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.”

Vinyl of Nusantara 2026 (VON 2026) is a community-driven cultural initiative organised by Pemuzik Tradisional (PETRA) UTP that aims to address the growing disconnection between Malaysian youth and traditional cultural heritage, particularly traditional music and Baba Nyonya heritage. Although many young people appreciate the importance of preserving culture, meaningful participation and engagement remain low due to limited exposure and the perception that traditional cultural activities are outdated or less relatable to modern youth.This project is important because culture and unity are essential parts of Malaysia’s identity. Without engaging and accessible platforms, younger generations may gradually lose connection with traditional heritage, cultural values, and intercultural understanding. VON 2026 addresses this issue by transforming traditional culture into a modern and immersive experience through a combination of cultural immersion activities, interactive exhibitions, and a musical theatre performance inspired by Baba Nyonya heritage and the theme of unity (Perpaduan).The project includes a Melaka Cultural Immersion Trip, Cultural Showcase Booths at UTP, Cultural Art & Wellness Workshops, and a full-scale musical theatre performance at Chancellor Hall. These activities provide students, international participants, staff, and the public with opportunities to experience culture in a more engaging, emotional, and interactive way rather than through passive learning alone.VON 2026 benefits the community by:Promoting appreciation and preservation of Malaysian cultural heritage.Strengthening unity and intercultural understanding among students and the wider community.Supporting local heritage practitioners and cultural organisations through collaboration and cultural engagement.Encouraging active participation in arts and culture through experiential learning.Increasing awareness of Baba Nyonya heritage and Melaka’s cultural tourism potential.Support from My Starfish Foundation and the public is important because it enables the project to create wider cultural impact and reach more communities. Funding and support will help provide accessible cultural programmes, strengthen collaboration with heritage communities, and ensure that traditional culture continues to be appreciated and preserved among future generations in a meaningful and sustainable way.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

Describe the problem that your project aims to address and why it’s important.Gerik is located adjacent to the Belum–Temengor rainforest complex, one of Malaysia’s richest biodiversity landscapes. However, many local youth—particularly those from underprivileged and rural backgrounds—have limited access to structured scientific exposure, mentorship, and hands-on biodiversity training. While interest in nature and outdoor activities exists, opportunities to learn professional research methods, insect ecology, and environmental science pathways are scarce.This creates an exposure gap: Youth live near extraordinary biodiversity, yet they rarely see themselves as future scientists, conservationists, or eco-guides.Without early access to knowledge, skills, and confidence-building experiences, rural youth may miss opportunities in higher education, environmental careers, and sustainable livelihood pathways. In a region increasingly influenced by environmental pressures and development, empowering local youth to understand and appreciate biodiversity is not only educational—it is strategic for long-term conservation stewardship.Bridging this gap is essential to ensure that the next generation from Gerik is not merely living beside the forest, but becoming informed custodians of it.  Explain the purpose and goals of your project, including how it will benefit the community.The “Light & Insects: Entomology Camp for Gerik Youth” aims to provide structured, hands-on exposure to professional insect study and biodiversity research techniques for underprivileged rural youth.The purpose of the project is to:Increase scientific exposure among Gerik youth through theory and practical field training in entomology.Build confidence and environmental awareness by allowing participants to conduct real field sampling and documentation.Inspire future pathways in science, conservation, eco-guiding, and higher education.Through a 3-day immersive camp guided by professionals, participants will learn insect ecology fundamentals, ethical sampling methods, light-trapping techniques, and basic identification skills. They will also gain experience in recording scientific data and understanding the importance of biodiversity in ecosystem health.Community benefits include:Increased environmental literacy among local youthGreater appreciation for the Belum–Temengor ecosystemStrengthened youth leadership and teamwork skillsCreation of a small but meaningful biodiversity documentation outputDevelopment of a local youth pipeline for future conservation initiativesBy empowering youth with knowledge and exposure, the project contributes to long-term community resilience and environmental stewardship.Why is it important that My Starfish Foundation and the public to support this project?Support from My Starfish Foundation and the public is crucial because this initiative addresses an opportunity gap that often goes unnoticed in rural communities: access to professional scientific exposure.Small grants can create transformational moments for youth who otherwise may never experience structured field research training. With modest funding, the project can provide transportation support, learning materials, field equipment, and mentorship access that remove barriers for underprivileged participants.Public and foundation support also signals that rural youth potential matters—that curiosity, talent, and interest deserve investment regardless of geographic or socioeconomic background.By supporting this project, My Starfish Foundation is not only funding a camp; it is investing in:Youth confidenceEnvironmental awarenessCommunity-based conservationEqual access to opportunitySometimes, it only takes one exposure experience to change how a young person sees their future.