By: Khairul Azmi Khairul Anuar, Nurulsaidah Abdul Rahim & Suzaliza Mustafar
Tanjong Malim – The Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM), in collaboration with Pasti Pra-Tahfiz Al-Falah, Sekiah Makmur, organized the Service Learning Malaysia-University for Society (SULAM) program entitled SKI.CY 2.0: From Waste to Treasure. The program was held at the kindergarten itself in Tanjong Malim, Perak, aiming to raise awareness among young children about the importance of fertilizers and reducing food waste.
The program was developed to enhance public awareness of food waste issues through hands-on activities and digital media. In this project, students SKI3013 ICT in Chemistry (Group D) able to apply their chemistry knowledge and ICT skills learned in class to create educational materials and interactive learning sessions for kindergarten students aged 4 to 6.
Under the guidance of the Department of Chemistry lecturers, students from Group D of SKI3013 served as facilitators, with the teachers of Pasti Pra-Tahfiz Al-Falah assisting to supervise and guide the young participants. A total of 41 kindergarten students participated in the program, enjoying four main activities designed to integrate science and environmental awareness in a fun and interactive way.
During the opening activity, participants learned to transform household food waste into fertilizer. The young learners crushed eggshells into a fine powder before combining them with vinegar, while facilitators explained the chemical reaction that produced bubbles during the mixing process.
Following this, the children participated in the “Jom Tanam” (Let’s Plant) activity, planting chili seedlings throughout the PASTI area and applying their homemade fertilizer to nourish the young plants.
The third activity, “Suka Tak Suka” (Like It or Not), featured an interactive survey designed to assess the children’s engagement and comprehension. Participants selected tree characters that best reflected their hands-on experience with fertilizer production and planting.
The program concluded with “Jom Lukis Pokok” (Let’s Draw Trees), an artistic segment that encouraged the young learners to illustrate trees and visually express their understanding of plant growth and development. This creative exercise allowed facilitators to gauge how well the children had absorbed the day’s lessons.
Through these activities, the children learned basic concepts of fertilizer and its importance for plant growth, developed communication skills during interactive sessions, and gained early awareness of environmental responsibility. The program also encouraged creativity and safe handling of organic materials while providing an enjoyable learning experience.
The program concluded with a photography session, award ceremony, and reflections on the surveying activity. The initiative successfully nurtured young minds and highlighted the potential of combining chemistry knowledge with ICT and sustainability concepts to educate the community. For the SKI3013 students, the program also built interpersonal and organizational skills as they planned, facilitated, and executed the activities, contributing to their own professional growth.
SKI.CY 2.0 is a shining example of how practical science applications can be used to instill sustainability awareness from an early age while creating a fun and educational experience for children.