Abstract
At-risk youth living in orphanages face a critical need for structured psychosocial support and character development opportunities, as they often experience limited access to positive role models, low self-confidence, and restricted environments for developing moral and social competencies. Addressing this need is essential to support their psychosocial wellbeing and prepare them for future social integration. This community service program aimed to develop and implement an international collaborative character-building initiative designed to enhance self-confidence, moral awareness, resilience, and motivation among orphanage youth participants. The program was conducted at Rumah Seujahtera Aneuk Nanggroe (RSAN), Aceh Besar, involving 50 youth participants, through collaboration between Indonesian and Malaysian nursing institutions. Using a participatory and empowerment-based approach, the program included motivational sessions, character education workshops, and interactive group activities focusing on integrity, resilience, moral values, and self-efficacy. Data was collected through structured observation, participant reflections, and feedback to assess engagement and perceived outcomes. The results indicated observable improvements in participants’ confidence, willingness to express ideas, engagement in discussions, and awareness of moral and social values. These outcomes highlight the importance of providing structured, participatory, and supportive learning environments for vulnerable youth. The international collaboration also contributed to cross-cultural knowledge exchange and strengthened academic partnerships. This program demonstrates that an empowerment-based, internationally collaborative approach can serve as a relevant and contextually responsive strategy to address psychosocial and character development needs among at-risk youth in institutional care settings.