Hope on the Shores of Langkawi: Rohingya Children Find Education and Healing

Langkawi, Malaysia – On a serene beach in Langkawi, a group of Rohingya refugee children are rediscovering joy, building sandcastles and playing by the waves. Supervised by Arafat Mohammad, these children, some born in Malaysia and others arriving after fleeing Myanmar, are overcoming past traumas through education and community.

Overcoming Trauma, Embracing Hope

Arafat Mohammad witnessed the initial fear of the sea among the children, a stark reminder of the perilous journeys their families endured. “The children used to be so frightened when they saw the sea. They always heard from their parents that the sea is perilous, the sea is where their relatives died during their boat journeys,” Arafat explained. “So the children have trauma. They believe that if they go to the beach, they will die. By coming here,I am trying to show them the beach is where they can play,and the sea is not only a place of death.”

A Teacher’s Journey from Myanmar to Malaysia

Arafat’s journey to Langkawi began in 2013, escaping the escalating violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar. He recounts the horrors he witnessed: “By 2012,the Burmese military had already set fire to many of the villages where Rohingya people lived. They were doing it systematically, what they called ‘cleansing the villages’,” he saeid. “people were so frightened. In front of our eyes, babies were killed. Women were raped.”

Targeted for assisting victims of sexual assault and reporting to NGOs, Arafat fled by boat. “The military surrounded my house, they took everything, even my books,” he said. Arriving in Malaysia, he felt compelled to restart his teaching career, addressing the educational void for Rohingya children.

Building a School, Building a Future

seeing the lack of educational opportunities, Arafat took initiative. “I called the parents and tried to convince them of the importance of education, and that it is a basic right for children. One by one,the children started to come to school,” he said. Today, he teaches 34 students, aged 5 to 12, supported by small parent fees and local NGOs.

• Curriculum: English, mathematics, social studies, and science.
• Life Skills: Hygiene, respect, and good manners.

Gratitude and Integration in Malaysia

arafat expresses immense gratitude for the shelter provided by Malaysia. “Malaysia has given us shelter. We are grateful to the Malaysian people. I appreciate that there are many different ethnicities in Malaysia, but here they respect, they don’t hate. I want the children to learn that too.”

Challenges and Resilience

Despite Malaysia not being a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Arafat’s school perseveres. Many parents struggle to pay school fees due to their informal work status as refugees. Arafat’s ideology remains steadfast. “I tell the parents: Don’t feel ashamed. Either way,the children should keep learning,whether they pay or not,” he said.

Arafat emphasizes the importance of literacy as a pathway to a better future. “Some of the children are already almost teenagers and they still cannot read because they have never studied before.I tell them, that’s OK, we will start with the alphabet, at the very beginning. If they can read and write, perhaps they can have a better future.”

A Call to Action

Arafat Mohammad’s dedication embodies the resilience of the Rohingya community and the transformative power of education. Learn how you can support refugee education initiatives and contribute to a brighter future for displaced children worldwide. Consider donating to organizations providing educational resources and support to refugee communities. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these vulnerable children.