(From left) Tetriana, Intan, Ramakrishna Ashrama’s R. Selvarani, Bono, Wisma Yatim (Perempuan) Islam Pulau Pinang’s Siti Rohani Ibrahim and Daharah Aziz, and USM intern Muhammad Syafiq Abdul Hadi.
SOME 30 children from Wisma Yatim (Perempuan) Pulau Pinang and Ramakrishna Ashrama benefitted from a community project organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
USM social psychologist Dr Suzanna Bono said the project themed “Empowering Youth Through Emotional Literacy” aimed to foster vital skills of resilience for more well-being.
“Emotional literacy requires the ability to recognise, understand and manage emotions,” she said.
She added that the community project was conducted in recognition of the vulnerability of children in orphanages towards mental health issues.
Children aged between nine and 13 from both institutions participated in the programme along with their caregivers who served as the project facilitators.
Dr Bono said the children were involved in a series of activities to help them express themselves, including art sessions requiring them to draw and colour facial expressions.
“We wanted them to be able to describe their emotions and motivations, and find ways to regulate their feelings effectively,” she said.
She hoped that by understanding their emotions, the children would go on to build healthy relationships based on empathy and understanding.
The programme was funded by USM’s division of industry and community network and ran from May 6 to June 10 this year.
Assisting Dr Bono in the project were USM psychologists Professor Dr Intan Hashimah Mohd Hashim and Associate Professor Dr Norzarina Mohd Zaharim from the School of Social Sciences, as well as art educator and practitioner Dr Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi from the School of Arts. — By IMRAN HILMY
