Category: Malaysia

How time flies. Goducate’s first literacy center in Sabah celebrated its 4th anniversary last month. The day-long program included a variety of performances by different classes of songs, poems, and cultural and modern dances, a singing contest in which students and teachers participated (with teachers from other centers as judges), a beauty contest, and an afternoon packed with outdoor games (again with teachers and students participating). We were privileged to have a visitor from Singapore give an inspirational talk and be one of the judges.

Every year this center (the KSO center) has celebrated its anniversary without realizing its influence is on the other centers. At the time of KSO’s 4th anniversary, we had 25 Goducate Literacy Centers in Sabah. By now there are 27.

KSO is where many dreams have been moulded as both teachers and pupils have gained new perspectives on life. KSO has also been instrumental in the training of effective and efficient educators. It serves as a model center for the other Goducate centers.

Some 30 teachers have been through this center. Their contribution to the development and influence of KSO is immeasurable. Some of them have now taken on roles as trainers, supervisor, livelihood manager, and health worker. Some are still teaching in this center. Some are teaching in other centers. Many have to help out in newly opened centers. Some have found jobs (for example, as waitresses, hair stylists, housekeepers) but continue to teach some sessions at the literacy centers, in some cases literacy classes, in others livelihood training. Some have left the area, and have started literacy centers in their new locations. A few of them have been to other towns to help other organizations train their teachers.

When it comes to its facilities, this main center (or “mother-center”) has undergone many changes. At the start somebody’s living room was used as classroom. Then a one-classroom building was built. Now KSO has three classrooms (one of which is our audiovisual room) serving five teaching sessions a day. Two classrooms are used twice a day, and the audiovisual room once a day. There is also a livelihood-training area consisting of a mini-kitchen, a sewing area, and a hair salon. In addition KSO has a library and a playground, and it is the base of our mobile clinic.

KSO has reached this stage despite having to face many challenges, but these have led to a unity that has contributed to its development.

Goducate believes that learning should not be confined to the classroom. Here in the literacy centers in Sabah, despite our limited resources, skills, and manpower, we try our best to organize extra-curricular activities and competitions, to encourage the children to be active learners, to give the teachers the chance to enhance their creativity, and to build harmonious relationships with the local community.

For our 2nd English Week Celebration each center was free to arrange itss own program of group and individual presentations, interpretative reading contests for intermediate level students, spelling contests for levels 2 and 3, and a poem contest for level 1. Some centers also included cultural and modern dances as their special intermission numbers. At every center, the whole community, especially the students’ parents and relatives, got involved.

The plan to draw all the winners from each literacy center to compete for the finals at the main center probably contributed to the enthusiasm and excitement. But first we gathered all the teachers together to let them understand that the event should teach students and parents healthy competition and good sportsmanship.

What really amazed me most was to see the transformation in a little pupil, who during class would be sitting on the floor very quietly. During the competition, wearing shoes for the first time, he stood confidently and performed his best in front of many people. When he received much applause while holding a trophy and wearing a medal, I’m sure that this kid realized that there is a world outside his own village that he could enter and succeed in. This realization should help him to dream more and even to dream big.

The world that lies ahead for this generation of children is likely to be more competitive than the one we are in today. The children being served by the Goducate literacy centers in Sabah are at a particular disadvantage because they do not have access to state education. We hope that the little that we can offer them will be able to give them a chance to compete in the outside world.

A team of administrators and trainers from the Goducate Training Center (GTC), Iloilo, The Philippines, went to Sabah last month on a vision trip. Much had been heard about the Goducate work in Sabah, but so much more was seen.

The first kampong (village) that the GTC team visited was so obscure that it’s hard to believe a community lives there. The hike was challenging, but nonetheless the trip was fulfilling when we reached the Goducate Literacy Center there and interacted with the people. Since we went with the local Goducate health educator, and since two of our team had been trained as nurses, simple medical services were given. Many of the adults there are hypertensive, probably because of their high-salt diet. One teammate encouraged the people to eat raw Malunggay (moringa) leaves, which are very rich in nutrients. When she demonstrated to them how do-able it is, the look on their faces was something to behold.

More and more kampongs were visited, and the general impression that the team had was that all the pupils were so eager to learn. For these underprivileged children, learning is so valuable that even without tables and chairs and with very minimal space, they are happy to cram into a shanty that serves as classroom. The students were confident when they stood up to greet us with their “Good Morning Sir.. Good Morning Mam”. Their situation in life didn’t deter them from believing in themselves and having an appropriate self-concept. A big factor, I believe, is our literacy program. Knowing how to read, write, count, and speak English has done so much to boost their morale. Many of those who have already graduated from the program have chosen to remain and be volunteer teachers. That way they continue their learning, help the younger ones, and earn money at the same time.
Our team did not let pass the chance of conducting a one-day seminar. Around 35 teachers were gathered from the various literacy centers. Team-building games and activities were introduced for the teachers to use in their classes, as were songs about maths and science. The teachers participated very enthusiastically. Everyone also gave full attention to the inspiring lecture on “Attitude” and interacted with the speaker. A special session on personality development was given to the group of young teachers after the seminar.

This Sabah trip was an eye-opening experience. It introduced the GTC team to a population of needy people in Asia they were unfamiliar with. It will certainly help the GTC staff to tailor their training for those trainees who might be selected to help out in Sabah.

Guest writer Bel, Staff from Goducate Training Center