19 April 2025 | Mersing, Johor -The Student Committee (JKM) of Kolej Dato’ Onn Jaafar (KDOJ), in collaboration with the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKR) of Tenggaroh 7, UTM International, and UTM’s Security Division, successfully organized a two-day, one-night Ferrocement & Landscape Workshop at Felda Tenggaroh 7, Mersing.
This workshop marked Phase 3 of the KEKAL Program (Kelestarian Ekosistem Kelulut & Alam Lestari – Sustainable Stingless Bee & Environmental Ecosystem), aimed at transferring knowledge and skills in ferrocement construction to the local community. A total of 50 participants, including international students from KDOJ representing Nigeria, Iran, Bangladesh, and Chad, participated in the hands-on construction of ten ferrocement units.
More than just a technical workshop, this initiative served as a platform for experiential learning, intercultural exchange, and sustainable rural development.
The program aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), namely:
SDG 4: Quality Education, through technical knowledge transfer and capacity building,
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by promoting resilient, eco-friendly infrastructure, and
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, via multi-stakeholder collaboration.
From the lens of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), the program reinforces social impact (S) by empowering rural communities and promoting global student engagement. It also highlights effective governance (G) through multi-agency coordination and strategic program implementation.
In terms of planetary health, the adoption of ferrocement as a sustainable and durable construction method supports environmental stewardship and aligns with long-term ecological well-being goals.
The KEKAL program will proceed to Phase 4 in May, focusing on biodiversity enhancement and sustainable technology practices. It is hoped that this initiative will continue to deliver meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders involved and serve as a model for integrating knowledge, sustainability, and community development at both local and global levels.
For more information about KEKAL program, click the picture below.
