Fitrah Qaseh: UTM Students Care for Underprivileged Children

Dr. Nor Amira Syairah Zulkarnaini

JOHOR BAHRU, May 14 – In a heartfelt initiative to foster love and compassion, students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) organised “Fitrah Qaseh: We Care, We Love,” a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program aimed at empowering underprivileged children.

Held at Pertubuhan Kebajikan Fitrah Qaseh in Johor Bahru, the event brought together more than 30 children, aged between 4 to 17 years, for a meaningful day of learning, sharing, and fun. A group of 25 passionate UTM students from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), guided by Dr. Nor Amira Syairah Zulkarnaini, along with course coordinators Dr. Ana Haziqah A Rashid and Dr. Noraini Rusbadrol, successfully organised the “Fitrah Qaseh: We Care, We Love” program on May 14, 2025. This initiative, part of the Ethics and Social Responsibility course, aimed to instil crucial knowledge about personal hygiene, self-care, and women’s health among 40 children from vulnerable backgrounds, while also nurturing empathy and leadership skills in the participating students.

“Our main goal was to nurture empathy and instil positive values among the children while providing UTM students with a platform to engage with real community needs,” said Program Director Chong Zi En. He emphasised the importance of real-world learning experiences: “This initiative not only empowered the children with vital knowledge but also allowed our students to apply ethical principles in practice, fostering social responsibility and leadership skills.” The program concluded with a closing ceremony that included the presentation of certificates to sponsors, as well as gifts and donations to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Fitrah Qaseh. The event demonstrated the transformative power of collaboration between academia, private sponsors, and welfare organisations.

A Day of Love, Learning, and Laughter

The program featured a series of engaging activities, including personal hygiene and self-care workshops, emotional expression sessions, educational games, and team-building exercises. Additionally, students conducted a donation drive, resulting in the distribution of school kits and hygiene supplies.

The highlight of the day was a motivational session on self-awareness and emotional well-being, conducted in an interactive and age-appropriate manner to help children build self-confidence and develop healthy habits.

“Programmes like these reflect UTM’s commitment to developing holistic graduates who are grounded in the values of compassion, leadership, and social responsibility,” said Dr. Nor Amira Syairah, one of the course coordinators for Ethics and Social Responsibility.

Group Photo of Participants and Organizers — *UTM students and children from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Fitrah Qaseh pose together after a meaningful day of CSR engagement.*

Interactive Talk on Self-Care and Emotions: *A UTM student explains “Penjagaan Diri” (Self-Care) to children using an engaging presentation on physical and emotional well-being.*

Fun & Games with the Children: *Laughter fills the air as children participate in group activities designed to build confidence and social interaction.*

Fitrah Qaseh: We Care, We Love is a testament to how university students can make meaningful contributions to society, creating ripples of hope and joy in the lives of those who need it most.

Written by:
Dr. Nor Amira Syairah Zulkarnaini and Dr. Ana Haziqah A Rashid, School of Human Resources Development and Psychology (SHARPS), FSSH UTM.