Since I am in a closed country, the password is “Littlemiller”.
In Malaysia, I’ve been honored to teach in a refugee school. We worked in a nongovernmental school, since refugees aren’t allowed to attend public school. I knew that I was passionate about the refugee crisis and assisting in any way that I could, but I had no idea that my heart would be touched in the way that it has. The school consisted of mostly Rohingyas, but provides schooling for refugees from other surrounding countries. There is 157,580 refugees in Malaysia right now.
These are people, and their stories, that need to be heard.
The Rohingya people. Originally from Myanmar and had to flee because of religious persecution. The Rohingyas are considered to be one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. Their reality is said to be the fastest growing refugee crisis. Even in their own country they are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though their family lineage can be traced back to Myanmar in the 8th century. When the country’s troops, backed by the Buddhist mob, attacked their villages with fire, killing civilians, and raping their women/girls, they fled to surrounding countries, including Malaysia. Here, they are tolerated and given refugee status, yet not given the opportunity to have human rights. The children aren’t allowed to go to government-funded schools and the parents can’t work legally.
At the school, I made friends with a family of refugees from Pakistan. Their mom told me that, once escaping from the Taliban, her and her family came here. Even though she said that she’s scared to walk the streets because of the immigration police (most of the time, they’ll arrest refugees, make them pay a fine, and then release them), she said she’s happy that her family made it here safely.
Last week was her two children’s first day of school in 2 years. They’re so eager to learn and the kindest of little humans. They weren’t able to go to school because they couldn’t afford it, and they barely can now. Their father is considered a rich man, back in Pakistan, but the bank has locked all of their accounts. If he goes back to his country to retrieve his money, he’ll be killed upon arriving because they now know he has escaped with his family. From the little he has been able to work in Malaysia, he can barely pay for his kids to go to school and is already two months late on rent.
The father experienced three instances where his house was broken into and he was beaten, sometimes breaking his hands and beating his head. He said that was bearable for him, but once their kids were almost kidnapped, for the third time, they knew they had to escape quickly. They left everything behind.
Even in Malaysia, they’re in hiding. They’re now safe from the Taliban, but not from religious persecution. Their sect of Islam, Ahmadi, is hated by other Muslims. If their community were to find out, they’d be immediately thrown out or killed.
They’re waiting to receive their refugee status, but their first appointment is in January of 2020. They hope to receive status and move to the United States or England afterwards. They don’t care where, just a place where they know their kids will be safe.
Please make yourself aware to many family’s reality. They’re a family and want to keep their kids safe and give them a good life, just as anyone else would.
I’m in the process of helping their family out a little more. If you want to be a part of helping pay for a few month’s rent (just a little over $100 a month) or helping their kids go to school for a day (47 cents each for both of their kids), please let me know.
We can’t do everything, but we can do something.
