Introducing R.ED: Reimagine Education with us

Every child has the right to quality education, among other fundamental rights. However, refugee children are often denied such rights, affecting their need to prepare for an uncertain future.

In Malaysia, there are over 50,000 refugee children under the age of 18. As Malaysia is a non-signatory in the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, these children and youth cannot receive formal education at any level; instead, they only have access to informal education through community-based learning centres. Usually, these centres are supported by UNHCR and other UN agencies, but still, they lack the resources which affects the quality of education delivered.

The unknown nature of the future requires more than just textbooks and parroting after teachers, even more so for these refugee children who are living in volatile circumstances. The needs vary with each child. But what we know is that refugee children need a form of education that will equip them with the necessary skills to not just survive, but thrive in any uncertain future.

R.ED: Reimagine Education

And this is where R.ED comes in. R.ED stands for Reimagine Education, and that’s exactly what we are doing. We are taking advantage of the transformative power of education, moving beyond traditional classroom learning and fostering an environment where refugee children can learn, explore, build resilience, and become the best versions of themselves.

How Did It Begin?

R.ED was founded by Hilda Paviter, an educator at heart and in profession, and Aunger Aung, an advocate passionate in youth empowerment and a refugee herself. They first met through a short volunteering stint which developed into them talking, and then later, planning activities that incorporated different values to ensure a more valuable learning experience for the students.

Understanding the lack of access to quality education for refugee children, this passion developed into something even more solid – a whole programme that focuses on empowering children to thrive through alternative learning. After all, education isn't just about acquiring knowledge; it is about empowerment. It is the key that unlocks a world of possibilities, allowing children to navigate uncertainties and build a meaningful life. Since the very beginning of R.ED, we believe every child deserves this opportunity, regardless of their background.

Our Why - Mission & Vision

Our Vision- All children will be equipped with the values and skills to thrive in any uncertainty or journey they go through in order to be the best versions of themselves.

Our Mission - At R.ED, we aim to create a safe space of learning for children to give them the chance to learn, explore and thrive in a life of uncertainties.

We recognize that these children have experienced circumstances far from normalcy, often without the opportunity for a typical childhood or formal education.A safe space that allows them to share their ideas and ask questions without any judgement will create a more comfortable learning environment. With R.ED, the students will be learning more than academics, and it is important that the classroom environment facilitates learning that allows them to be lifelong learners.

Our Programmes & Core Values

Traditional classroom learning tends to focus on memorization and standardised tests, often neglecting the need for creativity and emotional intelligence for the students. R.ED’s dynamic learning programme features weekly classes centred around different subject themes while tailoring them to our core student values.

Student Values:

• Resilience - the ability to cope with stress and adversity.
  Our students will learn tohandle difficult situations and challenges, and to bounce back from setbacks or failures.
• Problem Solving skills - identify problems and come up with effective solutions.
  Our students will learn to think critically and creatively to find ways to overcome challenges.
• Emotional intelligence - regulate their emotions and behaviours effectively.
  Our students will learn to manage their own actions and reactions, even in stressful or challenging situations.

What's New?

The programme has gone through several updates since it first began. This is to ensure what we are delivering is suitable and beneficial for the students. Our first programme started with academic subjects, and in the following year, it transformed into adynamic course with 3 subject themes - English Communication, Sustainability Education and Entrepreneurship.

In 2024, as we move towards a school partnering model with refugee schools around Klang Valley, the programme has gone through an even bigger update. While our thematic class is still maintained (and renamed THRIVE), we now provide 3 more classes on coding, sports and sensorial education (CODE, PLAY and BLOOM)

Our Team

R.ED started off with 8 team members managing weekly classes for 30 students, ages 7-13. In 2024, R.ED has now grown into a dedicated team of 49 volunteers (including the 14 who form the core team) who recognized the value of our work and were eager to contribute their expertise and time. The team comprises individuals from diverse occupational backgrounds, including coding, marketing, education and full/part-time students pursuing their degrees and masters.

We also have a diverse range of nationalities including young refugees who wants to give back to their community. This diverse team enriches our approach to holistic learning and allows us to offer a wide range of skills and knowledge to support refugee education in Malaysia.

We are happy to work with partners and members, past and present, who share the same values and vision as R.ED to empower youth from marginalised communities. The truth is that we can’t do this alone. We know that an issue like this requires all hands on deck.
As we explore this wicked problem, we warmly invite you whether as a partner/champion/volunteer/funder, both past and present, who resonate with R.ED's mission to join us in Reimagining Education.