The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) Society of Petroleum Engineers Student Chapter (APU SPE SC), under the guidance of Ir Dr Wong Siew Fan (Lecturer, School of Engineering at APU), brought joy and knowledge to the Home Shelter for Children - Teens Girl Home, during a meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) outreach on 6th June 2025.

The visit, which aimed to empower underprivileged youth through a blend of compassion, education, and hands-on learning, reflected APU SPE SC’s unwavering commitment to meaningful community engagement and impactful Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education outreach.

Kicking off with a light-hearted ice-breaking session, the students created a warm and friendly environment, followed by a briefing by Mr Jeshurun Vincent, Coordinator of the home shelter.

One of the visit’s key highlights was a hands-on science session introducing fluid viscosity through simple yet engaging experiments.

The educational activity sparked curiosity and joy among the children, creating an impactful platform for connection.

Beyond learning, APU SPE SC also contributed RM700 to the home shelter as a show of support for their continued care and development efforts.

Student Perspectives

A few perspective from students:

1. Bany Zechariah, President of APU SPE SC: “This initiative embodies who we are as engineering students with purpose, and seeing our members create a meaningful impact in the community was both inspiring and deeply fulfilling.”
2. Israa Mohammed Ibrahim, Leader of the fundraiser initiative: “The support we received was truly heartening, as each contribution served as a powerful reminder that even the smallest efforts can spark meaningful and lasting change.”
    

Reflections on the Visit

Dr Wong shared that the outreach experience was both humbling and inspiring, as it offered students a chance to connect with the children in a meaningful way, while applying their knowledge beyond the classroom.

She highlighted how proud she was of the students’ empathy, creativity, and dedication in driving the initiative to success.

She further expressed that witnessing the children’s eagerness to learn reaffirmed the importance of combining education with compassion to create a lasting impact on the community.

In contrast, Professor Ir EurIng Ts Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer at APU, emphasised APU SPE SC’s steady growth since its formal establishment in 2019, adding that the student chapter’s annual objective, particularly in CSR initiatives, have been instrumental in shaping students into well-rounded engineering professionals with a strong social conscience.

“To this end, it reflects APU’s commitment to nurturing future proof professionals who are not only technically capable, but also driven by purpose to uplift communities and contribute meaningfully to society.”