The Story
What do we know about this community? Rohingyas, a stateless ethnic minorities primarily from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, an Indo-Aryan ethnic group. They comprise the world’s largest stateless population, with over 1.3 million individuals displaced across South and Southeast Asia. As a Muslim minority group primarily originating from the Rakhine State of Myanmar, they have faced decades of systematic institutional discrimination, military crackdowns, death and a denial of citizenship. Forced to leave for their safety and becoming refugees.
According to the UNHCR data, about 64,000 refugee children have limited access to formal education or health care programs in Malaysia.
It was end of October 2022. I learned that there are around 250 Rohingya families live in Langkawi Island now, those who left their homes due to the crisis in Myanmar. I visited them for a few weeks, to learn more about this ethnic community. Their small learning centre was housing children from the ages of 5 to 12 years old, where most of them still do not speak, read or write properly.
They also do not spend time with the local community in fear of the authorities or of being discriminated. The current learning rooms were too small, broken down, dirty and uncomfortable. It did not feel like a healthy place for a child to learn. They did not have any social skills.
So we decided to rent bigger space and create a new learning place! To also bring more friends together, create social awareness and give them the education they deserve.
WHAT DO WE TEACH NOW?
We teach the kids creative and academic skills, with English and Malay languages, as most of them didn’t speak, read or write very well. The English language, social studies and creativity are vital for them to have a healthy social culture, lives or future resettlement.
Creativity, social skills, personal development and self awareness with a holistic teaching approach is our core syllabus.
We have religious studies as our first class each morning, as Islamic education plays an important role in their lives. They are also learning about Islamic history through art activities.
A total of 28 students are with us now, of mixed nationalities, with the youngest at ages to 6 to 8 years old are learning alphabets, language skills, lots of colouring and playing Lego together. The older kids from 9 to 14 years old are learning English, Science, Painting, Creative Arts, Social Skills and much more.
We also love doing art workshops with them, like making drawings! Social studies is vital too, as they are learning to clean after themselves, playing together, mainly a space where they can have fun learning, create and learn to be themselves. This happens more when there are volunteers teaching and helping out.
Here is our gallery with photo updates since the day we started. The last few photos are from the older learning centre, where we first started.
SPONSOR A Student for RM100 monthly!
Gift us an education. Get involve by sponsoring our student’s education. Your monthly contribution makes a big difference for us.
The TreeHouse Society
OUR NEW LEARNING SPACE NOW
Updated April 2024. The new learning space now is located in a beautiful local town called Ayer Hangat, Langkawi Island. Where there is a waterfall and nature close by. Which we call as The TreeHouse Society.
Our logo embodies. The spirit of a student, the fire of passion and the courage of a lion. The Tree Of Life.
It’s not just about creating a new learning space with basic needs, but to create a comfortable learning environment, with a holistic influence, creative workshops and supporting the local community. A space for all to come learn, create and sustain ideas.
“They shine, when we empower.”
What Do We Need Now?
Our vision now is to create a holistic learning spaces for all underprivileged children in Langkawi, with creative workshops, academic skills and empowering the creative Island community too.
For a start, to provide a comfortable learning space, we need funds for monthly expenses, up-keeping works, furniture, a running kitchen, office setup and basic learning equipments.
We are also looking for volunteers, for language classes, gardening, art workshops with creative materials, fun social studies and to start educational field trips.
If you have any relevant items, furniture, stationaries, plants or books to give away, please send us a message!
Where the funds will be used in coming months:
- Monthly rent and electricity cost.
- Teachers fees.
- Kids furniture and renovation.
- Workbooks and supplies.
- Teaching equipments.
- Fuel and field trips cost.
- Community support.
- Project management.
Ways To Support
This can only happen with your kind support, as the paper currency converts to a bigger purpose when used to empower marginalised communities and the awareness keeps their stories alive.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
or
Malaysian Bank Transfers:
Bank Name: Maybank
Social Enterprise : iMKIRAN Nation
Account Number : 514123632561
Swift Code: MBBEMYKL
LET’S CREATE SOME AWARENESS
Your shares and awareness is the source of our inspiration, this is where the connections happen.
1. SHARE this project to friends
2. Volunteer with us.
3. Partner with us.
4. Create activities with friends.
(Message us directly via social media or email[[email protected]] for any enquiries)
Follow The TreeHouse Society:
Updates on Facebook
Updates on Instagram
Note: This learning project is managed by iMKIRAN Nation, a registered enterprise in Malaysia.
View all the other social projects and photography stories created all across Asia with the support of friends and partners.
Love & Light,
Kiran Kreer