Muar area of Johor. It labels itself as a 'Communiversity'.

We later interviewed two student project leaders to delve deeper into the impactful initiatives of their Usrah 1 and 2 projects.

One of the Usrah In Action projects presented at the Symposium aimed to improve children's mental health at the SK Seri Jong and involved 24 students from the University.

Project: 'Interactive Therapeutic Gardening; Inculcate Healthy Mental Well-Being Through Gardening Activities

The project, 'Interactive Therapeutic Gardening; Inculcate Healthy Mental Well-Being Through Gardening Activities, involved 30 children aged 11-12 and focused on building an indoor garden where the children participated in planting activities. The children's interactions with IIUM students were monitored throughout the project to assess their mental health, particularly their emotional states and ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings.

"The primary objectives of the project were aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)," said Ms Nur Ain Nabilah, leader of the gardening project.

"The initiative aimed to foster an appreciation for nature among the children while enhancing their teamwork skills by working together to care for the plants," she added.

The project was executed in two phases. During Usrah in Action 1, students began surveying the designated indoor garden space at SK Seri Jong and conducted community profiling activities to understand the children's personalities. They engaged the children in decorating and envisioning their dream gardens, which helped plan the garden layout.

In Usrah in Action 2, tasks were delegated among the IIUM students, and they proceeded to clean and decorate the garden space. The finished room featured a mental health wellness board, a sensory wall, and a feedback board. The children were then introduced to gardening, planting onions, limes, and chillies, and decorating their pots. The project culminated in interviews to gauge the children's feelings and evaluate the program's impact.

The project faced significant challenges, including the wilting of plants due to inadequate sunlight, water, and incorrect fertiliser. Additionally, managing the children's energy levels required practical communication skills. Students conducted repotting sessions to address the dying plants, using the correct fertilisers and involving the children in decorating the pots. This turned a setback into a learning opportunity about problem-solving and responsibility.

The project's success was recognised at a recent symposium where it won the "Silver Award" and "Most Beneficial Award," a step up from the "Bronze Award" at the first Symposium.

The children's increased sense of responsibility was evident as many offered to take the plants home over the school holidays. Furthermore, some children opened up about their emotions, indicating the project's success in creating a safe space for self-expression.

Project: Dream Builders: Your Future, Your Way

Another was a transformative project to empower local youth in collaboration with Kolej Poly-Tech Mara Batu Pahat, which attempted to address critical self-confidence and English proficiency issues.

Team leader Muhammad Furqan bin Mohd Faizal explained, "The project was designed as a module problem-focused workshop, with the primary goal of enhancing essential soft skills such as Leadership, Teamwork, Stress & Conflict Management, and Public Speaking."

Titling their project, Dream Builders: Your Future, Your Way, the IIUM students developed a comprehensive workshop tailored to the specific needs of the youths at the Kolej.

Furqan emphasised, "We wanted to bring tangible benefits to the youth through knowledge sharing. Our objective was to prepare youth with soft skills for future careers and personal growth."

The project aligned with several UN SDGs, including Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17).

The workshop's success was recognised with a Silver Award at a university symposium and the Most Innovative Award for its holistic approach to problem-solving.

The impact on the community was profound. Lecturers and participants of Kolej Poly-Tech Mara praised the initiative, noting the inspiration and motivation it provided, according to Furqan.

"The biggest impact we had was simply in our presence, shared a lecturer", said Furqan.

"The participants saw that if these slightly older students could organise such an impactful event, they too could achieve great things," he surmised.

The IIUM students' community project at SK Seri Jong and Kolej Poly-Tech Mara Batu Pahat stands as a testament to the positive impact of combining education with practical, hands-on activities, fostering mental well-being, responsibility, and a deeper connection with nature and communities among young students.