Rebecca Heng, Community Advocacy Intern (Global and Gender Studies, Monash University)
My internship taught me a great deal about the Orang Asli community. While growing up I had limited knowledge and understanding of their way of life.Visiting the kampung and seeing their living conditions gave me a deeper understanding and helped me form a personal connection with the community.
My most cherished experience was the Born To Be program’s Nature Sports Day event, where I saw firsthand the happiness and satisfaction of the children participating in the activities. I also had the chance to immerse myself in the local culture and try unique local foods and activities.
The projects helped me to build self-confidence, giving me courage to take on new challenges, such as overcoming my fear of public speaking and the motivation to push myself beyond my comfort zone and improve my communication skills. I now have a more defined vision of my future career path and feel more confident about what I want to achieve.
Exposure to a different culture and lifestyle can be a healing and life-changing experience. If you are intrigued by the stories of the Orang Asli and wish to immerse yourself in their culture while also giving back, this program is a great option to explore.