Our Story

About 250 Rohingya refugee families live in Langkawi Island now, those who left their homes due to the ongoing political crisis and genocide in Myanmar. Kiran visited the community in October 2022, their small make shift learning centre that was housing about 25 children from the ages of 5 to 12 years old.

According to the UNHCR data, about 45,000 refugee children do not have access to formal education or health care programs in Malaysia.

It felt like these children were forgotten by society. Their learning centre was run down, dirty and uncomfortable. It didn’t feel like a healthy place for a child to learn and grow. Refugee children in Malaysia cannot attend public schools due to their stateless status.

After a few months of knowing the children, Kiran decided to get more involved, it felt right, to find volunteers, raise funds and create this grassroots educational project! In hopes to bring more together and give them the education they deserve.

Hence the start of our new learning centre, The TreeHouse Society, a place for underprivileged and refugee children in Langkawi Island.

WHAT DO WE TEACH NOW?

We teach the kids academic skills, with Malay and English languages, as most of them don’t speak, read or write very well. The local languages are vital for them to have better lives within the local multiracial culture here.

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 22 students are with us now, with the youngest kids at ages to 6 to 8 years old are learning languages, writing skills and art classes. The older kids from 9 to 14 years old are already learning English, Math, Creative Arts and Holistic Skills.

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 the project.

SPONSOR A Student for US$10 monthly!

Get involve by sponsoring a refugee student’s education. Your monthly contribution makes a big difference for us.

The TreeHouse Society

Our new learning centre is now located in a quiet local town called Sungai Itau, Ayer Hangat, Langkawi Island. Where there is a waterfall, beaches and nature close by, which we visit during our field trips.

We are grateful to finally have found a comfortable space, two unit home-stays, that we converted into our learning centre, with three nicely painted classrooms, shared kitchen with murals, prayer space and art area.

Our vision is to create a creative learning space for all underprivileged children, art workshops for the youth and empowering a sustainable community. To all those who have been donating and contributing, the Langkawi community and friends around the world. We thank you with warm hugs!

Our appreciation to all our amazing teachers and volunteers, grassroots partners, who have been with us since, empowering our students and their educational needs. We hope to continue creating this awareness, support and sustainability.

Help us build a creative learning space. Donate to our on-going fundraising campaign!

educating children in langkawi island kansha life

(Artwork by Skaii De Vega, via The Kansha Life Space and Mural by UCSI university)

What Do We Need Now?

We are looking for teachers, volunteers, for language classes, workshops with creative materials, fun social studies and to start more field trips. So come visit us!

We also welcome contributions for our monthly running expenses like our rental cost, workbooks, art supplies, teachers salaries, field trips, repair works and teaching equipments.

As we are a publicly funded project, your kind support and contributions help us sustain this community base learning centre. We are truly grateful.

“They shine, when we empower.”

If you have any relevant items to give away, educational books, art supplies, stationaries, plants or even dry food for the families, please drop us a message!

Ways To Support Us

This can only happen with your actions, as the paper currency converts to a bigger purpose when used to empower marginalised children and the awareness keeps their stories alive.