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.  

Traditional crafts are an important part of Malaysia’s cultural heritage and community identity. In Negeri Sembilan, traditional craft practices related to local culture and the values of Adat Perpatih reflect the knowledge, creativity, and skills passed down through generations. However, many of these traditional crafts, including the Bujam technique, are becoming less familiar among younger generations due to limited exposure and learning opportunities.At the same time, youth in local communities often lack access to creative and skills-based activities that can strengthen cultural appreciation while developing practical abilities. Inspired by community-based initiatives similar to those promoted under the spirit of Program Sejati MADANI, this project seeks to empower youth through meaningful cultural engagement and hands-on learning.The SeniBujam Project aims to introduce and revitalise the traditional Bujam craft among youth in Negeri Sembilan through experiential learning workshops with local craft practitioners. By combining traditional knowledge with creative activities, the project seeks to enhance youth creativity, strengthen appreciation for cultural heritage, and encourage community participation in preserving traditional crafts. Ultimately, this initiative hopes to contribute to sustaining traditional knowledge while empowering youth with creative skills and cultural awareness.

Kampung Baru Senai is a Chinese new village in Johor with rich Hakka heritage, community memories, and everyday cultural stories. These stories live in places such as Kong Hay Tong, traditional kuih stalls, the old theatre, SJK(C) Senai Museum, Senai River, and old railway traces.However, many young people who live around these places do not fully understand their meanings. To them, these sites may look ordinary, but behind them are stories of migration, resilience, family values, community support, and cultural spirit.The issue is not that Senai’s culture has disappeared. The issue is that it is no longer being actively communicated across generations. Elder stories, oral histories, and local memories may slowly fade if they are not documented and shared in a way that young people can understand and connect with.寻迹士乃 Loi Ah, Cim Ziak Hi responds to this issue by creating an AI-enabled cultural learning route for young people. The project brings together the Trace Soul AI cultural guide, Trace Pack mission kit, an 8-stop cultural route, site-based activities, Trace Wall reflections, video documentation, a Heritage Zine, and a Cultural Learning Map.Through this experience, participants will not only receive information about Senai, but actively explore, ask questions, listen to stories, complete missions, and reflect on their relationship with local culture. AI is used as a bridge to support intergenerational dialogue, not to replace elders or human connection.We have received RM7,000 grant support through Project for Happiness 2.0, and we are now raising an additional RM3,000 to complete the production and implementation of this project.Your contribution will help us produce learning materials, document community stories, and bring this cultural learning route to young participants. By supporting this project, you are helping preserve Senai’s cultural memory and giving young people a meaningful way to understand, experience, and carry their heritage forward.

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.

UnLABEL addresses the growing normalization of everyday racial steroetyping among youth, where jokes, assumptions, labels and casual comments are often dismissed as harmless despite shaping perception, empathy and social inclusion. In a multicultural society like Malaysia, these repeated stereotypes can quietly weaken intercultural understanding and unity. Through immersive activities, cultural participation and experiential design, UnLABEL transform awareness into empathy by helping young people recognise, experience and collectively challenge the impact of labels in everyday life.

Children living in institutional care environments may face challenges in emotional expression, confidence-building, and social interaction due to limited opportunities for safe and structured emotional engagement. While many children’s homes are able to provide essential care and daily support, there is often limited access to dedicated emotional learning environments that encourage children to express themselves comfortably through creative, interactive, and child-centred experiences.Heartventure was created to address this gap by transforming an existing space into a structured emotional learning environment designed specifically for children in care settings. The project introduces a modular 5-zone experiential system that supports different emotional functions such as calming, creative expression, storytelling, social interaction, and reflection. Through guided and non-pressuring activities, children are given opportunities to gradually explore emotions, build confidence, and participate in safe social engagement.The purpose of Heartventure is not to provide and create consistent and supportive opportunities for emotional participation and positive emotional experiences over time. The project also aims to support caregivers by providing a structured and transferable system that can continue beyond the initial implementation phase.Supporting this project is important because emotional wellbeing and confidence-building are essential parts of a child’s overall development, especially for children growing up in institutional care environments. With support from My Starfish Foundation and the wider community, Heartventure can create a more emotionally supportive environment for children while also developing a reusable and scalable system that may benefit other children’s homes and community spaces in the future.

Kelantan records one of the highest prevalences of childhood dental caries in Malaysia viz. 74.6% among preschool children as reported in a study by Dolah in 2020. Dental disease in children can lead to pain, infection, poor nutrition, reduced school attendance, and diminished quality of life.Despite this, minority and underserved communities such as the Siamese (Thai) community in Tumpat remain underrepresented in targeted oral health promotion programmes. Limited access to preventive education and early screening may contribute to untreated oral health problems.As a dental student, I believe that oral health is closely linked to happiness, confidence, and overall wellbeing. Early, preventive, and community-based interventions are essential to create meaningful and lasting impact. Project Objectives: To improve oral health knowledge among preschoolers and schoolchildren among the Siamese community in Tumpat.To conduct basic dental screenings for early identification of common oral health problems.To transfer oral health knowledge to teachers and community leaders through Train of Trainers (ToT).To assess oral health related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) pre- and post- intervention among teachers, community leaders and parents. Supporting Sawasdee Smiles is an investment in health equity and cultural preservation for the underserved Thai minority of Tumpat, a community currently at risk due to unknown caries prevalence and linguistic barriers to mainstream healthcare. By integrating clinical screenings with culturally resonant education—facilitated through the local Wat and bilingual resources—this project transitions from a simple dental check-up into a sustainable community ritual that protects children from the debilitating cycle of chronic oral pain and the subsequent financial strain on family livelihoods. Your support empowers a "pioneer intervention" that not only improves the immediate wellbeing and social confidence of these children but also establishes a scalable, data-driven blueprint for how modern medicine can respectfully and effectively serve Malaysia’s unique cultural enclaves.

The Bario Highlands, an isolated plateau in the northern interior of Sarawak, is home to the Kelabit community. Despite its cultural significance, the region’s extreme geographical isolation—accessible only by light aircraft or a 10-hour trek via logging roads—has led to significant developmental gaps.Currently, the community faces limited logistical support, resulting in a lack of basic road safety infrastructure and inadequate waste management systems. Furthermore, the "youth-drain" to urban centers has left behind a vulnerable aging population at locations such as Rumah Panjang Ulung Palang, who struggle with limited access to consistent healthcare and essential mobility aids. This project is established to bridge these gaps through a multi-sectoral approach, addressing safety, environmental sustainability, health, and education.  The purpose of this project is to implement a holistic community intervention that addresses the immediate and systemic challenges faced by the residents of Bario.By integrating infrastructure development with social welfare, the project aims to:Enhance Public Safety: Mitigate the risks of road accidents along the 2KM stretch through the installation of professional road signage, addressing the limited road visibility often experienced during the monsoon season.Strengthen Social Safety Nets: Provide a dedicated Food Bank and voluntary equipment contributions to PWDs and senior citizens, directly alleviating the burdens caused by limited financial resources and physical isolation.Empower Future Generations: Deliver targeted educational aid and health screenings to ensure that, despite limited access to urban facilities, the Bario community maintains a high standard of health and academic potential.

 🌱 Imagine being a child who sees the world differently. What may feel ordinary to most of us a bright classroom light, a busy wall, or a noisy room can sometimes feel overwhelming for an autistic child. At NASOM Setia Alam, many children spend their days learning, growing, and developing important life skills, yet the physical environment around them has the potential to do even more to support their well-being. This is where Roots of Resilience Sanctuary begins. Inspired by the healing power of nature, Roots of Resilience Sanctuary is a community project that transforms existing classrooms into calming, sensory-supportive spaces through a biophilic neuro-architectural approach. By introducing nature-themed murals, soft lighting, greenery, visual supports, and sensory-friendly elements, we aim to create an environment that feels safer, more comfortable, and more welcoming for autistic children. These carefully selected features are designed not only to enhance the appearance of the space, but also to encourage emotional regulation, improve focus, and provide moments of calm when children feel overstimulated. More than just a classroom makeover, this project is about creating a sanctuary where children can feel understood, supported, and empowered to learn at their own pace. It is also about supporting the teachers, therapists, and caregivers who work tirelessly every day to help these children thrive. Through a low-cost, reusable, and sustainable approach, Roots of Resilience Sanctuary demonstrates that meaningful change does not always require major renovations sometimes, thoughtful design, compassion, and community support are enough to transform an ordinary room into a place of comfort, confidence, and hope. 💙✨