Press Statement

6th June 2024

Penang, Malaysia – Arts-ED, a Penang-based non-profit organization dedicated to arts and heritage education, is proud to announce the launch of the Community-based Learning Action Portal (CLAP). Supported by Yayasan Sime Darby, CLAP is designed to empower educators by providing comprehensive resources and tools for incorporating community-based learning (CBL) into their educational practices, enhancing students' engagement with and understanding of their local communities.

CLAP is an initiative by Arts-ED to share cumulative experiences and insights gathered over the years and to reach out to more educators seeking effective and engaging teaching methods. This innovative online platform bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, fostering a sense of connectedness and belonging among students and empowering them to become responsible members of their community.

The launch event was officiated by YB Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, Penang State EXCO for Youth, Sports and Health.

“In today's digital age, while information from around the world is at our fingertips, the challenge remains to engage our youth in local issues and their immediate communities,” he remarked, "By fostering connections between students and their communities, CLAP will not only preserve our cultural heritage but also empower our youth to become active, responsible citizens."

Dr. Hajah Yatela Zainal Abidin, CEO of Yayasan Sime Darby, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to supporting community-based learning initiatives.

"As part of our broader mission under the Arts & Culture pillar, our support for the Community-based Learning Action Portal aims to equip educators with the necessary tools to bring community narratives into classrooms, making learning more relevant and engaging," she stated. "I encourage all of you to explore the portal, and work with us to broaden its reach and impact."

The launch event also featured a panel discussion titled “Connecting Classroom and Community: Towards an Ecosystem for Nurturing Responsible Citizens,” which brought together key stakeholders to discuss the importance of community-based learning in the educational ecosystem. The panel addressed critical questions such as how government, corporations, and on-the-ground organizations can collaborate to better equip youth with the skills to be responsible citizens, and how strengthening connections between classroom learning and community engagement can help achieve this goal.

Dr. Molly Lee, President of Arts-ED, highlighted the collaborative efforts that made CLAP possible.

"This platform is the result of over 25 years of partnerships with local teachers, cultural workers, communities, and institutions like the Ministry of Education Malaysia and UNESCO APCEIU. We are excited to see how CLAP will transform educational practices and deepen students' understanding of their cultural heritage."

CLAP offers a variety of resources for educators, including project planning templates, detailed lesson plans, teaching aids, and examples of students' work. These tools are designed to help teachers incorporate local cultural and heritage elements into their curriculum, making learning more engaging and relevant for students.

Arts-ED invites educators to join the CLAP community and leverage this valuable platform to enrich their teaching practices. Sign up today to access a wealth of resources and be part of a growing network dedicated to community-based learning.

For more information about CLAP, please visit the CLAP Portal at https://clap.arts-ed.my/.