According to statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are 181,510 registered refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia as of the end of January. They hail from 50 different countries, with some 45,650 children below age 18. Undocumented refugees have not been accounted for.
For many of its students, the centre in Kepong provides them their very first exposure to school. According to Charwiki and United Hope founder Jennifer Friis, the excitement in their eyes is unmistakable as they wear their uniforms, carry their own exercise books, and learn from teachers who are not their parents or siblings.
“Family, community and education” sums up United Hope’s mission. “We have 97 children and five teachers, and we operate daily from 9am to 4.30pm. But a family doesn’t have off-hours. My phone buzzes from morning until night with messages from our different class groups,” Friis shares.
“Our teachers communicate non-stop with the older children and with the parents of the younger ones. We take an interest in them personally, and believe this close relationship helps them learn better.”
Their hope is for the children to achieve self-motivation and a love for learning. But there are challenges to be overcome, such as a lack of human resources to carry out further initiatives, as well as the need to expand the centre’s reach while maintaining privacy for the safety of the refugee community.
Another issue is space – there is a long waiting list of students, but the centre can only accommodate so many.
“Ideally we would expand and take up another lot, but this would require even more resources. It is heartbreaking to have to turn families away,” she says, adding that they plan on holding a fundraiser this year to help address this issue.
Recognising that systemic change happens gradually, what role does the government have in affecting positive change?
“The government has already made steps in the right direction by putting the elements of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention in place,” Friis reflects. “But civil society has to be progressive and proactive about facilitating these elements, which I think we are already doing.
“We can always do more while waiting for government will and processes to catch up. That’s why the role of the rakyat is crucial.”
One way to help is by taking an interest in the refugee community and volunteering in whatever capacity one is able. United Hope welcomes the public to make an appointment and observe at the centre, so they can determine how best to contribute their skills and talents.
“We hope more people will share their abilities, impart wisdom, and empower the young ones with knowledge,” she adds.
Hope, Faith and Ivory
Friis tells the story of Faith and Ivory (not their real names), two young children at United Hope who are under the care of their teenage siblings Melanie and James.
One day 16-year-old Melanie expressed her wish to study instead of having to work to support her siblings, and said she was guilty for not being able to provide them with basic necessities such as new clothes.
“Our teachers didn’t waste any time – they took the younger ones shopping for new clothes, and invited Melanie to participate in the class for an hour each morning before she left for work.”
Melanie is now studying as a Year 4 student and has made swift progress, while both of her younger siblings are also excelling in their studies.
Friis concludes: “Young people need love, attention and care to know they are valuable; and a community of children with a strong, positive sense of self is an investment into the future.
“The ultimate goal is for refugees to have their own voice in this country – we do not wish to represent them forever. They are far more qualified to represent themselves.”
For more information, to donate or to volunteer, check out United Hope’s website here.
Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer only to have circumstances mould him into a programmer in a past life. He has since moved on to write about consumer electronics and other topics. Check out his blog at manatau.com.