Nurul Asyikin binti Basri (MIC190041)

GIG1005 SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

Reflective Essay

By: Nurul Asyikin binti Basri                                                               Date: 14th of April

     Growing up with the passion of volunteering, I really love to go outside socialize with the community to explore the world, gaining new knowledge and contribute back to the community. After all, I found Social Engagement course really suits my soul and I am so excited to conduct activities with the community. On our very first briefing class, we are divided into four groups and each group will come out with different modules. I am belong to the group 2 (Year 1) which responsible to prepare a slide presentation and questionnaire entitled The Secret of Life. Not only that, we also prepare gift for the winner. We supposedly conduct activities related to the microbes and hand hygiene on 3rd and 10th of April in SMK Sri Pantai. So, as a preparation, we attend the internal workshop guide by Dr. Puah on 13th of March to know about the details and experience the activities ourselves. First of all, we construct a foldscope microscope from the kit given and it is so fascinating that we can view slide under it like the real one. Other than that, we visualize the shape of microbe by using variety types of balloon. It is so fun to play around and at the same time gaining knowledge about microbes. We also run an experiment to see how far particles can be spread during sneezing under a few scenarios such as covered with tissue, hands and nothing. This makes me realize the importance of tissue to minimize the particle released into the air. Last but not least, to see handshake effect by using the glow powder to increase awareness among people about the hand hygiene.

        Unfortunately, on the mid of March, pandemic COVID-19 got worse and any mass gathering are not encourage. Our program with SMK Sri Pantai got cancelled. Thus, we took initiative to come up with a video, posters and questionnaire related to microbe and hand hygiene. A video about 7 steps of proper hand wash was recorded and edited by Team 1. Posters about hand hygiene and current issue COVID-19 were prepared by Team 2A and 2B. Team 3 makes an online survey that has been blast to all Biomedical Science students to come up with a full report. Despite the challenge of distance, I am so grateful that all teammates are giving their best and willing to give full effort to make it real. I cannot deny that our teamwork is the best. However, it is quite challenging to work online, now I appreciate the face to face meeting better.

        At the end, I am so happy to get the opportunity to increase awareness among the community about the importance of hand hygiene and how microbe and virus especially COVID-19 can lead to a serious life threatening condition. Personally, I think that this is the right time thinking about the relation between hand hygiene and the spread of COVID-19. At first, we are very sad due to the cancellation but we are happy as well to contribute something for the viewers to read and watch during this holiday. I know we miss the chance to conduct all fun activities with SMK Sri Pantai, but we need to sacrifice it as safety is our priority. Last but not least, I want to thank Dr. Puah for all the guidance and encouragement for us to keep moving on through thick and thin.