Making New Friends....

Project MADE has a mission to assist the poor & the underprivileged regardless of race, religion, culture OR politcal beliefs. Our stables of families consisted of Indians, Malays, Chinese & Orang Asli. It has always been our wishes to assist fellow Immigrants who are in this country seeking refuge. 

Today - Thurs, 16/ 2/ 2012 - to our delight our wishes came thorough. Together with our Sister NGO 1M 1C,  PM visited The HELP Community in Kepong. The Help Community Learning Centre is an informal school for the Burmese Refugee Immigrant Children.

These children came to Malaysia with their parents. Their parents are either political refugees OR economic refugees. They have no intention of settling in Malaysia but treat Malaysia as their transit point before being placed in first world countries - eg. Australia, United States of America, Holland, Denmark, Finland, Germany. 

Upon arrival in Malaysia - they register themselves with the United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees, in KL. They will then be  they issued with a UNHCR Card. However, this is where the problems begin, Malaysia do NOT recognize these Immigrants since most of them entered Malaysia illegally - ie. without proper legal documentation. Malaysia also do not recognize the UNHCR Card, hence these immigrants are labelled as "illegal immigrants". 

Illegal immigrants have no rights under the Malaysian Law. They are not able to work legally. Their children are not entittled to an education neither are they entittled to medical treatment at the Hospitals. In a layman's term they are "stateless" and in a limbo.  

The saddest part is that the children are dragged into these miseries as well. HELP Community is just one of the many schools for the Burmese Refugees Children to gain some basic English education, in the hope of preparing themselves for their transit to a first world country.

When we arrived at 10:30 am - some of the smaller children were having a break time. They were given a few biscuits each. Even though they were poor, the children were willing to share whatever little bit of cookies with us. 

Check out the photos captured at the Centre:  

 Above: Numerous sandals of various patterns, colours & sizes greeted us at the entrance of the Centre. The numbers of sandals indicate the numbers of Children in the Centre. The Centre has 130 children who are between 5 yrs old to 16 yrs old. Those older would usually be forced to go out to work  and  earn a living to support their families.

Above: The smaller children in class. Check out the smiles this boy flashed. Its amazing to see the resilience potrayed by these children. They all have a "hard" life.

Above: The older children at their lesson. I even sat in & attended one of the classes. This girl above is my "Partrner" she shared her book with me. Lesson are conducted in English.

 Above: The Teacher - another immigrant....

 Above: Homework & Excercises

Above: A small fraction of the Mommies & Babies Group. We brought with us 15 cartons x 6 tins of Japlo Growing Up Milk Powder, 3 boxes of Maggie Mee & 3 boxes of biscuits for the babies & children at Help Community Learning Centre.


Thank you for making a difference to our Sponsors & Donors.