KUALA LUMPUR: Heidy Quah was only 18 years old when she volunteered to teach English at the Chin Children’s Education Centre, a school for refugee children, while waiting for her college acceptance offers.
However, when she was informed that the school was closing down as they would no longer receive funds from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), she felt obliged to help them.
Together with her best friend Andrea Prisha, Quah started selling homemade cookies to raise funds. The two friends used social media to raise awareness on their cause and appeal for fund for the purpose.
Thanks to their hard work, they successfully raised enough money that could sustain the school for another six months.
Later, on Sept 3, 2012, the duo set up Refuge for The Refugees (RFTR) to further facilitate their cause.
Quah, now 23 years-old, said as the children could not attend formal school due to their refugee status, the establishment of RFTR was to help create awareness, particularly about the refugees’ children and their education.
“Education is crucial for every child. We have seen children who could not read and write, but now they can write essays.
“There were children who do not speak a word of English, but now able to teach at other refugee schools,” she said.
Now, RFTR supports 35 schools, 10 of which were established in Klang Valley and Penang while the remaining 25 schools are located in Myanmar, and cares for more than 2,000 refugee children.
Quah said the children taught her so much about humility, respect and being thankful for little things.
Her efforts have certainly not gone unrewarded. On June 29, Quah received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award from Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace.
She was the country’s sole recipient of the prestigious award, which recognises and celebrates young people who "had taken the initiative and the lead in their communities, using their skills to transform lives". The award recognises young leaders aged 18-29 from Commonwealth countries.