In a small rented shop lot in Kuala Lumpur, thin curtains separate a single large room into makeshift classrooms. Faded posters of the English alphabet hang on the walls, and second-hand plastic chairs and tables are arranged in neat rows. On the floor, children sit cross-legged, writing carefully in exercise books that have been used and reused, each page precious.
This is one of the refugee learning centres in Malaysia, where children from Ahmadi refugee families, who have no right to attend public school, come to learn, dream, and feel like children again.
A Life Interrupted
For Ali, a 10-year-old Ahmadi refugee from Pakistan, this classroom is more than a place to learn—it is a place to heal.
Ali’s family fled Pakistan in 2018 after their home was attacked by a mob. His father, a tailor, was beaten for refusing to renounce his faith. They escaped at night, with Ali clutching his only school bag, filled with a few books he refused to leave behind.
In Pakistan, Ali loved going to school. “I wanted to be a doctor to help people,” he says, his eyes lighting up whenever he talks about his dream. But in Malaysia, Ali quickly learned that being a refugee meant living in the shadows.
Refugees in Malaysia cannot legally work, and children cannot attend public schools. For many families, the dream of education ends at the border, replaced by a daily struggle to survive. Ali spent his days inside a small room, afraid of being seen by neighbours who might report them, while his parents tried to find small cleaning or tailoring jobs to buy food.
“Why can’t I go to school like the other children?” Ali asked his mother every day, pointing out the window at uniformed Malaysian children walking to school. His mother, unable to answer, would turn away to hide her tears.
A Ray of Light
In 2019, a community elder told Ali’s mother about a refugee learning centre run by volunteers, including other refugees, where children could learn English, Mathematics, Science, and Urdu in a safe environment. It wasn’t a formal school, but it was a lifeline.
The learning centre was small, operating on donations and volunteer teachers. It could not afford buses, so Ali and his younger sister would walk 45 minutes each way, often under the scorching sun, carrying their shared exercise books in a plastic bag.
When Ali entered the learning centre for the first time, he saw other children like him, children who had been hiding, children who had dreams, children who wanted to learn. For the first time in months, he felt like he belonged somewhere.
“I was so happy when I saw the books and the teacher,” Ali says, smiling. “I love studying English and Science.”
The Struggles of Refugee Learning Centres
Refugee learning centres in Malaysia are under constant pressure:
✅ They have limited funding to pay rent and utilities.
✅ They often rely on second-hand furniture and donated books.
✅ They provide meals, but funds are often too low for daily lunches.
✅ They operate quietly, fearing raids or complaints.
✅ Teachers are often refugees themselves, struggling to survive.
Yet, these centres are vital for children like Ali, who would otherwise have no access to education for years.
During the pandemic, many centres closed temporarily due to movement restrictions, and children like Ali fell behind. The learning centre tried online classes, but most families could not afford stable internet or smartphones for learning.
When centres reopened, Ali returned eagerly, but the centre faced new challenges: higher rent, higher food prices, and more children needing education than they could handle.
Education Brings Hope
For Ali, education is not just about learning English or Mathematics. It is about hope. It is about believing that, despite being a refugee, he can still have dreams.
Ali’s mother says, “When he comes back from the centre, he tells me everything he learned that day. He helps his sister with her writing. It gives us hope that even if we are refugees, we can still live with dignity.”
A Typical Day at the Learning Centre
Ali wakes up early and helps his mother fetch water from the downstairs tap, as their room has no direct water supply. After a breakfast of tea and bread, he and his sister walk to the learning centre.
At 9:00 AM, classes begin with English, where children practice reading simple stories and learning new words. Later, they learn Mathematics, using shared workbooks, and Science, where they learn about plants, the human body, and the environment.
During lunch, the centre provides a simple meal of rice and vegetables if funding allows. For many children, this is the only proper meal they will have all day.
In the afternoon, they have art activities, Quran reading for those who wish, and sometimes storytelling sessions, where children share their dreams.
Ali always says the same thing: “I want to be a doctor so I can help sick people who cannot go to the hospital.”
The Impact of Your Support
RefugeeHelp.site, with donor support, helps refugee learning centres like the one Ali attends by:
✅ Providing monthly food support for children attending classes.
✅ Supplying notebooks, pencils, and school bags for children.
✅ Assisting with rent and utility bills to keep the centres running.
✅ Providing emergency medical assistance for students and families.
✅ Supporting volunteer teachers with small stipends for transportation and meals.
Why This Matters
Without refugee learning centres:
❌ Children like Ali would grow up illiterate, limiting their future.
❌ Families would lose hope, seeing no future for their children.
❌ Communities would face greater poverty and isolation.
But with education:
✅ Children gain confidence and skills for the future.
✅ Families feel hope and dignity.
✅ Communities stay connected and resilient.
The Long Road Ahead
Ali still dreams of becoming a doctor, but as a refugee, the road is long and uncertain. Without legal status, he cannot attend formal secondary school or university. His family prays for resettlement to a third country where he can pursue his education.
Until then, the learning centre is his lifeline.
🙏 How You Can Help
🌼 $20 can provide a month of notebooks and stationery for a child.
🌼 $40 can sponsor a month of simple meals for a student.
🌼 $100 can help pay rent for the learning centre, ensuring it stays open.
🌼 Any amount can help sustain refugee education and give hope.
❤️ Join Us in Educating Future Generations
By supporting refugee learning centres, you are not only giving children like Ali the chance to learn but also helping families maintain hope in the hardest of circumstances. Education is not a luxury; it is a necessity, a tool of empowerment, and a promise of a better future.
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela