Malaysia is a Southeast Asian known for its beaches, rainforests, and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysia is also home to 177,000 asylum seekers and refugees, among its 31 million population.

There are over 30,000 Rohingya registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia; however, it is expected that there are around 100,000 Rohingya 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 families. This project seeks to provide education to Rohingya refugees by opening a school near the beneficiary families.

Islamic Relief has been working since 2005. Having helped over 450k in Malaysia. This program is an Alternative Learning Centre for refugees, particularly Rohingyas. Focusing on providing education and life skills to Rohingya children from ages 7 to17.

Volunteers will go on a 9-day journey engaging with the Rohingya and Malay communities to learn about their lives. The program will focus on giving an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by the refugee communities and the importance of helping them get access to quality education that fosters their success.

Volunteers will be teaching kids at Islamic Relief funded school for Rohingya. The primary activities will include:

• Activities focusing on team building and developing self-confidence
• STEM-based activities to challenge in a fun and engaging environment
• Excursions with students to explore the local community

Volunteers will also visit local Islamic Relief projects in the area, and interact with beneficiaries to hear their stories. Volunteers will also get a chance to explore Malaysia’s culture, natural beauty, and history during their visits to the Petronas Twin towers in KLCC, the gorgeous mosques of Putrajaya, and the hustle and bustle of Bukit Bintang.

All finalized applicants are required to raise a minimum of CAD 3,500 by August 1st, 2022. All the funds raised will be going towards Islamic Relief projects in Malaysia.  IRC will provide each volunteer with a fundraising session that includes tips on how to fundraise, how to engage your network, etc. Also, IRC will set up an online LaunchGood fundraising page for each volunteer to raise funds for their project.  

The Inspire program aims to give volunteers a unique and eye-opening experience, where they are able to immerse themselves in a completely different context than they are normally accustomed to. This program encompasses the “give and take” principle; it is an opportunity to both give back to vulnerable communities overseas whilst learning and growing skills in an enriching environment. After completing the program, letters of reference will be given out to participants upon request. Participants will also be encouraged to continue volunteering with IRC following the trip to continue their humanitarian efforts. 

IRC will cover your stay in Malaysia, including your accommodation, transportation, food, and scheduled sightseeing activities. Please note that flights are NOT included in this, thus the volunteer is responsible for purchasing their flights to and from Malaysia as well as mandatory health insurance. 

Once accepted into the program, all the volunteers are required to attend pre-departure classes that are held for 2-3 hours Bi-weekly. These classes will focus on the details required for the Field Study including fundraising, country profile, IR history, security in the field, activity planning, etc. These are mandatory!