KOTA KINABALU, SABAH – The Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition (FSMP), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), organised the Spark of Hope Programme at the Ronald McDonald House, Sabah Women and Children's Hospital (HWKKS), as part of its social responsibility initiative to support children undergoing cancer treatment and their families.
The programme was initiated by FSMP students under the coordination of Dr. Norazlina Mohammad Ridhwan as Programme Coordinator and Ms. Intan Shafiana Md. Zain as Programme Director. A variety of engaging and recreational activities were organised to bring joy to the children while providing emotional support to both the young patients and their families during their stay at the Ronald McDonald House. In addition, FSMP presented a donation to the Ronald McDonald House as a gesture of support for its continuous efforts in providing a comfortable and caring environment for the families of paediatric patients.
The programme reflects UMS's commitment to fostering volunteerism, empathy, and social responsibility among its students. At the same time, Spark of Hope contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, by promoting the psychosocial well-being of children with cancer and their families throughout the treatment process, and SDG 4: Quality Education, by providing UMS students with meaningful community service-learning experiences that strengthen their sense of humanity, leadership, and civic responsibility.
Through initiatives such as Spark of Hope, UMS hopes to continue nurturing graduates who not only excel academically but are also compassionate, socially responsible, and committed to making a positive impact on the community.