Universiti Malaya Community Engagement Centre (UMCares)

Quantifiable Reach & Scale

Collective Community Impact

Measurable outcomes achieved across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and international delegations.

2,770+

Community Members Empowered

304

University Youth Ambassadors (TOT)

1,066+

School Students Direct Intervention

200+

Maldives Delegates & Youth Leaders

Three-Tier Architecture

Strategic Action Pillars

PILLAR I

Youth Advocacy & TOT Leadership

Innovating Youth Advocacy in Tobacco Control via Training of Trainers & Global Outreach.

PILLAR II

School Counseling Intervention

Clearing the Air: Peer Pressure Refusal & Psychological Safety in Secondary Schools.

PILLAR III

Performing Arts & Digital Media

Forum Theatre Drama & Short Film Productions for Social Media Awareness.

Deep-Dive Implementation

Explore Strategic Action Pillars

Artrx: Innovating HEBAT Youth Advocacy in Tobacco Control

University Youth Training of Trainers (TOT) & Global Knowledge Transfer

Pillar Leader

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Amani binti Ahmad Tajuddin

UMMC / Primary Care Medicine

Activity Execution

20 Activities Completed

Progress Level 2 (250% Target)

Empowered Ambassadors

304 University Students

Actively organizing school outreach

Global Outreach

Republic of Maldives

Trained ~200 Students & Counselors

Published UM Press Modules:

Guidebook for HEBAT Training of Trainers Towards a Smoke-Free Malaysia
My HEBAT Mission Guidebook

Clearing the Air: Counseling Interventions for Anti-Vaping

Group Counseling Interventions & Psychological Refusal Strategies

Pillar Leader

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azmawaty binti Mohamad Nor

Faculty of Education / Registered Counselor

Partner Schools Network (1,066 Local Students):

MRSM Tun Ghafar Baba, Jasin Melaka 328 Students

SK Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor 249 Students

SMK Jalan Empat, Bandar Baru Bangi 200 Students

SMK Subang Jaya, Selangor 179 Students

Bukit Jalil Sports School, KL 110 Students

Psychological Counseling Empowerment:

Focuses on psychological safety, emotional regulation, and non-confrontational peer refusal skills without relying on fear-based messaging.

Special Media Feature

"Final Advice from a Chronic Vape User" – Expert commentary by UM Counseling Specialist in Malaya Newsroom.

Battling Tobacco Abuse: Performing Arts & Social Media

Combining Interactive Forum Theatre Drama & Digital Short Films

Pillar Leader

Dr. Shahnaz binti Mohd Baldev Shah

Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya

Volunteer Team

15 Master Trainers

Creative Arts, Medicine & USIM Students

Film Production

HEBAT Short Film

Filmed at UMMC & SMK Rantau Panjang

Target Schools

5 Target Secondary Schools

KL, Petaling Jaya & Cheras

Target Schools for Pillar III: SMK Bukit Bandaraya (KL), SMK Bandar Sunway (PJ), SMK Damansara Utama (PJ), SMK Alam Damai (Cheras), SMK Taman Medan (PJ).

Youth Awareness & Science

Debunking Vaping Myths with HEBAT

Click any myth below to uncover evidence-based health realities taught during HEBAT workshops.

Myth 1: "Vape is just flavored water vapor and completely harmless compared to cigarettes." +

Scientific Reality: Vape aerosols are not water vapor. Heating e-liquids produces toxic ultrafine particles, heavy metals (lead, nickel), and cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde and acrolein. Prolonged vaping causes EVALI (E-cigarette Associated Lung Injury) and chronic respiratory damage.

Myth 2: "Vaping helps students relieve academic stress and focus better." +

Scientific Reality: High nicotine levels in e-juices trigger rapid addiction, disrupting developing adolescent brains. While nicotine gives temporary artificial dopamine releases, the withdrawal cycle quickly causes heightened anxiety, depression, and attention deficits.

Myth 3: "If my friends vape, I have to try it to fit into our social group." +

Scientific Reality: HEBAT's counseling and forum drama training equips students with "assertive negotiation" skills. Youth ambassadors practice non-confrontational refusal techniques that allow them to stand firm against peer pressure without losing social respect or friendships.

Voices of Impact

Community & Ambassador Feedback

Reflections from school counselors, student leaders, and international partners.

“

"HEBAT gave our students the psychological safety and confidence to discuss peer pressure openly without fear of being penalized."

School Counselor

SMK Subang Jaya

“

"The forum theatre performance made us realize how vape marketing subtle tricks target youth. We learned how to say no confidently."

Form 4 Student Leader

MRSM Tun Ghafar Baba

“

"The cross-border knowledge transfer provided valuable tools for our counselors to implement tobacco-free education across schools in Maldives."

Ministry Official

Republic of Maldives

Visual Documentation

HEBAT Activities in Action

Capturing youth empowerment across training workshops, school counseling sessions, interactive forum drama, and international delegations.

Youth TOT Workshop

Training university student leaders in tobacco control advocacy and peer mentoring strategies.

School Group Counseling

Interactive anti-vaping refusal skill workshops in partner secondary schools.

Forum Theatre Drama

Creative arts drama performance engaging students on peer pressure resistance.

Republic of Maldives Session

Knowledge transfer workshop with Ministry of Education personnel and student leaders in Maldives.

Strategic Execution Matrix

HEBAT Strategic Action Framework

Strategic Component	Pillar Leader	Key Focus Area
HEBAT MAIN Flagship	Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin	Strategic Coordination & International Impact
Pillar I: Youth Advocacy	Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin	University TOT, UM Press Modules & Maldives Outreach
Pillar II: School Counseling	Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azmawaty Mohamad Nor	Anti-Vaping Group Counseling Across Partner Schools
Pillar III: Performing Arts & Media	Dr. Shahnaz Mohd Baldev Shah	Forum Theatre, Short Film & Social Media Campaigns