A team of students from the School of Psychology (SoP) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has secured RM5,000 in total funding for “Echoes of Wisdom;” a student-led community initiative focused on strengthening intergenerational connections and promoting the social reintegration of elderly individuals through storytelling and youth engagement.

Team members Yuki Yagi, Ahmad Syahir Azali, Ashwathy Sathish, Syeda Tasnim Tumu, and Salman Sami Munim received a RM3,000 grant through Projects for Happiness 2.0 in July 2026; a collaborative initiative jointly implemented by MyStarfish Foundation and the Malaysian Social Entrepreneurs Foundation (MSEF), with Service Learning Malaysia-University for Society (SULAM) under Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) serving as the academic partner, following their successful fundraising efforts, which raised RM2,000 in support of the initiative.

The combined funding will support the implementation of the initiative, which will continue through October 2026.

This success was made possible through the mentorship of Mr Mohamad Hilmi Mhd Najri (Lecturer, SoP at APU) and Ms Pavithra Muniandy (Senior Lecturer, SoP at APU).

Competing against more than 200 entries, the team first earned a place among the top 80 teams selected to attend a proposal-writing bootcamp in April 2026. 

Following the bootcamp, their proposal advanced to the top 44 teams invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of industry professionals and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) representatives.

At the pitching session held in May 2026, the team emerged as one of 21 winning teams; marking a significant milestone in their journey to translate their ideas into meaningful community action.

Fostering Meaningful Intergenerational Connections

“Echoes of Wisdom” was developed in response to the growing issue of social isolation among elderly individuals.

The initiative aims to foster meaningful social reintegration among elderly residents of an old folks home in Old Klang Road, with outreach initiatives extending to affiliated branches throughout Petaling Jaya.

Through youth volunteering and community engagement, the initiative seeks to encourage genuine intergenerational relationships, while providing elderly individuals with opportunities to share their personal experiences, memories, and life stories.

Storytelling forms a key component of the initiative, allowing students to listen to and document selected experiences shared by elderly residents.

These stories will subsequently be shared through social media; helping the wider community appreciate the wisdom, resilience, and lived experiences of elderly individuals.

Beyond creating opportunities for social interaction, the initiative seeks to promote greater awareness of healthy ageing, social inclusion, and the importance of maintaining meaningful connections across generations.

Strengthening Student Leadership through Community Engagement

Initiatives like “Echoes of Wisdom” reflect APU’s commitment to developing socially responsible students who can apply their academic knowledge to address real-world challenges.

Ms Vinorra Shaker (Head, SoP at APU) highlighted the importance of expanding learning beyond the classroom; noting that by combining psychological understanding with community engagement and student leadership, the initiative provides students with opportunities to contribute meaningfully to society, while gaining practical experience.

“Our goal at SoP is to build a culture where classroom learning directly serves societal needs, while providing students with opportunities to experience the value of their education beyond the classroom and create tangible, lasting impact within their communities.”

As “Echoes of Wisdom” progresses through October 2026, the team hopes to strengthen connections between generations, amplify the voices and experiences of elderly individuals, and encourage a more inclusive approach to ageing within the wider community.