RCE Greater Gombak - 2020

Location

Malaysia
MY
Living in Fortuitous Era (LIFE)
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Living in Fortuitous Era (LIFE)
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Gombak
Contributing organization(s) : 
PSPK - Pertubuhan Perkhidmatan Sosial dan Pembangunan Komuniti
Yayasan Hasanah
International Islamic University Malaysia
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
Organizational Affiliation: 
International Islamic University Malaysia
Name: 
Wan Zahidah Wan Zulkifle
Organizational Affiliation: 
International Islamic University Malaysia
Format of project: 
Assistance distribution, research and innovation, community work
Language of project: 
English and Malay
Date of submission:
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Malaysia
Location(s): 
Kuala Lumpur
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity
Secretariat, RCE Greater Gombak
International Islamic University Malaysia
Jalan Gombak, 53100
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Ecosystem(s):
Target Audience:
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Klang Valley is an urban conglomeration with Kuala Lumpur as its centre. It is the most populous city in Malaysia with an estimated population of 7.9 million, accounting for 24% of total Malaysia population. This fast growing metropolitan region resides not just citizens but also serves as home for the majority of non-citizens in Malaysia. With its high density, it serves as the centre for cultural, financial and economic activities in Malaysia. Malaysia’s healthcare services and education institutions are also centered in Klang Valley, which offers various expertise and specialization for the society and growth of the country
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
COVID-19 pandemic is not merely a threat to health, but carries with it disruption to the social, economy, environment and all aspects of life. For a high population density like Klang Valley, the effort to contain the virus spread while ensuring the wellbeing of its community in all aspects is undeniably challenging. With the Movement Control Order (MCO) in place, all except essential services activities are put on hold. This has caused various issues ranging from loss of income to increased rate of domestic violence. Healthcare system also faced challenges in facing the pandemic from both human and equipment resources.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
March, 2020 to October, 2020
Rationale: 
A highly infectious disease by its very own nature is a disaster, moreover if it involves a global scale spread like COVID-19 pandemic. This disaster had and will continue to expose the community to various socio-economic vulnerabilities. This unprecedented event demands both reactive and proactive measures taking place. Shortage of medical equipment to attend to COVID-19 cases, inability to put food on the table due to income loss, and disruption of educational activities are among issues that need immediate attention. Malaysia, currently at its third wave of infection spread, needs more than just reactive measures, but a proper long-term plan as the battle against COVID-19 does not seem to end soon. Therefore, LIFE (Living in Fortuitous Era) is a collection of initiatives which has taken place by RCE Greater Gombak in response to the immediate demand of the pandemic, and preventives measures to reduce the socio-economic vulnerabilities risk that will take place if the condition persists for a long time. As this pandemic affects all aspects of life, LIFE was designed to approach the battle holistically and ensure no one is left behind in this tough time.
Objectives: 
LIFE is a collection of initiatives, each with its own objectives; helping frontliners by supplying Personal Protective Equipments (PPE), providing food assistance for the socially vulnerable group i.e. indigenous community and refugees,caring for stray cats, providing better alternatives using technology to manage COVID-19 cases, enabling access to education despite virtual classes challenges, and to keep a strong social bond while practicing physical distancing. All of these initiatives emerge at one theme, to uphold humanity in time of trials, and ensuring no one is left behind in the battle of this uncertain, indefinite and fortuitous thing called life
Activities and/or practices employed: 
The activities could be divided into two; preventive and restorative. The restorative focus on solving immediate crisis, which includes providing food and essentials for socially vulnerable community i.e refugees, single mothers, and indigenous community; sewing PPEs for the frontliners in healthcare; providing shelter and food for students who could not go back to their home during MCO and caring for stray cats; providing assistance to enable remote teaching and learning and providing platform for psychosocial support. As for preventive measures, IIUM as host of RCE Greater Gombak promotes ‘Physical Distancing with Social Bonding' apart from adopting "C.O.V.I.D practices" namely Cleanliness, ensuring Obedience to all instructions, Vigilance to one's whereabouts, Inclusiveness in translating social bonding into practice, and embracing utmost Discipline in breaking the chain of COVID transmission at all time. In addition a low-cost robot, named Medi-Bot, was developed to assist contactless management of patients especially in cases of high uncertainty of infection. This part of Research and Development also aims to act as substitute where there is a short of personnel at some locations especially in the rural areas. Collectively, these activities are called by the acronym LIFE.
Size of academic audience: 
LIFE involves not just IIUM Community which accounts for almost 30000 staff and students, but also involves its regional community in areas of Selayang and Gombak.
Results: 
The food and essential pack assistance was delivered to 500 families of refugees, indigenous communities and other socially vulnerable communities. More than 15 000 PPEs were produced and delivered to frontliners in healthcare. Around 3000 students, consisting of both local and international students were given free food supplies and residence during the MCO period. RM 45 000 funding was received for helping the stray cats. The psychosocialspiritual support team has directly helped more than 100 people to survive this crisis while continuing to provide support indirectly through their website. The preventive measures taken have effectively reduced the risk of spread of the virus in IIUM while setting an example for others to follow. All in all, LIFE has successfully reduced the socioeconomic vulnerabilities risk caused by the COVID-19 disaster not just among the IIUM Community, but in its regional community; Selayang and Gombak which are part of Klang Valley.
Lessons learned: 
LIFE has successfully taken place because multiple stakeholders decided to put others needs ahead of their own. In times of hardship, and anxious of the uncertainties, they realized that they have to come together to win this battle. Realizing the importance of unity and humanity, each of the community members played their role, ranging from a simple staying in the room to avoid contact to spending time exploring the technology to produce a Medi-Bot which has improved in its version 4.0. As much as COVID-19 brings hardship and suffering, this calamity carries with it blessings in disguise, as it brings back the long lost value of humanity.
Key messages: 
Living in Fortuitos Era (LIFE) is a collection of voluntary initiatives that took place during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in Klang Valley community. It has left various impacts on the life of more than 30000 people, ranging from helping them to physically survive this pandemic to ensuring their socio-emotional well-being for the future.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
COVID-19 is a global phenomena and each region has its own challenges and ways to overcome the challenges. RCE Greater Gombak continues to learn from other RCEs especially RCE Asia-Pacific region in their disaster risk reduction and COVID-19 specifically, through webinars and meetings conducted.
Funding: 
The fundings are from various stakeholders: Yayasan Hasanah, IIUM, government funding and public crowd funding and donations.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-31 at 9.32.33 PM.jpeg (185.55 KB) Frontliners of IIUM IIUM
Image icon WhatsApp Image 2020-10-31 at 9.32.33 PM (1).jpeg (84.28 KB) IIUM Medi-bot IIUM
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No