KOTA KINABALU: May 15, 2026 – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has strengthened its community outreach efforts with the “GreenSteps: Journey to a Healthier Life” programme, held recently at the Rumah Anak Yatim (RAY) orphanage in Tambunan.
The initiative focused on raising awareness among teenagers about mental health, healthy lifestyles and the importance of environmental sustainability.
Organised by final-year students from UMS’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), the programme adopted the Service Learning Malaysia University for Society (SULAM) approach. This allowed students to apply their academic knowledge and skills directly while fostering empathy, compassion and social consciousness.
Programme coordinator Associate Professor Dr Getrude Cosmas noted that the initiative also received support from Sabah’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (KPSTI Sabah), U-Science UMS, and UMS’s Centre for Academic Development and Excellence (PPKA).
“This programme was organised by students from the Youth and Community Development Programme, together with the Industrial and Organisational Psychology Programme, as part of the SULAM implementation under course PB30803: Attitudes and Attitude Change,” she said.
Key sessions included a talk and first-aid demonstration, conducted by volunteers from the Malaysian Red Crescent (PBSM) Keningau branch, led by Albinus Gimbang.
A total of 64 participants, ranging from Year Six pupils to Form Five students, took part in the structured activities. The programme was designed to cultivate positive attitudes towards self-care, emotional wellbeing and environmental responsibility.
Programme director Ivy Lilysha Eh Hoon said the relaxed and interactive approach adopted throughout the programme successfully engaged the participants, helping them to understand the importance of maintaining both physical and mental health.
The attendees also took part in a psychology talk titled “Emotions Are Normal: Let’s Get to Know Our Feelings”, delivered by UMS lecturer Dr Norafifah Bali, which covered emotional management, stress relief and confidence building.
Green activities, including recycling and gardening, were also organised to instil sustainable practices among the younger generation and heighten their awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.
