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I’m afraid they won’t enrol me; I want to go to school

In the village there was a story of this young fellow. The trained parents and teachers were collecting a contribution for the school house to be built in that particular place.

They went to the house of this 8 year old child and asked “where are your parents?” The kid told them “work” They told the kid about the contribution for their school house and for him to tell his parents about it.

Five minutes later this kid went to them running with one ringgit on his hand saying “teacher this is my contribution” so the teachers wrote the name that the family gave this amount. A man came and saw the list of names. He went to the parents because he knew them and they work on the same fast food store.

He asked the mother of this child “ how come you gave only 1 RM?” The mother went home angrily and ashamed, asking herself who gave this little amount. She talked to her son angrily, the son was crying saying “Mom, I gave my last ringgit that I kept for so long.. They teachers came here to ask for contribution and you were not here. I was afraid if I don’t give they won’t enroll me.. I want to go to school.” The mother and the teachers were touched to the willingness of this child to go to school. And this really blesses my heart.

Well, from the other side of the khampung I went back, of course in my little boat. It was 5:00 pm that I went out the Khampung because Auntie is calling me to go home. I will never forget this adventure.

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The poor children in Sabah

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Jean’s diary – a new village

I was in a bit of fear. I don’t know this man, I am alone, I need to ride in a boat to reach their khampung and the water is so black in all sense of the color wherein it was the drainage of all the waste of the factories around the area.. It was totally a mess what if I fall from the boat what will I do? Yet I go, with 2 trained parents; while I was in the middle of the river I screamed within myself.. Screaming without a voice because of fear that I will fall.

A good visit actually, It was another community of 20 to 25 houses.. and children who are willing to study. I saw some children I asked them “what is your name?”( in there native dialect) they just answered me the name that they are normally called. Then I ask “ how old are you?” every children has the same answer “ I don’t know”. It really crushed my heart..

But the man that brought me there was a blessing.. God uses this man – he was bitter that he had education because of what had happened to him for me to see that there are so many children who need help. It ended with him willingly enrolling his daughter and son into the new literacy center.

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Jean’s diary – a new literacy center

Wed, February 10,2010 – And so we went in again the next day, the school supplies that the sponsors gave to these children brought a smile on their faces. These children now had a hope to go to school and learn.. We were just near the new constructed building seeing the teachers to be with the parents carrying the bags that we brought to their place.. All are excited to have one bag of supplies.. Inside are 2 notebooks, a 10 colored crayons, 2 pencils, eraser, a coloring book, scissors, and the like.. thanks to the friends who are willing to help. The enrollees reached 240 children ages 5-18 years old.

Saturday that week, dated February 13, a day before Chinese new year.. I went there again.. this time I was with a friend but he left me alone because he need something to do.. I was there looking at the parents specially fathers who are working together to build the school house.. It was their joy to do the work because it is Chinese New Year and a holiday as well.

I was there standing all alone until I can’t stand anymore but to carry a post with teacher “S” to help the work. Until a man came to me and say.. “Teacher, I will never allow my children to go to school” then I ask “why uncle?”

He answered me bitterly “you see, I graduated Criminology in college already but where I am now? Still nothing to do with it. It will just give you frustrations just what had happened to me. I never worked in the course that I graduated.. Everything is just a waste!” then I told him “ Uncle, could it be possible that your calling is not a policeman but a teacher? Why won’t you try to teach your children.You know what it is better that your children know how to read and write so that no one will fool them.” Then the man thinks deeply and said, “Yah, teacher you are right. Come with me go to my Khampung.”

to be continued