W11: Sustainable Development Project Progress

Maintaining the Physical and Mental Well-Being of Students from Kulliyyah of Education During the Covid-19 Pandemic

👉 Group members:

• Nur Aisyah binti Roslan 
• Nurul Husna binti Zaharuddin
• Wan Maisarah binti Wan Ismail
• Muhammad Izzat bin Mohamad

1) How do we find the project so far?

The majority of IIUM students are currently in an unstable condition physically and mentally because most of the time we spent sitting in front of the laptop to attend online classes and complete a lot of assignments. Thus, so far, we find our project is an effective initiative to improve and maintain the health of students, which can indirectly contribute to society. 

2)  How much percentage completed?

We have already completed the written proposal and currently working on the video presentation. So, our project is approximately 80% completed because our video is also almost complete.

3) How about group members' commitment?

Our project is 90% committed. All members cooperated fairly and the work is distributed fairly. Overall, I am so satisfied with my group work. Every member in my group gives a very good commitment and also they are so sporting. Each one of us contributes well to this project.

4) What are the challenges facing the group?

Among the group members, we face a challenge where it’s a bit hard for us to work and discuss together online because of the pandemic. As for the project's challenges, firstly, we are facing a financial challenge, where it is difficult for us to find the sponsors and funds for our project’s expenses due to the economic collapse of the country nowadays. It is because the Movement Control Order (MCO) that has been implemented by the government since the early of Covid-19 occurred has caused most economic activities to be shut down and not allowed to operate. Although most economic activities have been allowed to operate now, it still does not guarantee high income due to the many Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that need to be adhered to. As a result, the income rate of working Malaysians has declined, causing bankruptcy and rising unemployment. Thus, it may be hard for us to find people who afford to sponsor our programs that require a relatively huge amount of money to implement because most people nowadays struggle to make money just to survive in the current situation. This indirectly affects sustainable development as the financial challenge is one of the challenges of sustainable development, and therefore, we will not be able to contribute to sustainable development in making society aware of their health and well-being.

Secondly, my project’s challenge towards sustainable development in the pandemic Covid-19 situation is unable to execute our project face-to-face. It is because the enforced MCO not only closes business and economic activities but most the public places including schools and higher institutions in Malaysia. Besides, any mass gathering activity is not allowed to be done face-to-face. In the current situation, the majority of students are urged to stay at home and do online learning. This is the main challenge for our project since the programs we want to implement, Zumba dance and art therapy require a lot of physical movements and require the participants to gather in the same place. If it is done online, the implications of this project would be ineffective because it is difficult to make movements online. Moreover, not being able to feel the live situation of the program, and meet other friends or participants will make them feel bored and not motivated to do such activities. Eventually, the program will be less likely to achieve its target, which is to maintain the physical and mental well-being of the students. Thus, our project will not be able to achieve SDG number three, namely Good Health and Well-being, which is such a challenge towards sustainable development as well.

5) How do you assure education of sustainable development in your project?

Firstly, my project is able to achieve the third goal of SDG, which is “Good health and Wellbeing”, which its goal is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. It is because my project is directly aiming to spread awareness regarding the physical and mental health wellbeing of the students. Activities such as Zumba Dance and Art Therapy that will be conducted by us will help to foster their body healing and health wellbeing. As we know, university students are the youth who will inherit the governance of the country. Therefore, we focus our project on university students (IIUM) so that they will be more aware of the importance of good health and wellbeing, and can better disseminate and emphasize this health and wellbeing issue to the outside public (community), especially if they hold any position later. Then, a society comprising of all ages will gain awareness and better take care of their health and wellbeing as well.

Secondly, this project can improve the quality of the students’ concentration and performance in their studies. It is because, by making them aware of their physical and mental health wellbeing, they will more take care of their health and ensure their well-being are always in a good state. By having good health and wellbeing, their concentration in studies will increase, as well as their performance in studies. Good health and well-being students with high performance in studies will have higher possibilities and opportunities to get a job after graduation. Thus, many local fresh graduates will be more inclined and easier to compete for jobs, which will contribute to the country’s economic upliftment and stability.