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Universities and MyFundAction empower Orang Asli youth with STEM education
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Culture & Society

Universities and MyFundAction empower Orang Asli youth with STEM education

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Universiti Putra Malaysia's Engineering Student Association (Pemaju) organized the Tech4Tribe 1.0 program to empower Orang Asli youth in STEM fields.
  • The program, a collaboration with MyFundAction and local schools, involved secondary students, university students, and NGOs.
  • Activities included interactive STEM experiments, leadership training, and volunteer work like mural painting and building hydroponic systems.

Universiti Putra Malaysia's Engineering Student Association (Pemaju) successfully hosted Tech4Tribe 1.0: STEM Leaders for Community Impact (T4T1.0 SLCI). This social service and knowledge transfer program aimed to empower Orang Asli youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

The initiative was a collaborative effort involving MyFundAction, Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SAS), and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Rancangan Pengumpulan Semula (RPS) Dala in Gerik, Perak. The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) also provided support. The two-phase program engaged secondary school students, university undergraduates, and NGOs to introduce STEM concepts to the Orang Asli community through experiential learning.

During the first phase at Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah in Putrajaya, participants were introduced to basic engineering principles through an exhibition by UPM's Faculty of Engineering. Simple activities focused on programming, artificial intelligence (AI), and student leadership training. The second phase, held over three days at SK RPS Dala in Gerik, involved over 100 Orang Asli children. They participated in interactive STEM experiments exploring concepts like kinetics, viscosity, and gravity through engaging games.

Participants also engaged in volunteer activities, including painting murals and constructing a hydroponic system at the school. These efforts aimed to create a more attractive and comfortable learning environment, fostering interest in STEM subjects and promoting volunteerism. The program sought to cultivate a greater appreciation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, alongside a spirit of community service through sustainable learning initiatives.

This aims to increase students' interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as their spirit of volunteerism through volunteer activities such as mural production and the construction of a hydroponic system for the school to create a more conducive and sustainable learning environment.

— PemajuDescribing the goals of the Tech4Tribe 1.0 program's volunteer activities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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