08 Sep 2020
U-Report Solutions Mapping Campaign
Responding to COVID-19 and the Movement Control Order (MCO), the Accelerator Lab in UNDP, together with UNICEF Innovation launched a solution mapping campaign over U-Report to understand emerging issues and to identify innovative solutions in addressing these issues. The month-long campaign that ran from 8 May to 12 June 2020 approached the problem from the stories underlying the grassroot innovations, revealing community’s deepest needs.
1. No One Left Behind – Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Community
by AIESEC
A connection with society and human bonds – this forms the heart of ‘Get Fit Get Inclusive’ is a project launched by a youth-run organisation, AIESEC in Sunway. It aims to promote independence and integration of children with disabilities within their community.
In collaboration with other AIESEC communities, the online activities organised include virtual assistance for motor skill development activities, interviews with parents of disabled children to understand their living conditions and difficulties faced, and crowdfunding activities to raise awareness for the PWD community.
Such initiatives play a pivotal role in bridging the gaps and ensuring that the PWD community is supported, especially in times of crisis.
For more information on the ‘Get Fit Get Inclusive’ project, visit: Instagram: @gfgi.malayisia Facebook: www.facebook.com/getfitgetinclusive/
2. Online Prayers Help Bring Elderly Community Together
by Abdul Rahim bin Udin
Recognising the importance of faith in uniting and supporting communities during a global pandemic, Abdul Rahim bin Udin used his technological skills to help the elderly run Tadarus Al-Quran readings online.
The ‘Jitsi Meet’ application allowed 60 – 75-year-old elders in his community recite the entire Al-Quran together. According to Abdul, its simple interface facilitated the elderly who are less skilled in technology.
This story highlights the importance of digital technologies for all ages, which enabled communities to connect with one another during the pandemic.
3. Face Mask for Muslim Women
by Muhammad Sufi Iman bin Samsuhaimi
A 14-year-old boy from Kelantan with a passion for arts, Sufi Iman built a business from scratch. He started learning to knit and crochet in 2018 and sold his crafts to support his family. When the pandemic hit, he noticed a problem – hijab-wearing women faced struggles in wearing face masks.
Sufi mentioned that: “I knit this face mask adapter for my mother since she is wearing a hijab. The adapter helps her to wear the face mask comfortably during her working time and stay beautiful.”
The face masks adapter he knits are adjustable and it straps the mask around the head to keep the mask in place. Sufi’s mom has complimented him by saying “He is a very obedient boy and has a gentle yet strong character in him.”
4. Attempting a World Record by Spreading Positivity
by Bhoshaga Mitrran a/l Ravi Chandran
In times of adversity, most of us are concerned with what the future holds and are in need of encouragement.
Pioneered by 20 Malaysian University students, ‘The Shout Project’ empowers youths to spread positive messages online and attempts a Guinness World Record. The project gathers 15-second video submissions from individuals around the globe, uploading them to www.shoutmylifestyle.com and submitting to the Guinness World Records. The team also invited inspiring guests to speak on Instagram and YouTube Live platforms to spread the message of positivity and unity. As of now, the initiative has received over 4,000 submissions from individuals across 180 countries!
This project emphasizes how the spirit of togetherness can combat harsh realities and mounting challenges of a global pandemic.
5. Work From Home
by Urvashi Pathak
Working from home with family members competing for space and quietness can be quite a challenge.
To create a conducive working environment, Urvashi Pathak allowed working family members to allocate their desired spots to work. She also created a log to ensure their productivity. This solution introduces accountability where family members can motivate and monitor one another. A universal tool – it is applicable not only in family homes, but also in hostels and apartments where people stay together for an extended period.
Without having to physically engage with others, Urvashi Pathak kept herself and her family members entertained through various activities such as completing social media challenge. The family also upskilled themselves by learning online courses such as basic programming, baking, creating presentation and learning new languages. It is hoped that this solution will allow people to thrive, and not just survive working from home!
6. Fun Learning via Gamification
by Ahmad Afandi bin Yusri
Since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was introduced, educators and students leaped into the virtual world. Ahmad Afandi, a teacher from SK Bayan Lepas 2, has innovatively created ‘Inomaj’ – an application that comes with innovative flash cards for students to learn at home.
Ahmad stated that, “Students have found learning more fun and effective through this app and the school parents are also supportive of this innovative solution. The app allows students to improve their essay writing skills as a result of their improved vocabulary.” The app has since upgraded, and it now includes a wider variety of categories of words practices.
This app-based solution achieved various international awards. Amongst it was the 1 diamond award in International Innovation Competition, INIIC 1/2020. In 2019, it won two gold medals at the international level. Recently, Inomaj has also won the MAGRIS programme by Malaysia Innovation Foundation.
7. Boy Scouts
by Muhammad Fawwaz bin Rajah
Robert Baden-Powell, an English soldier has once said: “A scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances”. This spirit is inherited by a boy scout, Muhammad Fawwaz bin Rajah, from Selangor, who took initiative to create interactive activities such as a scout quiz which is called the “#KBSCOUTWEEK”.
“Through this program that I initiated with the help of the MRSM Marine Scouting Association Kepala Batas, Penang, it has benefited the students greatly during the MCO as students are able to learn more efficiently from home and the responses from the students have been extremely encouraging.” said Muhammad.
He shared that the quizzes were easily understandable and allowed different ones to interact and compete with their friends. He mentioned that he was able to experience the joy of building friendships albeit not being able to meet physically. Furthermore, he added, “I have also been able to provide my friends and fellow scouts an opportunity to learn about scouting with the use of modules outlined by the Malaysian Scouting Federation.”
8. Veggie Garden
by Syafieqah binti Ahmad
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”- Audrey Hepburn.
Syafieqah Binti Ahmad, a teacher from Negeri Sembilan created a “Veggie Garden” at home during the MCO. She shared that the garden allows her family to feed themselves as they could harvest vegetables from their own garden. She said, “During the MCO, I have started to do some gardening to occupy my free time and gardening can provide healthy and enough food for my family, as well as saving money while enjoying the gardening activities.”
Syafieqah shared some of her harvest with her neighbours and encouraged them to do the same. She also documented her own “Veggie Garden’ by video recording herself introducing her “Veggie Garden”, which seeks to encourage her community to start gardening at home. It is hoped that this initiative will be sustainable and would influence her community in the future.
9. Creating Trending Videos as Revision for Students
by Dewi Hiu binti Iskandar Hiu
During the MCO, e-learning became the face of the education sector. Mdm Dewi Hiu of SMK Rantau in Selangor rode the wave of change and adapted towards e-learning by performing the ‘Don’t Rush Challenge’ alongside her students as a way of revising for their SPM 1119 (English) exam.
Originally from the TikTok app, Mdm Dewi adapted the trend by asking her students to portray a character and their motives in the ‘Dear Mr Kilmer’ novel. This was done through a simple six-step instruction from one character in the novel to another. The three best student videos were rewarded with e-Duit Raya.
10. A child’s gratitude journal during MCO
by Nazihah binti Idris
While most of the world is moving towards digitalisation, not every innovative solution has to be digital. Cik Nazihah urged her nine-year-old daughter to keep a Gratitude Journal during the MCO.
Despite not being able to see friends, Cik Nazizah’s daughter still has plenty of reasons to be grateful. Some of her logs include being grateful for a happy family, being free of COVID-19, and eating fried chicken. In the Ramadan month, she expanded to illustrated comic-like diaries. According to Cik Nazizah, this activity increases positive emotions in her child as she realises that there are in fact many things she can be grateful for.
