TWENTY-two-year old Siti Zubaidah has just picked up English, thanks to the Project Self-Help, which is a collaboration between HELP University and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).Siti, a Myanmar refugee who has been in Malaysia since 2008, is one of 92 students from the project’s first batch which was launched in September 2011. T
he young lady, who lives in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur, felt that the three-month English language programme had made her confident in the language.She can now write and read more confidently than she could ever do before the programme.
“I also liked my teachers. They taught like a friend. My favourite teacher is Miss Yee Li Lian. She was firm yet caring,” said Siti who moved from level four to level five during the three-month programme.
She has now moved on to skill-based classes that is also part of Project Self-Help and Siti has opted to learn culinary art.
The other choice is the basic of information technology and there are more options to come.
“I have a dream. I want to run a food business one day,” added Siti.
The Project Self-Help was envisioned with people like Siti on mind.
The on-going project would enable refugees to gain some skills that will help them to earn an income and live independently regardless of their circumstances, and provide them with dignity and self-respect.
HELP International Corporations corporate planning and investor relations executive director Adam Chan said there were 28,000 youth refugees in the country and most of them were from Myanmar.
He added that most did have some faith-based schools in their own communities here but it was not in a school environment and many of them had not been to a proper school.
Chan said the project’s English language training, which was more interactive by nature, had succeeded in helping the students, who were mostly between the ages of 16 and 20.
“They have improved their English and are more confident with others. Third party’s observation is that they are amazed at the students’ improvement. This has prompted other parents to also send their children,” explained Chan.
To ensure a low drop-out rate, every applicant is screened through an interview process which gives the project coordinators an opportunity to gauge the applicant’s proficiency level and dedication.
They are then given a test to be streamed into levels as there are four levels based on their English proficiency.
“The basic idea is to equip these refugee children with the English language and a basic skill so they can survive. It is a great tool for them when they are relocated to a third country,” added Chan.
The teachers for the programmes vary from volunteers, independent teachers to HELP university teachers.
“The teaching method is really up to the teachers although there is a syllabus. Some teachers use newspaper and magazine articles to teach, while some use audio help,” he said.
The project’s second batch of students start their classes in March.
Chan said funding for the project was raised from time to time. The estimated cost per student for a three-month course was RM500.
“Money is not so much for the lecturers but it’s more for the study materials,” he added.
To raise funds for the project, HELP University is presenting The Canticle Singers in a charity concert today and tomorrow at the university’s conference hall.
Titled Odds and Ends, the concert is an arrangement of solo duets and choral songs. Admission is by donation. Tickets for the public cost RM50 each.
For detail, contact 012-287 2686.
Source : TheStarOnline
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