Based in our field office in Pahang, Sofia has been supporting our team with community and education projects on the ground with the Orang Asli communities. Read her article below as she shares her rewarding and eye-opening experience since joining us.

Growing up, I have always had a deep sense of interest in contributing and making a positive impact. Thus, before joining Global Peace, I constantly reiterated to myself that I wanted to pursue an internship that would resonate with me and enable me to grow personally and professionally.

I came across the Global Peace website as I was searching for local NGOs to get to know more about what their goals are. My initial attraction to Global Peace was their washroom building project. As I delved deeper into their website, stories, newsletters, and YouTube videos, I was inspired by their other initiatives and became increasingly curious to learn more.

When I discovered the Community Advocacy Internship position, I was immediately drawn to it. As a major in Professional Communication with education as my elective, I wanted to utilize my skills to document Global Peace’s impact and gain a deeper understanding of their efforts to build cohesive and resilient communities.

As someone who loves writing and documenting, I viewed it as a challenging opportunity to communicate the plight of the Orang Asli people and become more aware of their challenges.

During my first month as an intern, I engaged with the communities through various programs and visits. I have also interacted with other NGOs, sponsors, and partners.

My tasks have included transcribing and translating, overseeing marketing video production, assisting with forest school module research, and joining the teams to cover their stories, interviews, and taking pictures.

I am grateful for the support I have received in projecting my skills and task interests while ensuring that they align with my roles and responsibilities. Through these experiences, I have learned the importance of adaptability and strong communication skills. It has been crucial for me to articulate my messages clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

All said and done, I am very excited to continue my journey with Global Peace and contribute to their effort to build resilient and cohesive Orang Asli communities.

Written by:

Sofia, Community Advocacy Intern

Watch Sofia’s weekly video reflection below:

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With opportunities to be involved in a diverse range of roles, interns are a crucial pillar of support to our work in building resilient and cohesive Orang Asli communities. If you are interested in embarking on a unique internship experience that will make a meaningful difference to communities around Malaysia, apply here!

The post Something From the Heart: Sofia’s Internship Experience appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

My point of realisation began as I joined Global Peace Foundation as an Associate Intern, where I was assigned at the Head Office. It was a fun experience and an eye-opening one as I was able to know more about Global Peace Foundation and their activities. I became more interested in the projects when I got to know about it on a deeper level.

I got the chance to attend a few ongoing projects during my internship. Through that, I explored parts of Malaysia that I had never been before and I also got to witness the life of Orang Asli where they have no access to basic needs such as clean water, education and more. 

Furthermore, I have learnt and am grateful for how privileged I am when I visited a few Orang Asli villages. I am glad that an NGO like Global Peace Foundation helps to address these issues and come out with effective and sustainable solutions for the Orang Asli. Some of the projects such as Communities Unite for Purewater (CUP) and Mobile School helps to combat the issues faced by Orang Asli communities. 

Under one of the CUP projects, I was assigned to assist the Field Officer in WaSH training where I demonstrated ways to correctly  wash hands to the Orang Asli children. Not only that, water filters were also distributed to Orang Asli since the water source at their village is not clear and not clean. At this point, I realised that I really took such basic things for granted at home and I felt sad and shocked to see that there are still people in this world that don’t even get that. 

The other opportunity that I got was to contribute to the Mobile School project. I was delighted to carry out activities and lessons for the students in Kg. Binjai. They were so interested and excited for the lessons every time we had classes with them. I had a really fun time with them. I even got the chance to organise a camp for the students with the Field Officers. The one-day camp was a success and everyone had a blast learning and making new friends.

Moreover, I got the chance to visit a few other Orang Asli villages such as Kg. Bukit Biru and Kg. Batu Putih nearby Muadzam Shah, Pahang. One of the things that I enjoyed the most there was the bountiful nature – it was truly beautiful and peaceful. I enjoyed that very much!

I also got to do some nursery work at Kg. Bukit Biru. It was exciting to do something new in nature. The Orang Asli villagers were friendly while guiding me and I managed to plant some seedlings at their farm plot.

Overall, I’m more than satisfied that I learnt many things during my two and a half month internship at Global Peace, which is definitely too short. If I could extend my internship, I would like to be involved in more activities with the children in the Orang Asli villages.

Written by:

Rupinii Vicneswaran

Associate Intern

The post An Eye-Opening Exposure appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

Throughout my existence, I have never given much thought of the Orang Asli. Maybe I am too comfortable with living a privileged lifestyle to the extent that I didn’t have to think about it. 

Throughout my first few weeks of internship, I had little to no expectations towards the Orang Asli community and I was only able to learn of the community and their issues through videos, pictures and reports. All I could conclude was that there’s no way they are still living in conditions that lacked basic necessities. It’s the 21st century! With a lot of NGOs and aid from the government to help them, how are they still living in traditional wooden houses? How ignorant, selfish and inhumane of me to think as such. I did not understand much about the community until the day I finally had the chance to experience it in Muadzam Shah, Pahang.

The bumpy journey into the village was both thrilling and nauseating at the same time. Arriving at the first village, I let out a small, almost silent “Woah”.

My thoughts were unseemly fallacious because traditional wooden houses are actually cool! Views of the green, vast spaces between their houses felt utterly serene. Chaperoned by the sounds of birds and wind brushing through the trees, I felt at peace being away from the cacophony of the city- I guess it wasn’t so bad here after all. 

My first encounter with the Orang Asli villagers was decent and it was nice seeing them talking so passionately about farming and how they really wanted their plants to grow. They weren’t shy or afraid to ask for more knowledge in order to grow their plants. This has been one of the things that has left an impression on me towards the community. Although most of them are illiterate, it is still amazing to see the effort they put in to learn and have a better future in farming. If the Orang Asli can, what’s stopping us, the more privileged ones, to do better?

Rumah adat symbolizes the culture and history of the Orang Asli community. In every village I visited, each had their own unique architecture. Some are built with merely traditional bamboo and dried banana leaves, while some used wood from the forest. Each of the rumah adat was built with passion, respect and love towards their culture.

It was a very exciting feeling when I first stepped into the rumah adat. Of course a city girl like me would be scared that it’ll collapse but I put my trust in their hardworking hands that it is built with high safety precautions on a stable ground. Once the pandemic is over, I can vividly imagine the festivities that will be held over at the rumah adat- Kids running around, the men carrying out their work and the women chatting happily while peeling onions. Oh what a time to be alive to actually experience it!

Having to think back on my judgements towards the Orang Asli community utterly disgusts me. I am ashamed of myself for having thoughts as such and the trips to Muadzam Shah have opened my eyes to the resilience and beauty of the community. It’s true that it takes an experience to understand a certain situation. You wouldn’t know until you experience it yourself. 

3 months seems like a long time but God knows how fast it went by for me. If only I could extend my internship period at Global Peace, I would be the happiest to spend more time going into the villages of the Orang Asli in Pahang. I would love to get to know more of how things work in the village and would want to get a better understanding of what they’re going through daily so that it’ll help me to be more open minded towards their culture.  

The post My Rhapsodies of the Orang Asli appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

The Indigenous people, also known as Orang Asli, are considered to be the most vulnerable people worldwide; This is no exception in Malaysia. As an intern at Global Peace Foundation, I have witnessed parts of Malaysia where the Orang Asli live with little to no access to basic necessities such as clean water, electricity, education and more. This costs them a decent living and a hopeful future.

In the 21st century where the majority of people are benefiting from what the advanced world has to offer, the Orang Asli continue to suffer from the lack of recognition of their rights and livelihood. The segregation of Orang Asli communities leads to an invisibility towards the general public and therefore causes the concerns of the Orang Asli to be pushed aside and forgotten.

During the Movement Control Order (MCO), many Orang Asli families faced a multitude of challenges as many were unable to sell their produce (such as serai, petai, and rubber) and in consequence lost their income. This, compounded by their concerns over the unknown nature of the Covid-19 virus, led many to depend on temporary food relief or look for alternative sources of income by grabbing job opportunities in jungles and plantations, as reported by Aminah Farid.

To improve the livelihood of Orang Asli communities, Global Peace Foundation Malaysia has been working on many programmes that aims to address challenges of underserved communities. Our programmes strive to foster resilient Orang Asli communities by actively involving the community in decision-making to ensure a more sustainable impact.

An example is the Communities Unite for Purewater (CUP) program that focuses on providing Orang Asli communities with access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Under programs such as Born to Be, we strive to help children and youth realise their full potential and gain literacy and critical thinking skills.

My involvement in the Born to Be program, under guidance from Global Peace program officers, has given me the opportunity to see first-hand how the program has benefited the Orang Asli children and youth. Through play-based learning, focusing on building the children’s phonemic skills, we have collaborated with MyReaders, a non-profit organisation to reduce the illiteracy rate among the children and help the youth explore vocational opportunities outside of their comfort zone, especially during this challenging time.

Temporary Assistance is Not Enough

It is a known fact that the lack of proper access to basic necessities impacts one’s life greatly and Global Peace has highlighted this to be one of the main reasons why the Orang Asli villagers are trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty that repeats itself for generations. Even with the help of independent organizations to help improve the lives of the Orang Asli, no sustainable changes can be made without solid changes in government policies and law to acknowledge the rights of the Orang Asli community.

As mentioned in the journal written by Kamarulzaman & Osman on Educational Policy and Opportunities of Orang Asli: A Study on Indigineous People in Malaysia, the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 should be reviewed to allow for better planning of sustainable development programmes that will provide our indigenous communities’ access to proper housing, electricity, clean water supply and education. This change can give long term solutions to the existing issues and offer the Orang Asli community a brighter future for the upcoming generations. This is because the provision to proper education allows the Orang Asli to see beyond what they are accustomed to seeing and will thus allow them to pursue better living standards. 

The post Stopping the Poverty Cycle Amongst the Orang Asli Community appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

With my internship at Global Peace Foundation being my first official work experience in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector, I came in wanting to learn more about the process and planning behind the project implementation of an NGO.

Fortunately for me, I leave Global Peace Foundation gaining so much more than just that. 

I was attached to the UNDP All Lights Programme and this gave me the opportunity to do a wide array of work such as market research for various crops as well as Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) research and activity implementation.

During meetings in the office, I love how my opinions, questions and views were accepted. The flat structure in the company dynamics allowed for interns to generally do and learn more. 

Furthermore, instead of doing mere research or paperwork, the frequent trips to the Orang Asli villages enabled me to see firsthand the impact of the work done in the office as well as gain in depth knowledge on the issues faced by the Orang Asli community.

I loved how, as opposed to a mere superficial visit to each village, we had actually stayed over at a village and later continued to spend a significant amount of time in other villages. This enabled us to experience the effects of not having resources such as electricity and running water, as well as forge strong bonds with the villagers respectively. 

This initial trip was followed by fortnightly trips and a lot of reporting and research. Although tiring at times, it was made significantly more enjoyable by the full-time staff and interns at Global Peace Foundation. The staff at Global Peace Foundation are extremely warm and welcoming– weekly and farewell lunches for the interns are a norm here.

Some of the best memories I have in Global Peace Foundation are from the late night talks in the Pahang homestay, the long, bumpy car rides to the villages as well as the impromptu beach visit to see the sunset during a rather tiring trip. 

Ultimately, I leave Global Peace Foundation having learned way more than just project management skills and the contentious nature of indigenous land rights. I leave Global Peace Foundation as a far more sensitive and aware individual, having been introduced to a whole new world of selfless individuals who devote much time and energy in improving the lives of the Orang Asli community as well as the history, culture, traditions and plight of the Orang Asli community here in Malaysia.

If anyone is looking for an internship where they can step out of their comfort zone, learn more about and do more for a marginalised community and be valued as an intern, I highly recommend Global Peace Foundation Malaysia. 

Written by:

Kavina Rajendran

Associate Intern (July 2020-September 2020)

The post New Territories, Greater Heights appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

The bumpy, turbulent ride to Kampung Guntong Minum Cempedak was reminiscent of the roads to my grandmother’s village near Temerloh when I was a kid; rocky with a side of scenes you would not get in your everyday, metropolitan city. The crevices in the dirt roads and each subsequent bump brought a smile on my face, filling me with a sense of subtle excitement, as each village visited was a valuable eye-opener in the understanding of my ancestral roots. As an Orang Asli-Chinese mix, I considered myself to be aware of the problems faced by the Orang Asli (OA), simply by chatting up my relatives or by keeping tabs on mainstream media regarding the OA community. During the first of three trips to Pahang, I realized that my understanding was almost superficial, and that different villages faced their own unique obstacles. In my time at Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, I was so fortunate to have had the opportunity to gain a deeper insight on the struggle, the determination and the hopes and dreams of the Orang Asli people.

My parents had always tried to keep me grounded with regular visits to my grandmother’s humble abode at Kampung Embus (nearby Temerloh and Maran, Pahang), and growing up, the belief of never forgetting about my roots has been ingrained in my brain. It was through these visits over the years of my childhood that I observed positive growth around the village. Slowly but surely, the pebbled roads gave way to appropriate tarmac ones, utility poles were erected in a bid to light the night, and as I went through the stages of formal education in my life, my village-based cousins followed suit by enrolling at the nearest government school. The OA villages I visited in the Muadzam Shah area were missing the vital components of life (such as electricity, clean water, adequate housing and education) that I have grown accustomed to in the city and the few OA villages I had previously visited. Yet, despite their hardship and minimal resources, their ability to improvise and constantly tweak their living conditions with what they have was awe-inspiring.

Kampung Kaya’s community school. A rarity among OA villages

During my first visit to the OA villages, I witnessed how areas of Kampung Jong had a makeshift water delivery system in place made from deconstructed water containers and assorted piping, despite the lack of a proper water pump. During a separate trip where I was tasked with assisting in solar panels and pump installations under the CUP (Communities Unite for Purewater) project, I noticed this once again during one of our solar panel installations, where the villagers of Kampung Guntong Minum Cempedak had decided to use the remnants of an old house to accomodate the panels. Over at Kampung Terubing 2A, Pak Soh and his relatives all showcased absolute grit and sharpness in setting up the solar cage and pump. The list goes on and on. Time and time again, I marveled at the level of ingenuity they all displayed, but was also frustrated at the idea that they have the potential to achieve so much more if they had the basic necessity of clean water readily available. Even without a conventional education, these communities have essentially ‘MacGyvered’ their way into bearable living conditions, through pure wit and strenuous physical exertion. One has to wonder what they can accomplish if these villagers were cleared of socio-economic obstructions and given the same opportunities as all of us.

Terubing 2A and the attempts to submerge their solar cage/pump combo

Makeshift water delivery system at Kampung Jong

During the instances where I had to assist in the WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) training sessions, I saw first-hand how excitable OA communities were in proactively partaking in new learning experiences. When given time to socially warm-up, the villagers absorbed new knowledge with subtle wonder. It was during these WaSH sessions when I realized that these villagers had embodied the best of humanity. What made them distinctive from the rest of us was their understated tenacious mindset, forged from a lifetime of hardship, which is fused with a sense of resourcefulness born out of necessity. Yet, despite all the right conditions for them to be resentful of their situation and other people, a great deal of the OA communities we worked alongside were humble and wholesome people, who were at times not openly expressive with their emotions, but were always ready to lend a helping hand.

WaSH 3 nutrition workshop at Kampung Gayung

The Kampung Kaya community is into it! WaSH 3 nutrition workshop

Having a childhood overseas hindered my attachment to the ancestral roots that my parents had championed for in my life, and in hindsight, it was always a monumental task for them to remind me of my heritage, for which I am grateful for. Growing up, finding a sense of cultural identity and pride was always a difficult task for me. Coming out of high school however, I started to become more heavily intrigued at the prospect of gaining a deeper understanding of the legacy that came before me. During my trips to the OA villages of Muadzam Shah, I was exposed to a range of communities who displayed their heritage proudly, which had a profound impact on my own pride. Over at Kampung Belbas, I was taken aback by their beautiful main community ‘hall’, which was constructed entirely out of wood and nipah leaves as their roofing material. Being situated by the Pahang coast, the sea-breeze and sandy open area made for an idyllic sight, and was underlined by the easygoing, sociable demeanor of the villagers. As a testament to their heritage, the Belbas villagers hung around traditional handicraft inside their community ‘hall’ and actively created handicraft for other visitors as well.

Kampung Belbas’ beautiful community hall

Alongside Belbas, Kampung Teraling is a village I will not forget for a long time, due to their warm and animated residents. During my last trip with the Global Peace officers, I got the chance to witness a documentary filming regarding the plight of the Orang Asli, which took place at Teraling. It was a joy to watch how the villagers were so willing to tell their story, wear their hearts on their sleeves and talk about the struggle for a simple life. Seeing the beaming faces of these villagers had me filled with a sense of spirited pride, and will continue to inspire me in the future. During my time at Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, I was given the opportunity to dig a little deeper into my roots and expand my view on the plight of the Orang Asli. The villagers of the Muadzam Shah area have truly shown me qualities I would love to stand for in the future; their determination in every action they take, their hope in the hardest of times, and their humbleness. Having said that, I owe my gratitude to the Global Peace family for this opportunity, along with showing me the hard work it takes to cultivate change and to enjoy the process.

Written by
Nazrul Huzaimie Nazri

The post Dig a Little Deeper appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

Many people I know have been employed in several jobs while growing up ranging from waitressing at a restaurant to doing paid chores around the neighbourhood. However, I used to worm my way out of getting a summer or part-time job using the excuse, “I want to have a childhood…I’ll work when I am older…”. At the age of 21, I saw my friends’ resumes padded with jobs and internships making them more marketable. That was when I decided to be proactive and find an internship that was related to my course. After scouring the Internet, I found the website to Global Peace Foundation Malaysia. I decided to apply and fortunately was called for an interview.

My expectations were low due to my lack of experience but a couple of days later, I was offered the internship. I was consumed by a range of emotions from that of joy to fear as I did not know what to expect. I went in assuming I would just be doing paperwork, but that was the last thing I did. The tasks that were given to me by the end of my internship were along a wide spectrum. On one end of the spectrum I was asked to make calls and co-manage one of the new programmes, Outdoor Playtime, testing my organisational and managerial skills.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, I had to put on work gloves to cement the floor of a Community Centre and build a brick storeroom in an Orang Asli (OA) village (Kampung Batu Putih) in Pahang challenging my physical endurance. While that short stint was very laborious, I distinctly remember meeting three remarkably diligent OA children – Fia (14), Rosa (12), and An (10). During the construction, the adult OAs were not very keen on building the storeroom and cementing the floor of their Community Centre themselves, but these kids were more than willing to go the extra mile. When they saw me working on the storeroom myself, they extended a helping hand. This somehow spurred the adults to join in when they witnessed their children’s excitement and zeal to contribute to the community.  

Unlike most internships I have heard of, I found that the work done by Global Peace was very hands-on. One of the major projects is the Communities Unite for Purewater (CUP), which aims to provide clean water to OA villages that do not have clean water sources. I witnessed how the core Global Peace team would not only distribute the water filters, but also engage with the villagers to gain their trust. The team constantly exhibited passion in all the projects and programmes, which drove me to carry out my tasks sincerely.

The open-mindedness of the team to ideas and suggestions was another plus because it made the environment welcoming and safe. There was no clear demarcation of a superior and an inferior. Everyone was given a chance to voice out their opinions and feel free to communicate with one another. I am an introvert and I do not open-up unless I am comfortable and this usually takes a while but by the second week, I was at ease having grown a sense of familiarity with the people around me.

At Global Peace, I also learnt to enhance my skills by creating a platform to demonstrate my creative side. When I was assigned to create posts for social media i.e. posters and picture collages, I found myself taking initiative to produce more extensive creative content such as short videos. While for some this may not seem like a feat, to me it was. Again, I owe it to the work place environment for encouraging me to put my best foot forward. The constant words of encouragement from my supervisors and fellow peers, propelled me and the feedback given on my work was always constructive.

Each task required me to step out of my comfort zone and although that made me feel insecure at times, I managed to reap the benefits and add on to my skill set. I am proud of myself for the work I have accomplished and the people I met at Global Peace, especially among the fellow interns as I did not only make life-long friends but rather had formed a “family” among ourselves. I truly feel blessed that I was given the opportunity to contribute to society and be a part of an engaging and stimulating work force. I would not have traded it for anything else. Thank you Global Peace for making my journey memorable.

Written by
Reshna Reem Ganesan

Looking for an internship? Apply here.

The post A Series of Unexpected and Wonderful Experiences appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

One of the very fond memories I have of this experience is representing Global Peace at public events. Not only were those events a first hand experience in the corporate world, they were also very personal in their own way to me. Speaking on behalf of Global Peace to other companies and getting to explain the kind of charity work we do everyday was certainly a highlight of my internship. Did I not only have to garner the confidence to speak to industry professionals on spot, but I also had to upscale my social talents. By the end of those events, I discovered aspects about myself that I never knew existed before. I was never gonna be able to accomplish that if I did not feel the support of everyone around me. I knew that even if words failed me, my seniors at Global Peace would back me up at anytime. Therefore, I never felt any pressure on me, and was free to make mistakes and learn on the job.  

It is sad that my time in Global Peace has ended; however, unlike other organisations, Global Peace has a unique trait of keeping its old staff and interns close by. One can always come back as a volunteer or even make a casual visit and catch up with everyone at the office. The people in office are always welcoming, and love good company.

Finally, I am grateful to everyone for their kind support, and I am excited to enter the next chapter of my life, using all the knowledge and experience I have gained from Global Peace.  

Written by Iman Ashraf

Sports with orang asli youth in Ulu Geroh, Perak.

Dr. Teh presenting a token of appreciation.

Group photo with the Global Peace team.

Group photo in the office.

The post My Internship: Where You Feel at Home appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

If you’re looking for an internship that is hands-on, out of the ordinary, and meaningful, apply now!

We also have volunteer opportunities available, apply now!

Written by
Yong Joy Anne, Storyteller

The post [VIDEO] Meet our Interns! Guillaume & Alison appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.

The best part about this internship is the people I worked with. Laughters shared in the office and during lunch, learning about the world as we fellowship over meals and sometimes even debating on our beliefs and values. It is a blessing to see smiling faces as you walk in everyday. It gives you the feeling of home at work with your friends.

If you love occasional breaks from sitting in the office, then this is your place! I particularly love days when we are not working in the building. It gives me a break from staring at my screen for hours and a chance to get myself moving. One of my best experiences was visiting the orang asli villages. Watching the villagers happily living their lives even when facing hardships made me realise the importance of appreciating and treasuring the things I have.

Throughout my internship with Global Peace, I gained new perspectives in terms of writing. I am now more aware of the message I intend to communicate to the public and appealing to the public through the angle of my story. I am very fortunate to be able to gain skills and experience in social media handling. However, the most vital knowledge obtained from my time in Global Peace is self-discovery. I realised the importance of chasing my dreams no matter how difficult it may seem. This realisation came to me through the close relationships I share with my colleagues. Their advices sparked a light inside of me.

Being with a team that has the same vision as I do in changing the world and helping others is the greatest gift anyone could ask for.

Written by Alison Tan

Team lunch at The Teddy

Farewell party in the office

Trip to Kampung Ulu Geroh, Perak

Working in the office

Receiving a certificate for helping to organise the Transforming Education Summit 2018

The post My Internship: A Heartfelt Experience appeared first on Global Peace Foundation Malaysia.