KUALA LUMPUR – In a demonstration of community engagement and environmental stewardship, final-year students from a local university revamped an orphanage in Shah Alam by planting trees and setting up a mini library.
The event, named Roots of Hope: A Touch of Kindness, was organised to make Rumah Amal Budi Bistari a better place for the children to live in, on top of educating and empowering them on the importance of green sustainability and general knowledge.
The tree-planting activity, in collaboration with the Shah Alam City Council, aims to rejuvenate the orphanage grounds, promote sustainability and instil values of environmental stewardship within the community.
Meanwhile, the new mini library offers children access to valuable reading materials, encouraging a love for learning and personal growth. The new facility allows the children at the orphanage to read during their free time without having to spend.
The library was also built to help young ones realise their potential by instilling curiosity in learning.
“We want to build a mini library to provide a more conducive environment and encourage the children to enjoy reading,” said programme manager Nur Syuhadah Atika.
“We believe that education will help the children at this orphanage embrace their ambitions and dreams. It all starts with and is fuelled by a desire for knowledge.”
Interactive and educational activities using recycled materials were also held. This included musical chairs, water bottle competitions, ping pong bounce games, and nature quizzes, strengthening the children’s bond with one another and bringing them joy.
24 students under Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) Mass Communications faculty organised the event in alignment with the World Environment Day theme of “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought.”
This event, one of several organised by UiTM students, will culminate in the Tree Planting: Shah Alam Go Green event on June 29 at Taman Tasik Seksyen 7, Shah Alam.
The project is an example of how higher education can drive positive social change and community impact, integrating environmental care, education, and social responsibility. – June 27, 2024