SERDANG - College 14 and College 16 of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) worked together for the first time to organise the Sparkle Star Outreach Programme (SPARTAR), which aimed at honouring groups of orphans and asnaf children.
Three orphanages, Rumah Qaseh Ibu in Hulu Klang, As-Samad in Wangsa Melawati and Rumah Asnaf Al-Barakah in Hulu Klang were involved in the programme.
The SPARTAR programme was run in a series. It began with Series 1: Academic Outreach, an intensive learning programme conducted at the orphanages on 20 October and 10 and 17 November 2018, followed by Series 2: Spartar Camp, a camping activity held at UPM from 7 to 9 December.
The main objective of the programme was to provide opportunities for the children to get a little help in their learning from university students apart from instilling motivation in the children to pursue a higher education.
It also provides the children with the opportunity to get a glimpse of the university life and carry out activities with university students. In addition, this programme also fosters the spirit of volunteerism among university students to continue serving and contributing to the society in a subtle way.
Programme director, Nurul Izzah Ilyana Mohamad Suari, expressed her gratitude for the willingness of the three orphanages and the two colleges to be involved in the programme.
"This programme opens up opportunities for university students to participate in community activities, and at the same time, the children are excited to get to know and interact with them," she said.
Programme Facilitator, Muhammad Faiz Abdul Manab, added that SPARTAR not only aimed at inculcating positive values in the children but also among the facilitators and committee members.
"SPARTAR gives me and other facilitators the opportunity to recognise our own potential and patience in entertaining these children," he said.
In the first series of the programme, two core subjects, English and Mathematics, were selected. The teaching sessions focused on the use of modules and teaching aids prepared according to the children’s age group.
Before each class was conducted, instructors had to undergo the Training of Trainers (TOT) session to ensure their readiness to handle the teaching sessions which were conducted in small groups to enhance the effectiveness of the learning process and ease class control.
In the Second Series, the children were taken to UPM to take part in a camping activity as well as other activities. They were given a tour around UPM main campus including a visit to Sultan Abdul Samad Library and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Culture and Arts Centre. Other activities such as Self Expression Slot and Green Earth Exploration were also held during the three-day and two-night programme.
The highlight of the SPARTAR Camp was SPARTAR Dinner, a dinner with UPM alumni to celebrate the children as well as to appreciate the involvement and sponsorship of the alumni. Special performances such as dance performance, musical, acting and boria initiated by the children’s own creativity were also presented to the audience.
Bachelor of Aquaculture Science, Muhammad Faiz Mohd Salehudin, who was also the Camp Commandant, said that the programme placed an emphasis on the importance of knowledge in life apart from showing that there are still many who care about and love such children - UPM
