In September 2022 , I will be travelling to Malaysia to take part in a volunteer program where we will be working with Rohingya refugee children.

Why Malaysia?

Malaysia is home to 177,000 asylum seekers and refugees, amongst its 31 million population.

There are over 100,000 Rohingya refugees who are not registered within Malaysia. This means they have restricted access to many basic services, including education. Many refugee children have missed years of schooling which greatly impacts their own future and that of their family. This project seeks to provide education to Rohingya refugees.

What is this for?

The funds being raised will go towards the Rohingya Integrated School of Excellence (RISE) program. RISE is a weekday school that caters to children ages 6-16. As many of the children have missed out on education, RISE provides individualized attention necessary to fill in these gaps and has developed their own curriculum.

What will I be doing?

Over the duration of the field study, I will work with staff and children at RISE. Volunteers will learn and engage with the Rohingya and Malay community to learn about their stories. The program will focus on giving an in depth understanding of the challenges faced by the refugee communities and the importance of giving them an education and hope to succeed.

Volunteer Abroad Programs

Islamic Relief Canada’s Volunteer Abroad Programs are a unique way to contribute to some of IR Canada’s international projects. Prior to volunteering abroad, selected volunteers raise funds that go directly to the country they will be assisting with.

While on the field study, volunteers will be part of a collaborative program where they will take part in several activities, including peer-to-peer learning opportunities, food distributions, beneficiary home visits, and building refurbishment.  

This field study provides volunteers with the opportunity to see an existing IR Canada project, to contribute to the project through their fundraising efforts, and to positively interact with beneficiaries and project staff.

Islamic Relief - Malaysia

Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM) has been supporting Rohingya refugees in Malaysia since 2015 through the distribution of food packs and hygiene kits, along with the provision of shelter, health, and educational assistance. Islamic Relief Canada (IRC) has been a major supporter of IRM in their efforts to meet the needs of the many refugees in Malaysia, including the Rohingya refugees. Previous projects that IR Canada has financially supported alongside IRM have been a mobile clinic and a weekend school. 

RISE is a school that IRM developed for the sole purpose of providing Rohingya children with a safe place to study, play, and grow. As many of the students have had gaps in their education, this school caters to the individual needs of students and does not follow the typical Malaysian school curriculum. However, it teaches them a variety of subjects, such as Bahasa Malay, English, Science, and Mathematics, along with vocational skills training classes for the older students, such as sewing and baking.