Braving Rela just to go to school

Special report “I love to go to school but sometimes on the way, I bump into men in green uniforms and I have to hide from them.”

San Aung (left), a Kachin refugee in Malaysia, is only 10, but has already learnt to recognise the main threat to undocumented foreigners.

He animatedly explains his dread of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), who are tasked with checking if foreigners hold valid papers to be in the country.

Fellow-refugee Raymond, 15, told Malaysiakini that he tries not to show his fear when confronted by Rela personnel.

“Sometimes I work part time as a dish washer and I earn about RM 25 for six hours of work. Last weekend, I worked 15 hours and was paid RM40,” he said of his after-school activities.

Both boys attend the Kachin Refugee School, comprising children of refugees from Kachin state, in the north of Myanmar. Mainly Christians, they fled their predominantly Buddhist nation in the face of discrimination and persecution by the military junta.

The children experienced much hardship in Myanmar. Their journey to Malaysia was a long one involving 20 days of travel by car and boat and on foot. On arrival, they had to overcome the difficulties of resettlement, including discrimination.

The Kachin community runs the school, set up in 2007 by a refugee named Lulu who used her own savings. Two teachers initially taught the 15 students in premises located in the upper floor of a shophouse.

Today, with the help of various NGOs, churches and volunteers, the school has grown into a learning centre of respectable size and is one of the larger community-based schools, offering more facilities than others.

It is one of two centres educating a total of 207 children ranging in age from 3-18 years. There are 15 full-time teachers and a number of local and expatriate volunteers.

In one centre, the students are taught in a spacious hall rented from a church. They learn not only conventional subjects, but also music, art, social studies, life skills and health studies.

Grace (right), who has just taken over as principal from Lulu, had started out teaching English.

A kindergarten teacher, she said the school provides education as well as two meals a day to the students.

“We have to do everything ourselves – the cooking, caring and teaching of these students,” she said, explaining that most of the parents have no time to care for their children.

Some of the children require special attention because they are traumatised. One young student used to hide under a table and cry every time food was served, because this was an unfamiliar concept to him.

‘Humility and gratitude’

Belle Luer, a Malaysian volunteer, has been teaching the children life skills for the past two years. She also delivers motivational talks to empower them and instill self-confidence.

Her involvement began when she went to the school to hand over some donations of toys and clothes.

“I was very touched by their humility and gratitude. They did not fight (over the items or even begin) picking (out what they wanted),” she said.

“Rather, they waited for me to take out the items and then suggested who should receive it. I was very surprised because they were so willing to share with one another.

“At first I found that a lot of them lacked confidence and felt fear. But in my class I have tried to make the children feel special and unique.”

They certainly have come a long way, judging by their vivacity and smiling faces. They are eager and happy to meet new people.

During Malaysiakini’s visit, they played musical instruments and sang, displaying their talent and enjoyment in performing, despite a tinge of nervousness.

Belle (left) said more Malaysians would be willing to lend a helping hand if they understand the refugees’ plight. However, there is an underlying fear of getting into trouble with the law by becoming involved with ‘illegals’.

“My response is that I’m only providing education to children. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children are entitled to access to education.

“I would encourage the public to find out more about the refugees – why they came to Malaysia, what they are doing here – and if possible, lend a hand by providing money, food rations, volunteering time, or even just creating more awareness.

“Even if you just show up to sing and talk to them, they are happy for the interaction, as it makes them feel like they are accepted into the (Malaysian) community.”

Growing needs, limited resources

With the student population expanding, Grace said needs are growing as well – more books and food are required, which the school is hard-pressed to provide without resources.

Due to the shortage of funds, the teachers are paid RM250 – in a good month – and sometimes less. Several work at night in restaurants to add to their income.

Some children need transportation as they live a long distance from the school. And always, there is the worry over safety, given the possibility of raids by Rela.

“We operate from a church (hall here) because it is safer for us. But at our other centre, we do face the risk of being raided,” she said.

There have been times when teachers and students have been forced to stay in the school because the authorities were conducting raids nearby.

Asked about their dreams and aspirations, Raymond said he wants to go to Australia to pursue his education.

Bosco, 12, said: “God is first, helping people is second and I am third. So my wish is to be able to help people.”

He wants to be an engineer and to be able to provide food to poor children in Myanmar.

Joseph, 13, said he is very thankful to be able to stay in Malaysia and “I want to thank all the Malaysians for this”.