Hamsilran came up to Teacher B and said, Teacher so sorry I cannot be here on day of the guests’ visit. Why? Teacher B asked, she was banking on Hamsilran to be there – their group of young teens, mostly boys always give a very good dance number in each program we have. They train themselves, pick their own music and dance moves.
Hamsilran answered, you see, my new teacher asked me to represent our class in the school’s Drawing Contest. Wow, okay then. You give it your best shot okay? Teacher B replied. Hamsilran did not realize that Teacher B was overcome with emotion.
On our way home, she was holding back her tears but failed. She told me, she feel soooo proud. That Hamsilran came up, talked to her in fluent English and shared what he was up to. Hamsilran is one of our three kampong boys who were able to get admission to the town’s school for non-Malaysian just this January.
He is one of the thousands of kids who cannot read nor write two years ago when we started the literacy center. Since they do not have the proper documents and even when they finally do, school fees are beyond what they can afford , kids aging 4-15 years old like them grow up not knowing how to read and write.
to be continued