The #mydigitalmaker bus is hitting the roads around Peninsular Malaysia to meet some 100 000 students in rural areas. Its aim is to spread awareness about the #mydigitalmaker initiative, which gives exposure to the youth about careers in this digitally connected era. This movement is a collaboration between the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and PINTAR Foundation, with support from the Education Ministry, where the focus is not only on digital content consumerism, but on digital-making as well.

The #mydigitalmaker bus will bring creative and fun-filled activities for the children, while at the same time, imparting knowledge of the digital world. First launched in August 2016, it wants to continuously promote an understanding of #mydigitalmaker and extend its outreach to students, teachers, parents and local communities in rural, suburban and underserved locations in Malaysia.

The bus is a mobile learning unit identified as “Kembara #mydigitalmaker Bersama PINTAR”. This year it rolled out in August, starting its tour around the rural areas of Kedah and is now in Perlis. Next in line are schools and housing areas in Penang and Perak.

The bus is equipped with digital maker tools and information about future jobs like app development, coding and programming, robotics, virtual reality, data analysis, creative animation, microcontrollers, and 3D modelling and printing, among others. These hands-on tools expose students, teachers, parents and local communities in Peninsular Malaysia to digital innovation.

MDEC Talent & Digital Entrepreneurship vice-president Sumitra Nair said there have been many success stories of students from rural areas who took part in this initiative. "For example, there are three students from SMK Luar Bandar Miri in Sarawak who invented a device to sort oil palm fruit according to colour. These students, who did not own a computer, would go to school an hour or two earlier each day to use their teacher’s computer to work on the programming for the device,” she said.

The highlight of #mydigitalmaker is the #mydigitalmaker Fair 2018, which will feature exciting workshops like how to make a drone, 3D printing, exhibitions and career talks for the future. It will be held at Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil on Sept 29 and 30.