Students Facilitators Involvement in a University-Based Community Service: How It Benefits Them

Abstract

This paper explores tertiary students’ perception on their involvement in a university-based cross-age tutoring community service project known as Edutainment. The project which received an industrial grant by KHIND Starfish Foundation was organized by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Johor Malaysia. The project involved thirty UiTM students who acted as the facilitators as well as five lecturers who were the advisors for the project. The project was carried out for eight weeks among underprivileged one hundred Standard Four and Five primary school students who were provided with special learning modules which focused on providing learning tips and motivation particularly in learning the English Language, Bahasa Melayu (Malay language), Mathematics and Science. After the project ended, the facilitators were asked to answer a set of questionnaires to analyse their perception regarding their involvement in the community service project and how it benefits them. The findings revealed that they perceived the project provides positive impacts towards their communication skill as well as motivation in community service volunteerism.