Recognising that a lack of education would only lead him further astray, the couple decided to help. They re-enrolled him in school with the assistance of M Kayveas, former president of the People’s Progressive Party.
“True enough, he proved himself. He completed his Form Five. Today, he’s married and working as an architect,” Santhana told FMT Lifestyle about the young student.
The experience reinforced the couple’s belief in the life-changing power of education. Today, Santhana is the founder and Arnold the adviser of CLIA Education, a non-profit initiative established in 2022 to transform lives through education, especially among children in rural and underserved areas.
“With education, people can improve their lives. We want to see the cycle of poverty broken,” said Santhana, 54.
In May, CLIA Education started giving weekly English classes at SJK (Tamil) Ladang Coalfields in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.
“The sessions are held every Saturday for two hours, combining English lessons with character-building activities including interactive games and songs,” said Santhana, adding that meals are also provided to the students.
They aim to help the students, who are struggling with English proficiency, to communicate more effectively, improve their academic performance and boost their overall self-esteem.
A total of 67 primary school students currently attend these classes. They’re mostly underprivileged children who live in nearby estate communities.
The teaching team is made up of volunteers who are either professional educators or university and college graduates. Some are university students.
According to Santhana, the programme will be launched in SJK (Tamil) Kuang in Rawang in June, followed by SJK (Tamil) Ladang Selangor River, Bukit Rotan in July.
She added that they are seeking financial support to provide the students with meals, textbooks and teaching aids, as well as uniforms, school bags, stationery, shoes and socks.
They also hope to offer a token of appreciation, and cover the transportation costs of their volunteer teachers, many of whom travel from Sentul to the school.
Transportation is also a challenge for the students, especially those whose parents work on Saturdays. “If we could get two vans, it would be great,” said Santhana.
That’s not all CLIA Education does – they also have centres in Sentul, Selayang, Setia Alam and Bandar Seri Coalfields in the Klang Valley as well as in Pahang and Negeri Sembilan.
At these centres, free English, Mandarin, music and sports lessons are offered, with a strong focus on character building. They also provide counselling support for those who need it.
Additionally, they arrange placements for students in vocational schools to further develop their skills and improve their career prospects.
According to Arnold, most students at the centres come from B40 families. Many can barely afford necessities such as food, school supplies and healthcare. To support them, CLIA education also provides provisions to some.
“Despite these challenges, the children show strong eagerness to learn and grow,” added Santhana.
The couple also previously ran Help Ministry, an initiative that supports refugees and locals in need by providing them with provisions and other forms of assistance.
“A lot of our work was focused in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. There’s a vicious cycle among those in the lower-income bracket. The father may be irresponsible – drinking and some end up in prison,” said Arnold, 61.
“When the kids grow up, they tend to repeat the same pattern. They lose interest in studying after Form 3, don’t work, and get into smoking and drugs. So, the cycle keeps repeating,” he added.
Beyond education, the couple hopes to instil in their students a desire to excel. “Not just a mindset of ‘Let’s see what job I can get after studying’, but to have an aim and objective in their lives,” said Arnold.
“In the future, we hope to see them doing really well in their lives. That’s our goal,” he concluded.
To support the CLIA Education, donations can be made to:
Maybank Account: 514075618301 (City Tabernacle Kuala Lumpur)
Follow CLIA Education on Facebook or contact Arnold (016-292 0588)/ Santhana (012-264 4560)