Did you know that a healthy digestive system is the foundation of daily vitality, indirectly regulating our mood and acting as the control center for our overall well-being? For the marginalized indigenous community, poverty and a severe lack of health literacy have fueled a silent epidemic of non-communicable diseases and late-stage Colorectal Cancer (CRC). To combat this crisis, a dedicated team of medical students from Fakulti Perubatan dan Kesihatan Pertahanan (FPKP), Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, driven by a deep passion for preventative oncology and grassroots public health, is launching Project Senyum dari Perut (SeDaP): Usus Sihat, Komunit Bahagia. This targeted 3-day carnival will transform community health through zero-oil "SeDaP Chef" cooking workshops, interactive gut-health education and vital on-site CRC screenings using iFOBT kits. Rather than offering transactional charity, we are building a sustainable legacy by rewarding educational participation with high-utility daily items at our "SeDaP Stamp Redemption Bazaar" and training local youth to continuously monitor their village's health. Every ringgit you donate goes directly toward essential cancer screening kits, cooking equipment and  community assets. Join us in empowering this village to prevent silent killers and cultivate true happiness from the inside out! 

The existing community library at the Senai Community Centre is currently underutilized and lacks regular public engagement. At present, the space is mainly used once a week for tuition classes, while remaining vacant for most of the time. Although the library has the basic facilities to serve the community, its outdated appearance, limited activities, and lack of an inviting environment have resulted in very low visitor numbers.This project aims to revitalize and beautify the library by creating a more welcoming, functional, and attractive community space. Through interior improvements, environmental enhancement, and better space planning, the library will become a place where children, families, and local residents can read, learn, interact, and participate in community activities. The ultimate goal is to reactivate the library as a vibrant community hub that encourages more people to use and enjoy the space.

Gerik is located near the Belum–Temengor rainforest, one of Malaysia’s most important biodiversity areas. However, many underprivileged rural youths have limited access to scientific education, mentorship, and hands-on biodiversity learning. As a result, they often lack exposure to environmental careers and conservation opportunities despite living close to a globally significant ecosystem.The Light & Insects: Entomology Camp for Gerik Youth aims to provide hands-on learning experiences in insect ecology, biodiversity research, and environmental conservation. Through a 3-day camp, participants will gain practical scientific skills, environmental awareness, and exposure to future education and career pathways in conservation.The project will benefit the community by:Increasing environmental literacy among local youth.Promoting appreciation of the Belum–Temengor ecosystem.Developing leadership, teamwork, and scientific skills.Encouraging future participation in conservation initiatives.Support from My Starfish Foundation and the public will help provide access to field equipment, learning materials, transportation, and expert mentorship for underprivileged youth. This project creates meaningful opportunities for rural students to develop confidence, discover their potential, and become future stewards of biodiversity and environmental conservation.

Kampung Baru Senai is a Chinese new village in Johor with rich Hakka heritage, community memories, and everyday cultural stories. These stories can be found in places such as Kong Hay Tong, traditional kuih stalls, the old theatre, SJK(C) Senai Museum, Senai River, and the old railway traces.However, many young people who live around these places do not fully understand their meanings. To them, these places may look ordinary, but behind them are stories of migration, resilience, family values, community support, and cultural identity. The issue is not that Senai’s culture has disappeared, but that these stories are no longer actively communicated between generations. Without documentation and meaningful ways to share them, local memories and stories may slowly fade.寻迹士乃 Loi Ah, Cim Ziak Hi was created to reconnect young people with Senai’s local history and culture through a more interactive learning experience. The project combined an AI cultural guide, Trace Pack mission kit, a 7-stop cultural route, site-based activities, Trace Wall reflections, a Heritage Zine, Cultural Learning Map, and video documentation. Instead of only learning about history through written information, participants were encouraged to explore the actual places, ask questions, listen to community stories, complete activities, and reflect on what they experienced.Through the project, young participants had the opportunity to learn about Senai directly from its places and people. The activities also created opportunities for interaction between younger participants and local community members, allowing stories and memories to be shared across generations.The support from My Starfish Foundation and the public made it possible for us to develop and implement these learning materials and activities. More importantly, the support helped us create a meaningful opportunity for young people to experience local culture in a way that was more engaging and relevant to them. By supporting projects like this, the community can help preserve local memories, encourage intergenerational sharing, and give younger generations a chance to understand and carry these stories forward.

Antibiotic misuse remains a significant yet often under-recognised public health issue, particularly in underserved communities such as residents of People’s Housing Projects (PPR). In many Malaysian households, antibiotics are commonly managed without proper guidance, where individuals may stop antibiotics once they feel better, reuse old prescriptions, share medicines with others, or take incorrect doses. While these practices may seem harmless, they carry substantial health risks. Evidence shows that self-medication and inappropriate antibiotic use remain prevalent, with many individuals lacking adequate understanding of proper medication use and its consequences. This contributes to treatment failure, adverse drug reactions, and the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Malaysia, AMR is an increasing public health concern, reflected in rising resistance rates in common infections. The Malaysian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (MyAP-AMR) 2022–2026 highlights the need to improve public awareness and understanding of AMR, particularly in high-density, lower-income communities where health literacy gaps and limited access to personalised counselling persist. Despite ongoing health campaigns, most interventions remain passive and often fail to translate into sustained behaviour change.The MedWise Community Project aims to bridge this gap through a structured, interactive, and participant-centred intervention. Moving beyond traditional one-way education, the project adopts a station-based approach that integrates health screening, medication review, interactive learning, and personalised planning. By starting with the medications participants already use at home, the project identifies real-life risks and provides tailored counselling that is directly relevant to each individual. Participants are guided to better understand what their medications, especially antibiotics, are for, how to use them correctly, and what practices to avoid, while also gaining insight into important concepts such as antibiotic resistance. Through practical tools like medication charts and direct engagement with facilitators, the project empowers individuals to translate knowledge into daily practice, thereby improving medication adherence, safety, and overall health outcomes.Support from My Starfish Foundation and the public is essential to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of this initiative. Their support enables the project to reach underserved communities, provide necessary resources such as screening equipment, educational materials, and medication management tools, and deliver a high-quality, impactful intervention. Beyond immediate benefits, this project contributes to broader public health goals by supporting preventive care, reducing medication-related harm, and aligning with national efforts such as the MyAP-AMR strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance. At the same time, it fosters the development of future healthcare professionals by providing hands-on experience in community engagement and patient-centred care. With strong support, the MedWise Community Project has the potential to create meaningful, lasting improvements in medication safety and transform medication use from a routine habit into an informed, safe, and responsible practice. 

Goal:Reintegration Mitigation of loneliness and Restore social connectivity among elderly through storytelling and intergenerational engagement Approach:Trust building through student visits to care homesEncouraging sharing of impactful life storiesConnecting elderly with youthTransform stories into digital archives

Most senior citizens at Holy Family Residence for Senior Citizens, Papar, rarely receive visitors and they typically feel lonely and their grooming needs tend to be overlooked which further make them feel more isolated and neglected. Hence, this project aims to provide grooming services such as manicure, pedicure and massages conducted by cosmetology students while engaging in warm conversation with them along with some social activities namely karaoke singalong and social dance. With Malaysia is quickly becoming an ageing nation, it is crucial for My Starfish Foundation to advocate for initiatives that support aged population and for the public to play their part to improve our care towards our elderly.

In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the Chow Kit community is home to many children growing up in vulnerable and high-risk environments. Many of them come from low-income, marginalized, and undocumented families, where financial instability and limited access to essential services shape their daily lives. Because of these circumstances, consistent healthcare, proper nutrition, and early health education are often not accessible. Preventive healthcare is especially limited, leading many families to seek medical attention only when illnesses have already become severe. Over time, this has created a pattern where healthcare is largely reactive instead of preventive, with health issues being addressed only after they have progressed. This lack of early intervention and health awareness contributes to a range of ongoing health and social challenges among children and adolescents in the area. Issues such as poor hygiene practices, untreated medical conditions, and limited understanding of personal health and safety remain common. At the same time, exposure to social risks, including substance abuse, neglect, exploitation, and unsafe living conditions, further increases their vulnerability. Without proper access to health education and preventive care, these challenges often extend into later life and affect overall physical, emotional, and social well-being.  

During a community volunteer program, I was in charge of doing a cognitive test to the participants from public. There, I met a 93-year-old grandmother. Even though, after the test, she was tested to have dementia, but throughout the test, she wasn't talking anything about her memory or her health. Instead, she kept repeating four simple, yet heartbreaking words: "I miss my grandchild". What if "I miss my grandchild" was not just her, but the others as well? It is sad to say that, more than 54% of our elderly have absolutely no intergenerational exchange with children. When they are socially isolated, they can face an 88% higher risk of developing muscle loss, and a 50% higher risk of dementia.  Sometimes, what keeps a person alive inside is not medicine, but being remembered by someone who chooses to show up. Stronger Intergen is a continuous intergenerational hub that brings university students and elderly together to turn “I miss my grandchild” into “Someone is here with me.”