Fugee, a refugee-led non-profit organisation, has launched, 'GED Course for Refugee Youth' – a fundraising initiative to empower refugees through education.
The campaign aims to raise a total of RM26,500 to help refugee students complete their General Education Diploma (GED), as it looks to address the serious concern of further education for refugees with only 16% of refugee children enrolled in secondary education and less than 1% in universities.
“At Fugee we wholeheartedly believe that the key to brighter futures for refugee children is education. However, in their circumstance this is a lot easier said than done. With the limited education options available to them – the GED is the most realistic shot at success that they have but it is a costly one,” said Deborah Priya Henry, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Fugee.
The GED is a viable alternative for students who are 18-years-old and over to certify their completion of secondary education and facilitate their access to university.
It is an upper-secondary certificate equivalent to A-level accepted by nearly all universities in the U.S. and many across the world.
“2020 has been tough on all of us but it has been especially difficult for the refugees here – particularly the children. Their limited freedoms and rights were further eroded by the pandemic but now we hope to turn things around. I believe in the giving nature of Malaysians and believe we can come together to support these children in achieving their dreams,” Deborah added.
The GED Course for Refugee Youth initiative is being driven under the newly formed Fugee Youth Academy – a subsidiary under Fugee Organisation.
Since its establishment in 2009, Fugee School – the education arm of the organisation, has helped educate and empower 500 refugee students and is looking to help these students taking their education even further through the GED.
Refugees in Malaysia are a group often overlooked by Malaysians.
For your information, there are actually some 178,450 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia, as of October 2020.
To donate towards the The GED Course for Refugee Youth initiative, click here.
by Kyle Roshen Jacob
