Muadzam Shah, 24 Januari 2025 – MAJLIS APRESIASI KECEMERLANGAN PELAJAR ORANG ASLI (Orang Asli Student Excellence Appreciation Ceremony)
This special day brought together around 100 children and parents from Kampung Padang, Jabik, Jong, Serun, and Binjai, all gathered to celebrate the achievements of our Orang Asli students. The day was more than just a recognition of the students’ success but it was also a tribute to the dedication of the entire community and the incredible progress these students have made in their educational journey!
A serenade from the heart
The event started off with a heartfelt serenade, as students bravely performed on stage with the song ‘Kaulah Ibuku,’ a tribute to mothers.
The proud parents watching their children performing
How we’ve grown Since 2018
Looking back at last year, when we highlighted the challenges faced by children in small villages in accessing education, this year feels even more significant. If you missed the article, you can read it here.
This year, we’re celebrating another big step forward for our Education initiative.
The first-ever joint Appreciation Day is the evident to the strides we’ve made so far. Our journey began in 2018 with a focus on providing essential resources to a village. Yet, over time, we recognized that true transformation wasn’t just about meeting immediate needs it was about building stronger, more resilient communities. Eventually, we understood that lasting change comes when education, culture, and community come together.
This realization led to the creation of our Mobile School program, designed to bring education directly to children in remote areas. If you’re curious about how this initiative took shape, you can watch the video here.
As the Mobile School grew, so did our vision. We realized that education could do more than just teach. It should connect children to their roots, and foster their personal growth. This is how the Forest School was born. Today, our Forest School center in Binjai is a step forward in our ongoing effort to create more opportunities through the collaboration of community and education.
The day itself was extra special because our students were traveling from as far as Rompin to be with us. We arranged 2 buses, one picking up students from Padang, Serun, Jong, and Jabik, and another from Binjai. Some of the kids even arrived separately with their parents as early as 6 AM. Also the handmade photobooth made from Bamboo, featuring Polaroids that capture the students’ classroom activities, was crafted by the parents.
We were joined by some truly important people for the event, Mr. Inggil Ra, our Regional Representative from Korea, Mr. Hon Kai Ping, a representative from our Board of Directors, Ms Maloney Poon, the Country Director of Global Peace Foundation Indonesia, and of course, our very own CEO, Dr. Teh Su Thye.
17 Award categories were given out
A total of 17 awards were presented, including Best Attendance, Outstanding Individual Excellence, and special recognitions for the strength and character of each student. We also honored the dedication of community teachers, the inspiring parents who play a key role in their children’s success, and those who have been exceptional advocates for education.
Best Students Award for respective grades
Best Attendance Award (Grade 1-3)
Some of the Outstanding Individual Excellence Award categories
Inspiring Parents Award
Looking ahead
As we wrap up the afternoon, it all comes out on the fact that this day was a symbol of all the effort, time, dedication, and heart that has gone into these programs. We’ve come a long way since 2018, and though this is a big moment for us, we know it’s only the beginning.
We have a long way to go, but we’re on the right path.
With that, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors, ECM Libra Foundation and Melilea, for making our work possible!
Here at Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, we are driven by the firm belief that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to explore and reach their fullest potential.
This belief isn’t just a motto, it’s a commitment to action, a promise to each child we meet. Our approach is methodical yet filled with compassion. It’s through this dedicated effort that we can slowly transform the landscape of opportunity, ensuring that each young mind has the chance to blossom and contribute to their community’s growth.
One child, one village at a time.
Written by:
Sofia Aminudin
