When the Taliban banned women from attending secondary schools and universities in 2021, it was as if Afghanistan took a step back from progress, into history. The basic rights of Afghan women were violated, protests erupted and people started talking about the need for equitable education globally.
Education has played such a fundamental role in human society, that the United Nations General Assembly coined 24 January as the International Day of Education.
In celebration of “the role of education for peace and development”, this day serves as a reminder that the uphill fight for inclusive and equitable education is still a work in progress. Education is a human right, it provides enlightenment for all; education is a public good, it provides a lifeline for the poor; education is a public responsibility, it is the fuel that drives the progress of a country.
Yet, things are not all so rosy.
Globally, 244 million children and youth are not attending school and 771 million adults are illiterate to date, reflecting what seems to be countries’ lack of accessible, quality education.
“To invest in people, prioritise education.”
This is the theme for this year’s International Day of Education. It is an imperative call to world leaders to acknowledge the necessity of an educated population and to translate this understanding into plans for action to build enhanced education systems. Only then will countries be able to reduce poverty and unemployment while developing local talents to build an effective population.
As of 2021, Malaysia has a literacy rate of 95.71%1, with many of the poor and the indigenous community lacking access to education.
Here at Small Changes, we work towards bridging the education gap in Malaysia, in hopes of empowering the underprivileged through education. As long as one has a willing heart, one should be able to learn. As we commemorate International Day of Education today, here is a recap of our 2022 efforts towards bettering education in Malaysia.
- Project Beanstalk
Specially curated for orphaned children, Project Beanstalk reached out to 70 beneficiaries across two orphanages and a rehabilitation centre. By going through our various modules, our beneficiaries had greatly improved their financial literacy, understanding of mental health and English proficiency, which was the main aim of this project. A beneficiary from Raudhatul Al-Faeez in Gombak said that they were “given a safe space to practise [their] English without any prejudice.” The children were also taught mindfulness techniques and knowledge about future life planning, readying them to take on future challenges with composure.
- Aspire to Inspire
As of 2022, more than 180,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. We recognised the necessity to empower children with a refugee background through education; and this recognition blossomed into educational visits to the Somali Refugee Community Centre in Kuala Lumpur, where we conducted modules ranging from entrepreneurship to cultural development. Our 25 Somalian beneficiaries were able to gain insight into the diverse Malaysian culture and brush up on their English and Bahasa Melayu, while picking up the basics of small-scale entrepreneurship. Our self-development module also enabled them to gain self-confidence, an inherently essential ingredient for children staying in a foreign land.
- Seeds of Deeds
With the aim to reduce education inequality, we conducted four empowerment camps, reaching out to an incredible 180 beneficiaries from various backgrounds. By providing all our beneficiaries with a fair platform for education, this project was able to increase their English proficiency and mental health awareness. Besides gaining exposure into cybersecurity, our beneficiaries also learnt skills related to financial literacy and future planning.
“Many left for camps as strangers and returned as friends,” said a teacher representative from SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh, referring to the new-found “camaraderie” among students who took part in the camps.
A student from the same school commented, “I find myself wanting to better myself alongside my friends. Learning English is now so much more fun than before.” It is beyond heartwarming to see our beneficiaries leave the camps with not just information and knowledge, but with friendships and an enthusiasm towards learning.
- SC Belajar
An ideal education system develops students holistically; but like many other countries, Malaysia’s is still far from perfect. We identified knowledge gaps in the curriculum taught in schools and created modules touching on essential life skills aimed to complement the theoretical knowledge gained from formal lessons. Easily accessible through our Small Changes YouTube channel, the modules include mindfulness techniques, tips on saving money and self-defence skills. Other educational videos aim to raise awareness on mental health, Other educational videos aim to raise awareness on mental health, sexual harrasments, and scam alerts. We hope exposure to such skills will better equip students, not just for exams, but for life itself.
This International Day of Education, we celebrate the progress of our education system while pushing for more quality, equitable and accessible education. At Small Changes, we hope that the coming year will see more projects conducted to bring meaningful changes to students across Malaysia. Where there is a will to learn, there will always be a way.
Remember, stay curious.
