JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 1 – The Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully organized the Nature News Crews: Kid Reporter Programme in collaboration with Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor (YRZSNJ) and Zoo Johor. The programme was funded by the Centre for Community and Industrial Network (CCIN) UTM through the Dana Khas Fakulti – NGO initiative.
A total of 35 students and two teachers from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tiram Duku, Gelang Patah, participated in the programme, supported by five facilitators from the Language Academy, UTM. The initiative aimed to empower students with creative writing and communication skills, build their confidence, encourage teamwork, and raise awareness about endangered species and wildlife conservation. The day began with an opening session by Amirul Hafiz Hasbolah, representative of YRZSNJ, who introduced the foundation and shared its mission and community initiatives in education, social welfare, and cultural development. In the morning, the students explored Zoo Johor to observe animals and gather information for their reporting projects. After the visit, they proceeded to SK Tiram Duku to continue with second session of the programme.
After lunch break, the students engaged in brainstorming, discussions, and teamwork to develop their stories. With the support of the facilitators, all five groups successfully produced their own news reporting videos, reflecting creativity, collaboration, and communication skills in action.
To recognize their efforts, each group received a hamper of appreciation and certificates of participation from the Language Academy, UTM. In addition, Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor and Zoo Johor presented goodie bags and souvenirs to all student participants, making the day even more memorable.
The programme concluded with a closing speech by Rafee Suhaimin, Headmaster of SK Tiram Duku, who thanked UTM, YRZSNJ, and Zoo Johor for providing his students with such a valuable and enriching experience.
The Nature News Crews: Kid Reporter Programme not only gave participants an exciting introduction to journalism and storytelling but also deepened their knowledge of wildlife and environmental conservation. It reflects UTM’s strong commitment to experiential learning, community engagement, and impactful collaborations with local institutions.
By: Nur Shamsinar Ramli