KUCHING – During the recent university semester holidays, students from the Swinburne Student Life Volunteering Program (SLVP) transformed five classroom walls of the Special Education Integration Centre (PPKI) at SJK Chung Hua No. 1 with bright and colourful murals.
The murals were officially handed over by Professor Ida Fatimawati binti Adi Badiozaman, Executive Dean of Research (Interim), Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, and Ms Esty Sharkawi, Registrar and Director of Student Engagement, Swinburne Sarawak, to Mr Lee Mui Huat, Principal of SJK Chung Hua No. 1, on 11 February 2023.
Students from SLVP with the murals.
The project – which helped to enrich and enliven the learning environment at the centre – was initiated by Ms Florence Yiu Tuong Ing, coordinator for PPKI at SJK Chung Hua No. 1, whereas Esty was the person in-charge who proposed the project to the university. Swinburne Sarawak alumni Peter Yek and Angel Khew were the masterminds of the mural designs.
The project kickstarted in early December 2022 with an introductory workshop held at The Hive Design Studio, Swinburne Sarawak. The session was led by two Design Lecturers, Mr Michael Lee and Ms Jasmine Ng. During the workshop, students learnt techniques relating to mural painting, wall tracing and colouring.
A group photo of participants of the introductory workshop held in December 2022.
Ms Julie Laing, Student Engagement Officer at Swinburne Sarawak, said this project not only served as a community project for SLVP students but also as an opportunity to raise awareness and foster meaningful connections with the PPKI community.
In addition to the murals by SLVP students, Kelvin Li, Kuching’s talented autistic artist, was invited to contribute one of his paintings to a section of the classroom walls.
According to Yiu, the school currently has 23 special needs students, and she is in charge of them with the assistance of two teachers and a facilitator. This year, six more applicants are also awaiting their transfer to PPKI at SJK Chung Hua No. 1.
The mural project was made possible with the dedication of all parties involved in addition to the sponsorship of painting materials by Swinburne Sarawak’s School of Research.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website (www.swinburne.edu.my), Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).