COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVE
THIS IS MPU4
ABOUT Community Service Initiative
Community Service Initiative (CSI) is a compulsory MPU4 subject, in which students are required to pass in order to graduate. In School of Architecture, Building and Design, CSI will continue the traditional teaching and learning method in Architectures, that is learning by integrating theories with design practice. Students are required to incorporate the theory they have learned at school into real life environment and problems. The intention is to reveal the students to the real community and work together as a team for architectural, culture and environmental enhancing activities in the communities of different social economic status and social groups.
PROJECT "IN SEARCH OF LEARNING SPACE"
There are 3 types of projects that we can choose to do and our team chose to help a family to design a learning space for the children which they did not have it due to economy issue and lack of empty spaces in the unit. We will also collaborate with students from School of Education for this project. Therefore, in a group of 8 members from SABD and 2 members from SoEd, we are required to design a study space to the given unit with the theory we have studied in school into real life environment and problems. The aim for this module is to reveal the students to the real community and work together as a team for architectural, cultural and environmental enhancing activities in the communities of different social economic status and social groups.
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TEAM MEMBERS
SABD
Ang Zhen Xiang
Cheah Hua Suen
Khoo Chee Keat
Lim Shyn Ern
Vanessa Lim Kar Yan
Yap Chin Feng
Jeanette Lee Fei Syen
Chung Chyi Choon
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SoED
Kristal anak Johnny
Nurul Farah Natalia
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The children that we need to help live in PPR Seri Berembang, a low cost flat which is located in Klang. They usually do their homework on the floor in a room where they place their altar at. This is not very convenient for them and not very good for their body and eyes. The room is, however, empty except for the altar that is placed at the back of the room and the size of room is about 9m².
Flat in Taman Seri Berembang
Corridor in the flat
The room where the children do their homework at
9th September 2018 (Week 2)
The first time we visited them with the lead of our tutor Ms. Ann, we met the wife of the household's owner, Ms. Vani. After we got to know more about them, we found that Ms. Vani is a mother of 5 where 3 of them are currently schooling. Their financial status is not that good and therefore they could not even afford the basic furniture for studying. The family of 6 sleep together on one king size bed in one room with only one wardrobe. They actually have a dining table in the dining area but the light there is not functioning.The room that the children study in have light but there is no fan in it which could be quite hot to be in the room. In conclusion for our first visit, we have came up with a list of issues the house have that we might be able to help improve.
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Main issues:
- No study furniture
- No ventilation in the study room
- Not enough lighting in the room
- Small room with altar in it
- The colour of the room is too distracting which could affect the kids when they study
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After the visit, we went back to discuss about the solutions and these are the solutions that we came up with:
- repaint the wall to a colour that is more soothing and relaxing to look at while also encouraging the kids to study
- install a wall fan to provide ventilation
- place study furniture in it for the kids to have a proper place to study
The first group picture with the family
17th September 2018 (Week 3)
This is the second time we visited Ms. Vani's family and only 5 of us that did not go for the first visit went for this visit. The purpose of our second visit was to hand Ms Vani a RM50 food voucher provided by Taylor's University and to do an interview with her about themselves. Besides that, we also discussed the improvements to be made with her, just so she has an idea of what we are proposing, and also to make sure she agrees to it, as we want her and her children to feel comfortable in the space.
However, the strangest thing happened that day after visiting the family. Once we head back to discuss with the team about which colour we should repaint for the room, we argued for awhile because the 5 people who went to the first visit says that the room colour is orange while the other 5 that went for the second visit says that its purple. Then once we compare the two pictures of the room that is taken during different visits, we found that the room colour has changed magically from orange to purple. We were shocked and we asked Ms. Vani immediately through WhatsApp whether she has repainted the wall or not. She said that she repainted them because we told her that orange colour is too distracting for kids and she then painted them to a darker colour. This time the dark purple colour makes the room to be even darker and too gloomy for kids. After that, we decided to repaint the walls to a colour called "mistral". It is like a soft baby blue colour.
Interviewing Ms. Vani and her kids
The room changed from orange to purple colour
24th September 2018 (Week 4)
This week we did not visit the family but we stayed in school to discuss about the furniture's design as we are planning to make the furniture ourselves with recycled wood from old furniture. We came up with two designs for the table and chairs. The first design is two desks that is half hexagonal shape with a storage space under the desk and three stools stored also under the desk. It is like a big block that can be moved around so that the children could interact with it. The second design, which is more practical and more functional, is a big shelf with foldable table attached to it and a sitting bench at the side of the shelf that has a storage area underneath for the children to put their big trolley school bags. We designed these because we have considered about the space that they need for praying in the room. The first design which could be moved around is for the family to move it aside when they need the space and the second design which the table could be folded up and attached to the shelf when they needed the space. Both of the designs also included storage function because Ms. Vani requested it during the interview where her children needed storage space to put their books and stationary.
First Design - Hexagonal Desks
Second Design - Shelf with Foldable Table and Sitting Bench
26th September 2018 (Week 4)
It is interim day and we need to present our proposal to our tutors and get some feedback from them. After the presentation, our tutors think that our design is not really workable and is time consuming to make it ourselves. Therefore they suggested us to change our design and maybe we could just buy some furniture and modify them.
6th October 2018 (Week 5)
We went for a fourth visit and the purpose of this visit is to measure the exact dimensions for the room so that we can plan where to put our furniture and to see whether there is anything else that we can help with. After the visit, we went back and listed down all the things that we are getting for the family.
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Things for the family:
- Shelfing unit with table
- Chairs
- Wall fan
- Wall clock
- White board (for the kids to draw because they love to draw)
- Paint (Mistral Colour)
- Roller brush
- Paint tray
- Extension
- 5 gang extension cord
- Bookshelf
- Stationary
16th October 2018 (Week 7)
This is the fifth visit and we visited to repaint the room. We started of with painting two layer of white colour paint as base because the wall had a very dark and strong colour. Therefore we need two layer of it to cover it up and to proceed with the new colour which is very light and soft. We then continue painting the wall with "Mistral' colour paint. After we have done painting, we were very proud and happy because we think that it is a good colour that we chose and we are glad that the outcome is good.
Painting Process (Gallery)
To cover up the dark purple colour.
To cover up the dark purple colour.
21st & 24th October 2018 (Week 8)
We went to get all the furniture and some of the stationary on 21st October and placed them at a team member's house temporarily as we are not installing the furniture right away. We wanted to gather all the stuff that we need and install them in one day because we did not want to take up Ms. Vani's time as she only get one day off from work​ every week.
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After gathering all the stuff that we needed, we went to the house on 24th October and we installed everything on that day. First, we built up a modular multi-functional shelf which function as table and a shelf. It is also customizable for the shelf and table panel height to suit the users because the children are still young and small. We adjusted the table and shelfing panel to suit their height and they can increase the panels' height as they grow up. If they need more panels, they could get a few and add in themselves later on. We also bought them chairs that has back support so that it is good for their body. Other than that, we also installed a wall fan, wall clock and a white board for them. The family are very happy that they can finally have a proper study space now and they are very satisfied of what we have done.
Shelf installing in progress
Final group picture with the family after completion of installing furniture
30th October 2018 (Week 9)
This is our final visit to ensure everything in functioning well and to give them the stationary that they required for studying. Our SoED members helped them to organize and decorate their study space and helped them create their time table to increase their study efficiency.
Fully functioning furniture with wall fan and altar at the side
Decorated and well-organized study space
End of Journey
After completing this project, I am very proud that I have contributed to the society and helped the people in need. It is also my honor to help Ms. Vani and her family. Through the project, we tried to show people how important a study space is to the schooling children and the study space does not need much money to accomplish. Therefore, we hope that every family can have an appropriate study space for their children.
Throughout this project, I have learned about teamwork while creating and planning the study space with my team and also the method to utilize the budget given to create the most effective outcome.
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Below is our video showing the process that we have been through creating the space and the interview with Ms. Vani.