BUILDING a bridge to a closed community requires more than just funding; it requires a seat at the table.
“Coming in from the outside and simply offering solutions is never enough,” said Incredible Hearts PLT chief executive officer Nurul Asna Hidayah Mior Abdul Rahman.
Partnering with Allianz Malaysia on the Allianz Eco Quest (AEQ) programme, Incredible Hearts PLT is a social enterprise that focuses on customised education and a gamification approach to educational intervention.
Nurul Asna Hidayah said the biggest hurdle wasn’t the curriculum – it was the buy-in.
“We have to immerse ourselves, understand the community and become part of it. Only when we are accepted can real change begin – and that process takes time,” she told the media during the launch of the AEQ at SMK Langkawi, Pulau Tuba, on Jan 15.
The ultimate goal of the AEQ, she stressed, is to nurture a community that can eventually stand on its own, with students ready to take ownership and lead the programme themselves.
To get there, the programme’s focus evolves as the students grow.
“At the primary school level, the emphasis is on curriculum and building a strong academic foundation.
“We concentrate on subjects such as Science, Mathematics, English, History, Art History, as well as Design and Technology, because this is the stage where fundamentals matter most,” Nurul Asna Hidayah explained.
At the secondary school level, however, the programme shifts towards extracurricular activities, character development and behavioural change, while encouraging students to lead small but meaningful initiatives within Pulau Tuba.
“At this level, the needs of the students are different. They have more autonomy, are starting to discover their identities, and are eager to take on leadership roles,” she noted.
These students, Nurul Asna Hidayah added, will also return as alumni to facilitate and support sessions at the primary school level, creating a strong mentoring loop between the two levels.
“In that sense, the approach evolves. In primary school, we teach. In secondary school, we facilitate. We guide them so that they can grow beyond what we could ever imagine,” she said. — By SAMANTHA SO
