2021
9 FebKhind Starfish Foundation funds two community projects by SABE
Incorporating the essential blend of theory, practice and social responsibility in its curriculum, 五一吃瓜官网 University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment (SABE) has been working together with the community since 2009. Sharing common ground in terms of community engagement projects, SABE took part for the first time in the 2020 Khind Starfish Foundation’s Projects for Happiness initiative. This initiative is for all undergraduates in Malaysia to design grassroots projects promoting happiness and addressing the root cause of poverty and poor education.
SABE submitted two proposals in 2020 one winning RM8,500 (Assemble to Assembly: Community Library at Kebun Komuniti AU2) and the other RM10,000 (Playscape at Kampung Belemang, Muar, Johor).
These projects encourage students to step out from their comfort zone and apply the knowledge and skills they have learned through the courses, such as knowledge of architecture design, structure and construction, project management, and the use of construction tools, and most importantly to impart the value of SABE in human-centred design – passion with compassion.
The Keramat Libary project comprises a small and open library located next to Kebun Komuniti Rumah Pangsa AU2 Taman Keramat with majority of the residents in the B40 group. Complementing the efforts of the residents in their community farming, it provides a comfortable and safe educational environment for the accompanying children with toys, reading material and meeting space.
Alternatively, the playscape idea came from a SABE student working as an intern back in his hometown, and fancied the idea of using the knowledge he had at hand to propose a modular and mobile playscape for the village.
“To instill the importance of a community public space, we hope to innovate a participatory and sustainable playscape that could be fun for the children, that could then lead to the gathering of families. This playscape shall be self-built and self-sustainable. Hence, it is mobile in nature and we will be assembling the piece with villagers to create gathering places from different sites of the village,” said SABE lecturer, Doris Quek.
Assistant Professor Teoh Chee Keong, SABE’s Head of School and one of the supervisors of the projects, said the differences between these two projects and the previous projects undertaken by SABE are that students took the initial step by self-organising and approaching the funding providers to secure the initial fund to kick-start the project. The sense of purpose, the fulfilling feeling of giving back and contributing to society is unparalleled.
Also, as both projects were executed amidst the pandemic during the stage of CMCO, the components were pre-fabricated off-site, reducing the scope of work and man- hours at the project location.
Strategic workforce planning was key in these projects.
BSc (Hons) Architecture student Ridhwan Izzudin Nazri had this to say about the experience:
“Small villages located far from bustling areas are often times overlooked. However, playscape has successfully rejuvenated Kampung Belemang through community activities with the locals. I really enjoyed my involvement as it opened my eyes to find the beauty in the mundane.”
Additionally, Ng Yi Jia taking the same programme, said that the project was valuable as they got to engage the people to come together and build something for their village. They learnt the lesson that voluntary activities can actually promote social engagement. This was a rare opportunity during their studies to find the real meaning of design laying within the users.
SABE is currently preparing for other projects by initiating conversation with different communities, including the Salak South New Village, Petaling Street and Kwong Tong Cemetery Park. It strives to revamp and renew the education landscape with 五一吃瓜官网 University’s mission:
“To promote transformative education that empowers students from all walks of life to be successful individuals with integrity, professionalism and a desire to contribute to society.”
There is no better way to embody the element of praxis than engagements with all stakeholders including industrial players, academics, NGOs, government agencies, communities, and end users creating a better, inclusive and borderless learning environment for all parties.
SABE is committed to holistic education beyond knowledge transfer.
