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Recently, the School of Psychology (SoP) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), in collaboration with Universitas Ciputra, brought together 30 psychology students and four lecturers from both universities for a meaningful community engagement visit to the refugee community at Elshaddai Centre Berhad.

This initiative formed part of Universitas Ciputra X APU International Competition 2025. (This article can also be read on our website via HERE).

The visit, led by Mr Tan Wei Yu (Lecturer, SoP at APU) and supported by Mr Jaff Choong Gian Yong (Lecturer, SoP at APU), aimed to nurture empathy, social awareness, and cross-cultural understanding among psychology students through direct engagement with the refugee community.

Empathy in Action

Ahead of the visit, a team of seven APU students spearheaded a campus-wide fundraising campaign to support refugee single mothers under Elshaddai Centre Berhad’s empowerment programme:

1. Angelina Rose
2. Nur Qurratu’ayun Mohamad Azman
3. Shreesha Kalaiselvan
4. Pehroshini Visvamoorthy
5. Siham Ahmed Abdirahman
6. Tahiyat Haque
7. Moeko Homma
    

Through the initiative, students collected orders and coordinated the sale of cookies and pastries made by the mothers, symbolising solidarity and compassion through everyday acts of kindness.

This student-led effort not only raised funds, but also cultivated a deeper appreciation for how small initiatives can create meaningful social impact. 

Connecting through Compassion and Understanding

During the visit, students interacted with refugee learners from primary to secondary levels, gaining valuable insights into their educational journeys and holistic development.

The students facilitated group discussions, educational games, and emotional awareness activities designed to encourage self-expression and build confidence among the learners.

Then, representatives from Elshaddai Centre Berhad shared their inspiring mission and ongoing efforts to provide quality education and psychological support to communities in need.

Students also learned about the crucial role of Elshaddai Centre Berhad’s in-house counsellor, who helps foster resilience, emotional stability, and a sense of belonging among refugee children, despite the adversities they face.

The day concluded with a meaningful debrief session, where students from both universities shared their observations and personal takeaways, rounding off the visit with renewed empathy, deeper cross-cultural understanding, and a stronger appreciation of psychology’s role in fostering human connection and resilience.

Leading with Heart and Purpose

Reflecting on the significance of the visit, Mr Tan shared that the initiative exemplified how psychology can transcend classroom learning to become a catalyst for empathy, inclusion, and social impact.

On top of that, Ms Vinorra Shaker (Head, SoP at APU) highlighted that such initiatives reinforce the core of psychology, not merely as an academic discipline, but as a human-centred practice, cultivating compassion and resilience across cultures.

Moreover, Dr Livia Yuliawati (Dean, SoP at Universitas Ciputra) shared that the field visit which was in conjunction with Universitas Ciputra X APU International Competition 2025, allowed students to explore how psychological knowledge, when combined with digital innovation and cultural understanding, can create meaningful social change.