“But education, it can heal and can change the world.”

Ever since he was 16, Sadek has been volunteering his time to non-profit learning centres where he teaches young refugees how to read and write.

It was at this time that he met a student named Noorazizah, whose father had taken her out of school when she was just 14 and forced her to marry a 26-year-old man.

“She got married, had kids and then divorced at such a young age. Now she’s just sitting at home, aimless,” Sadek said.

Not wanting others to go through what Noorazizah experienced, Sadek set out on his mission to provide education to other refugees.

Having lived as a refugee in Malaysia for the past 16 years, Sadek was fortunate enough to be able to afford and receive an education as his mother was a businesswoman.

Sadek even had the chance to work on a movie set in Penang at the age of 16, as his fluency in English got him an acting and translating job on the set of the 2016 Hollywood blockbuster ‘Operation Mekong’.

There, Sadek witnessed the struggles of the uneducated.

“I met people who can’t speak English, read or write. It was very hard for them and they struggle a lot,” he said.

Early this month, Sadek signed a contract to rent an old kampung house in Bagan Dalam with the intention of transforming it into a learning centre for refugees.

“This isn’t just about Rohingyas,” said Sadek.

“It’s about refugees and how everyone can come and study – even those who don’t have money and can’t afford an education.”

On top of paying the monthly rent of RM450, Sadek was also tasked with the long-term costs that came with renovating the entire kampung house and its crumbling walls.

Thankfully, Sadek’s financial concerns were soon eased as a selfless family stepped in to help.

When Karen Chan, 42, and Daniel Chan, 52, first heard that a learning centre in Bagan Dalam was requesting stationery donations, the two teachers immediately reached out to Sadek to extend a helping hand.

Upon visiting the learning centre, however, they quickly realised that the decaying kampung house was in desperate need of more than just stationery.

“It was quite shocking when we saw it and there was an urgent need to make it a nicer place for the students,” said Karen.

“We wanted it to be comfortable for the students to study in, so we told Sadek not to worry about the renovation costs and that we would cover it.”

Karen and Daniel, who own a learning centre themselves, strongly resonate with Sadek’s cause as they too believe in the power of education and its ability to transform lives.

And so, on Jan 10, 2021, the life-changing project began and the whole Chan clan comprising Daniel, Karen, Karen’s sister Kerry and her husband King – alongside two family friends John and Evan – spent their entire Sunday renovating the kampung house.

“We have already fixed the walls as best as we could. Before that, it was all just rotten wood and we put in lights to brighten it up for the kids,” said Karen.

She added that friends and family also chipped in to cement the whole place and nearly RM5,000 was spent on electrical wiring, cementing and painting.

During FMT’s visit, a student named Nuruddien was present. According to Sadek, 15-year-old Nuruddien has never been to school and cannot spell his own name – something that Sadek aims to rectify in due course.

“Refugees’ lives are just about getting married, having kids, and then their lives end,” said Sadek sadly.

“But if they have an education, they can do something different.”

Besides wanting to help other Noorazizahs and Nuruddiens out there, Sadek’s quest for education is also driven by something personal and close to his heart.

“My mother passed away in 2016 and when she was still alive, she used to help out refugees in Malaysia and those in her motherland,” he explained.

“Seeing her give out clothes, food and even financial aid motivated me as I want to continue helping others just like she did.”

Being able to pursue his dream of teaching and continue his mother’s legacy mean the world to Sadek, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Daniel and Karen’s support.

But being teachers themselves, Karen and Daniel’s stance on education is a strong one. They believe that every child deserves an education as it is not a privilege but a need.

“If we educate the new generation, they don’t have to live the lives of previous ones and can lead a better life,” said Karen, who added that supporting Sadek was a very natural thing to do as he is “only 20 years old, but has a heart of gold”.

Once the Movement Control Order (MCO) ends, Sadek will be teaching classes from 7pm to 9pm. He is also currently on the lookout for volunteers who can commit their time to teach at the centre once a week.

As for Karen and Daniel, they will continue to focus on spreading awareness and hope through education via their Facebook page Eduhope, where they will post updates on any projects and progress. They aim to build at least one learning centre a year from now on.

Although 2021 was off to a rocky start, at least it brought Sadek, Karen and Daniel together for a cause larger than themselves.

Just as Karen said that “there is no end to giving”, there is certainly no end to education as well.

If you would like to volunteer as a teacher with Sadek at the learning centre, you can reach out to him at (013) 925-8519. On the other hand, if you would like to get involved in Karen and Daniel’s projects, visit their Facebook page Eduhope here for more information.