Ajar-Ajar Malaysia embarked on a journey of a noble cause, that is to teach the under-privileged students. The Non-Governmental Organisation was established two years ago, but its history within helping the less fortunate was since 2008, with its first centre opened in Penang.
Today, Ajar-Ajar has a total of eight tuition centres throughout Malaysia with one located in Kota Samarahan to cater for children from the Kuching and Samarahan division. The name itself is chosen as “Ajar” translates to English as ‘to teach’, hence Ajar-Ajar means ‘Mengajar and Belajar’ (Teach and Learn).
The NGO offers free tuition every Wednesday night from 7.30pm to 10pm for under-privileged children that falls under these categories: orphans with legal guardians, children of single parents, and the children whose family income is less than RM2,000 per month.
Speaking on the centre, East Malaysia Principal, Simon Teo, shared that the lessons are taught by volunteers mostly from University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), including some working adults, and it is a one-to-one lesson between the teachers and students, although Simon did mentioned that in Ajar-Ajar he prefers the volunteers to approach the students like how an older sibling would, instead of an educator.
“Over here it is not so much like teacher and student, but more like big brother/sister and children as we want to encourage the students to enjoy learning. If you force them to study, they will lose their interest,” Simon said.
The lessons, unlike the usuals, involve a two-way learning where the children learns from the volunteers, and the volunteers learns from the children.
Ajar-ajar provides these volunteers leadership and coaching skills prior to engaging them for the programme. By teaching voluntarily to the underprivileged children, volunteers are able to learn the ways to deals with all kinds of children, to be more patient and grateful, to practice giving without expecting any returns, to discover the values of life and so on.
With the main subject being the English language, the children attending the tuition lessons also goes through Character Education Initiatives (CEI) before the start of the class to encourage good behavioural between the attendees, and to reward on good behaviour.
Apart from free tuition lessons, Ajar-Ajar also organised ‘SMILE’, a community service programme to encourage university students to have a philanthropic heart, to participate in community service projects, and to have the volunteers on the field to see, feel and experience the “real world”.
The centre also conduct Youth Leadership Workshop on self-development, and motivational programmes whereby the volunteers would be able to gain confidence and self-actualisation to strive for their excellence during their contribution in Ajar-Ajar and even in their own daily lives.
Currently, this project is being conducted actively in Penang, Kampar, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Seremban, Batu Pahat, Sabah and Kuching with volunteers from various universities and colleges.
The organisation is funded by public donations, they are also seeking for donations in terms of story books, reference books, dictionaries, stationaries, board games, furnitures and others. Donations can be drop off at their centre 1st Floor, Sublot 51, ph 25 block 1, Desa Ilmu, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Simon also said that the centre is open for intake, and an interview will be conducted between parents and children before acceptance. Interested parents, or guardians can contact the centre at 014-6236296 or 014-2701003. Anyone would like to know more may search info via Facebook: Ajar Ajar UNIMAS Sarawak or website: www.AjarAjarMalaysia.org
