LABUAN — Ten students from the Faculty of Labuan International Finance (FKAL), Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus (UMSKAL), have carried out a Service Learning Malaysia–University for Society (SULAM) Integrated Community Impact (KIB) project to improve facilities at the Kampung Layang-Layangan Community Hall.
Project director Mohamad Amin Aliansyah said the initiative successfully raised RM2,163 from 47 donors through a crowdfunding campaign via the Kitafund platform, with support from the public, local community and university community.
He said the funds were used to provide basic facilities for the community hall, including two office tables, two office chairs, two storage racks, four curtains, two notice boards and a water dispenser.
“The project is not only aimed at improving the physical facilities of the community hall, but also provides students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they learned in lecture rooms through direct community engagement, while fostering volunteerism and social responsibility,” he said.
The project, coordinated under the GT30203 International Corporate Finance course and supervised by Dr Suzillah Sidek, was aimed at improving the comfort and effectiveness of the hall as a centre for local community activities.
Mohamad Amin said the project also sought to raise public awareness and understanding of crowdfunding as an alternative method to collect funds for community development.
He said the initiative was in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through knowledge-sharing and exposure to innovative financing approaches, as well as SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through close collaboration between the university, local community and the public.
A gotong-royong to clean the hall was held on June 17, while the handover ceremony for the donated items to Kampung Layang-Layangan representatives took place on June 28.
The programme was carried out in collaboration with Kelab Belia Anak Layangan (KEBAL) and received support from Kampung Layang-Layangan leaders and residents, who were involved in the clean-up and facility improvement activities.
The project was also implemented by Muhammad Rewan Arman, Nathalie Norbert, Chen Nyuk Mae, Nursyahira Sapri, Alexander Legul, Mohamad Rizman Aiman Kasman, Siti Syanidah Abdul Samad, Kazmiayani Syamsuddin and Nur Syafieka Ayuni Hirmansyah.
The SULAM KIB project is expected to provide long-term benefits to Kampung Layang-Layangan residents, while strengthening university-community relations and producing students with strong leadership, empathy and social responsibility values.
