Community Engagement

Urban poverty is a complex issue that affects many lives, often in the midst of surrounding opportunities. Vulnerable groups face significant income challenges, limiting their access to essential needs such as safe housing, quality education, and nutritious food. To tackle this, the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has partnered with Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang (MAINPP), Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP), and Waqaf Pulau Pinang (WPP) to improve the socio-economic conditions of the urban poor (asnaf).

One key initiative, the Sungai Nibong Socio-Academic Laboratory Project (Makmal Sosio-Akademik Sungai Nibong, MASA@Sungai Nibong), focuses on 17 asnaf families in the Southwest District of Penang, involving 84 individuals across multiple generations. The project highlights the educational challenges and unstable incomes faced by the first generation.

Since 2020, ISDEV has implemented various community engagement programs designed to transform the socio-economic landscape of these families through a social inclusion approach. The aim is to prevent marginalization and uplift the community as a whole. Five primary program categories have been established:

• Human Intervention Program
• Human Empowerment Program
• Economic Empowerment Program
• Community Engagement Program
• Community Empowerment Program

These initiatives work to eradicate poverty in all its dimensions, offering educational support for children, providing business equipment for micro-entrepreneurs, and assisting with basic food needs. Importantly, all 17 families have also received housing assistance from Penang Zakat.

ISDEV believes that spiritual development is vital in conjunction with material support. By emphasizing spiritual empowerment, the MASA@Sungai Nibong program takes a holistic approach to helping these families break free from the cycle of poverty.

Hands-on experiences education to foster creativity and critical thinking of the children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds

Training and assistance with business equipment for micro-entrepreneurs from low-income households