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ZOTUNG REFUGEE CATHOLIC LEARNING CENTRE
GET INVOLVED
There are many ways in which you can get involved with us.
what we need most are volunteerS to JOURNEY AND MENTOR OUR CHILDREN AS WE PREPARE THEM FOR ADULTHOOD ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
THESE INCLUDE ENGLISH, MATH, ARTS, MUSIC, SCIENCE, COMPUTER OR EVEN SKILLS SUCH AS SEWING AND BASIC HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS
WE APPRECIATE THAT TIME IS OFTEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE HENCE WE WELCOME commitmentS as LITTLE 1 hour A WEEK, 4 hours a month
ABOUT US
Malaysia is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and lacks a legislative and administrative framework to address refugee matters.
UNHCR
As all asylum-seekers and refugees are treated as irregular migrants, and in the absence of any substantive engagement by the authorities, UNHCR remains the principal actor in providing international protection for the community at large.
For more information go to :
ASYLUM-SEEKERS & REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA
The UNHCR estimates that there are over 150,00- asylum-seekers and refugees in Malaysia.
Their inability to work officially in Malaysia result in many working "under the radar" as casual workers accepting harsh working conditions (eg daily work with no off days) often for less than RM1,000 (approx US$250) a month.
Most end up in overcrowded living environments as multiple families live under the same roof, collectively contributing to rental payments and utility charges.
THE REFUGEE CHILD IN MALAYSIA
With low household incomes, government school unable to accept refugee children, private schools being beyond their means and limited number of quality free schools around, these refugee children are often left with little or no options.
Many children start working in their teenage years to support the family following their parent's footsteps of working "under the radar". With limited education and life skills, these children perpetuate the poverty cycle.
ZOTUNG REFUGEE CATHOLIC LEARNING CENTER "ZRCLC"
Set up in 2008, the Zotung Refugee Catholic Learning Center "ZRCLC" is a refugee community school run by the Zotung Refugee Catholic Community "ZRCC" based in Kuala Lumpur.
The aim is to provide a safe learning environment for Myanmar refugee children as their parents work for basic livelihood.
OUR MISSION
There are many reasons why people run away from their country. Essentially it all boils down to wanting a better life for themselves. Whatever the reasons, it is the children who ultimately suffer.
Our goal is to provide our children with basic education and life skills to prepare them for adulthood when they are resettled to their new adopted country organized by the UNHCR or if they are required to continue to wait in Malaysia of if they one day return to their country.
Life skills include the ability to engage in simple conversations and the ability to think for themselves. It involves discovering their in-built talents and pursuing their dreams.
OUR FINANCIALS
Parents contribute RM15 a month (approximately US$3.50) which provides their child(ren) a safe environment for learning between 10am - 3pm and one free meal at lunch. In 2016 we enrolled a total of 60 children between the ages of 3 to 15.
With no more than RM 900 a month in tuition fees, we depend heavily on the generosity of benefactors to help with our day to day operations such as rent, utilities, co-curricular activities, school uniforms, school stationery, school maintenance, textbooks, weekday lunch and stipends for our full-time volunteers.
With our limited financial resource to employ qualified teachers, it is the dedication and generosity of our full-time volunteers to provide basic education for our children.
Today the cost of running our school is approximately US$1.5 per day / per child
Photography by (C) Benjamin Khong 2016