Starfish Happiness Project

Incorporating an essential blend of theory, practical application, and social responsibility into its curriculum, Raffles University continues to foster meaningful community engagement across its academic disciplines. Sharing common ground in empowering youth through grassroots action, Raffles University recently hosted the pitching session for the Projects for Happiness 2.0 initiative, organised by My Starfish Foundation. The pitching event welcomed ten student teams from five Malaysian higher education institutions—including Universiti Teknologi MARA, International Medical University, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Raffles University. The initiative encourages undergraduates across Malaysia to design community-driven projects that deliver happiness, foster empathy, and address societal needs within local communities.

Out of the participating submissions, five student-led projects from Raffles University successfully secured funding support. Demonstrating multidisciplinary innovation, three projects originated from the Faculty of Arts and Design, whilst two were developed by the Faculty of Built Environment and Regenerative Design. Together, the five winning teams secured RM27,300 in approved grants from My Starfish Foundation and are targeting RM11,100 through self-fundraising efforts, bringing total project funding to RM38,400.

Faculty of Arts and Design Initiatives

The first initiative, Loi Ah, Cim Ziak Hi, secured an approved grant of RM7,100 alongside a self-fundraising target of RM3,000, bringing its total budget to RM10,100. The student team comprises Joon Yu Xuan, Tai Ke Ning, Chong Sheng Yen (Bachelor of Graphic Design (Honours)), Darell Tan Yong Kang (Bachelor of Multimedia Design (Honours)), and Loh Min Yu (Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours)), supervised by Ms Sylvia Tan, Assoc. Prof. Dr Alex, and Dr Choo Yen Lee. This project introduces an artificial intelligence-enabled cultural learning route designed to help young people rediscover the heritage, oral histories, and community memories of Kampung Baru Senai. Participants navigate an eight-stop physical trail equipped with a “Trace Pack” field kit whilst interacting with “Trace Soul,” an AI agent built from verified oral accounts of historical community leader Wong Zi Song.

The second project, HeartVenture, received an approved grant of RM7,200 with an RM800 self-fundraising goal, reaching a total budget of RM8,000. The team consists of Tew Jia Ying, Tan Yun Zi (Diploma in Visual Communication), and Emily Siew Jia Min (Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)), guided by Ms Su Ann, Assoc. Prof. Dr Alex, and Ms Tey Huey Shan, in collaboration with Shan De Children’s Home and the Raffles University Wellness Centre. HeartVenture is a transferable, gamified art-and-play system designed to build self-esteem and emotional resilience in institutionalised children. The project guides children through a structured five-zone journey—encompassing the Safe Zone, Art Zone, Creative Play Zone, Game Zone, and Grow Zone—which combines creative arts, storytelling, and psychological wellbeing support.

The third proposal, the UnLABEL Campaign, was awarded an RM5,000 grant with an RM800 self-fundraising target, totalling RM5,800 in funding. Led by Lee En Ling, Lim Yan Shan (Diploma in Visual Communication), Jewel Drishadvathi Nathan, and Tan Ding Jay (Diploma in Psychology), and supervised by Ms Sylvia Tan and Assoc. Prof. Dr Alex, this youth-led inclusion campaign addresses casual racial stereotyping among young people. Operating under a U-I-WE conceptual framework, the initiative uses interactive card games, wristband prompt experiences, an interactive Unlabel Wall, and a collective unlabelling ritual to move participants from recognising stereotypes to removing them together.

Faculty of Built Environment and Regenerative Design Initiatives

The Second Voice of Senai: Reclaiming The Villages’ Heartbeat was awarded an approved grant of RM3,000 with an RM1,000 self-fundraising target, bringing its budget to RM4,000. This community heritage initiative preserves the fading oral histories, personal stories, and Hakka dialect of Senai Kampung Baru. By establishing “Echoes of Home”—a living Hakka voice archive and physical listening space at the Kong Hay Tong Benevolent Association—the project bridges generational divides and safeguards local cultural identity.

The fifth winning initiative, Lost and Found Childhood, secured an RM5,000 grant and is raising RM5,500 through self-fundraising, establishing a total budget of RM10,500. This spatial intervention project transforms underused public spaces in Senai into interactive play mazes. Featuring sensory exploration paths, climbing areas, and rhythm stations, the initiative offers children and families a physical alternative to digital screens, reviving traditional outdoor kampung play and strengthening community bonds.

Empowering Student Change-Makers

These initiatives encourage students to step out of their comfort zones and apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios—spanning creative design, spatial planning, psychology, and project management. Beyond academic development, the projects impart the core values of social responsibility, offering undergraduates a tangible opportunity to contribute back to society.

The grants mark the beginning of the implementation phase, during which student teams will execute their initiatives directly with local communities. Raffles University remains committed to nurturing socially conscious leaders whose ideas deliver lasting, positive impact.