Last week, a small group of us visited the literacy centers set up by Goducate for poor children in Sabah.
We only managed to see only 5 of these 9 literacy centers due to time and logistical constraints (it was difficult to reach these centers, situated over mangrove swamp and out-of-the-way villages). Thankfully it was low tide with soggy and muddy ground and not high tide flooded with sea-water when we visited one of them. To reach another, we had to take a boat and walk on wobbly planks. Then to reach another, it was 30minutes walk from the road in heavy downpour, and some of us slipped and fell in the slippery mud! Pretty adventurous! But all’s well worth the “exercises”!
We had heard stories about these undocumented “refugees” from the Philippines who are needy. We had seen many photos of these children, most, if not all, cute and charming faces (most of the time, credits were given to the photographers and their awesome, expensive cameras!).
Little did we think of the warm smiles and sweet voices! Thus, when we met the children in person in these villages, and heard their cheery greetings “Good Morning Vistooors!!!”, my heart melted immediately!!!
When they queued and took turns to shake our hands, my heart was filled with love for them! When I saw their eagerness to learn, reciting alphabets & numerals loudly, writing each stroke seriously and carefully on the boards or their homework books, I felt their deep desire to be educated!
It’s great joy to see the faces of happy children@schools despite the basic infrastructure and hot/wet weather. Most of all, I see hope in their eyes as they are now able to learn ABCs and be educated and useful to the society.
There was no way for these children to go to school, but Goducate made it possible cos schools “went to them” instead!