Across Malaysia, thousands of families are being supported to build stronger, safer, and more nurturing relationships with their children through Naungan Kasih—a parenting programme delivered by Parenting for Lifelong Health.
With the support of The Human Safety Net, the programme is now scaling up its impact through a hybrid model that combines in-person engagement with digital support.
A hybrid approach to reach families where they are
Naungan Kasih blends personal connection with accessible technology to make parenting support more inclusive and scalable.
Parents begin their journey through in-person workshops led by trained preschool teachers. These sessions introduce key concepts such as positive parent–child interactions, learning through play, and setting meaningful developmental goals. Following this, families continue their journey through personalised sessions delivered via WhatsApp or other digital messaging platforms.
The programme is structured into modules, allowing parents to select specific goals and progress through guided weekly activities over a 10-week period. This flexible approach makes it easier for families to engage at their own pace while building practical, everyday parenting skills.
Embedding impact within national systems
A defining strength of Naungan Kasih is its integration into Malaysia’s public systems—ensuring long-term sustainability and national reach.
The programme is being embedded within KEMAS, the government department responsible for empowering rural and low-income communities through education and community development. Through a training-of-trainers model, preschool teachers are equipped to deliver the programme and support parents directly.
The initiative is delivered in collaboration with UNICEF Malaysia, the Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW), the Ministry of Rural Development, and leading academic partners including the University of Putra Malaysia and the University of Oxford.
From pilot to scale
The journey of Naungan Kasih in Malaysia began with a pilot phase between 2022 and 2024, supported by The Human Safety Net. Following its successful testing, the programme entered a full scale-up phase in 2024, backed by a three-year funding.
The geographical focus currently includes Selangor (Kuala Lumpur) and Negeri Sembilan, with plans for broader expansion.
Early results and long-term ambition
Following a successful pilot (2022–2024), The Human Safety Net is supporting the scale-up of the programme, now entering early implementation as trained educators begin engaging families.
Early results are promising:
- 6,500 caregivers and children reached
- 58% of parents report more quality time with their children
Naungan Kasih aims to reach over 72,000 parents and 86,000 children by 2027, helping prevent violence and promote positive parenting during the critical early years.