Storytelling-Based Character Education for Children at the Indonesian School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

Character education is a fundamental aspect of shaping children's moral, ethical, and social values, especially in a multicultural environment. This community service program is carried out at the Kuala Lumpur Indonesian School (SIKL) with the aim of fostering character development through storytelling methods combined with interactive activities. The activity was attended by approximately 27–30 students aged 6–12 from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Methods used include storytelling, discussion, role-playing, and creative expression to strengthen the internalization process of value. A participatory learning approach is applied, with emphasis on values of honesty, responsibility, empathy, and cooperation. The evaluation is conducted by qualitative methods through observation, input from teachers, and analysis of children's responses and creative work. The results of the implementation show that there is an increase in moral awareness, active participation, empathy, and students' prosocial behavior. Values are not only cognitively understood, but also reflected in everyday behavior, such as honesty, responsibility, and mutual help between friends. Although there are challenges in the form of time limitations and differences in student capture, storytelling methods have proven effective in character education. Therefore, this activity is recommended to be implemented continuously with the support of teachers and the use of more varied media.