I had fun attending the classes and enjoy working with the course mate completing the project assigned.
Million thanks to the young lecturer - Mr. Eric Byan who always try his best to help us understand the nature of helping so as to prepare us for the volunteering work.
From what I observed, he is very into volunteering work and maybe overly committed into it, he is now still single at the age of 40+. But what the wrong with it? As long as he doesn't feel lonely, that's fine.
Can see that he is fully involve in volunteering work, and commit all his time for the students and guess what, ha had all the fun he is seeking for!
He is really funny, attractive, understanding and gentlemen enough for me to wonder why he is still single? Here, I would like to share some of his funny jokes:
Lesson 1: When you're down, u see everything as negative.
Good morning! (when somebody greet you). (you will tends to reply:) What's so great about the morning?
Lesson 2: The meanest ways to attack one's beauty.
You got the face that only your mother can love (ahahahahahahhaha!)
Okay, back to the topic. The major project of this subject is to visit the refugees with the purpose to asses their needs through interacting with them and come out with a mentoring program which serve the objective of helping them in accordance to their needs.
So, what is the meaning of refugees? are they the same as illegal workers here in Malaysia?
NO. Although both parties are commonly from middle east countries that probably bound to fall behind as compare to the development of Malaysia; but both are distinct in term of choices.
Migrants or illegal workers normally get to choose whether to come Malaysia for better living or back to their country whenever they wanted; but once refugees leave their country, they will never have even a chance return to their country as their country is no longer able to protect their rights.
Migrants or illegal workers such as house maid, legal migrants as well as illegal foreign workers are coming Malaysia seeking for a better living.
As compare to them, refugees are the one coming to Malaysia with no choice at all, led by few reasons. First, they flee from their country to seek for a safety country hoping for a mere protection. Their country maybe in war, father or boy in every family should be sent to be part of the army or the whole family will has to live in fear everyday.
Second possibility might be them got cheated by non-ethical agents to come here and forced to stay.
The common countries of refugees in Malaysia are Burma, Afghanistan and Iran.
However, Malaysia is not a listed countries that provide rights for the refugees to stay in here.
United Nation is among the NGOs that giving them an identity card in Malaysia and trying to protect their rights here. Students from Youth Work are given a rare permission by UN club to have a near interaction with refugees.
I met some of the children age between 6 to 13. They are extremely cute and even some of them had the features like Caucasian! Due to my personal preference (always attracted by hot guys), I selectively interact with some of the guys I think they are charming.
I had a football match with them although I have total no idea which goal to shoot (haha). They melted me by showing their gentlemen side when they borrow their shoes to me from preventing me spoil my lovely ballet shoes. They are so hot playing football with bare foot. HIM, the one i miss is a 13 years old Iranian (for your information, Iran is known as Persia) That's why I call him my Prince of Persia. hehe *blush*
After this visit, I totally change my opinion that I used to had on them. And I miss them... I wish to contribute even a little to fight for their human rights, or just assist them in their living. I wish to have a chance to go back to visit them, I wish to keep some pictures of them for my sweet memories. But I just can't, I have no transport to travel that far to Ampang, I am not allowed to take any photos with them in order to avoid putting them in danger by revealing their identity to the public.
Here I would like to share one of the reflection paper I wrote regarding the false believe I had on them before these. In this process, I changed, so as you can. Hopefully by a little experience and inner feelings that I've share, you can feel like what I felt and start to take a small step by changing your stereotyping on them.
To stay alive, to live a life
My extreme superficial thoughts had actually kept me away from knowing more about refugees. Before this, both refugees and foreign workers are indifferent to me. Both parties come here with the same purpose, for a better living, either successful or not.
In the lesson lectured by Ms. Shanti from UNHCR, here I get some basic knowledge regarding refugees. Normally, refugees do not get to choose, they flee from their country to seek for safety and hoping for a protection in other country; and some of them may cheated by irresponsible agents to come to here and forced to stay. After knowing their situation, here I come to empathy on them.
But when Ms. Shanti ‘yelling’ for the rights of refugees in Malaysia, I started to question: why should we give them the rights in Malaysia? Yes, they are helpless and yes, they flee to Malaysia hoping for some protection, but hey, Malaysia is not that strong enough to even take care of their local residences, why should we still have to care for others? A question from my friend interrupted my thinking. “Try to think if you are them, what you would do if you are in such a situation”. “I would rather stay and die in my own country” I answered without a second thought.
I keep that thought with me until I experience the similar situation by myself. Yesterday I involved in a minor car accident and chased by a taxi driver. To run away from him, I drive myself into an unknown place, get down from my car intended to run to some places with crowd, hoping for some protection, or at least to hide myself away from being seen by him. Luckily I found a ‘mamak’ stall and I take a seat which I think is invisible. I sat there for around half an hour with a glass of teh tarik, pray hard and shivers. But I feel safe at that time in that shelter, from the friendly smile of the waiters, and a greeting from one of the person in charge, from what I can recall.
After that incident, I have a mere understanding of feeling helpless especially in a place that is totally strange to one. Other than feeling glad from saving myself from the accident; I regret for what I have think so far on refugees and what I have said. I am selfish as a person. I am so engaged with myself and enjoy being in my comfort zone until I couldn’t share the privileges I have with others.
To write this reflection paper, I started to explore myself on this issue in Malaysia. Influx of foreigners has indirectly causes significant changes in Malaysia. Cheap labors have actually contributed in reducing the amount of local workers in Malaysia. Normally, foreign workers are hiring with the option of choosing for cheap payment labor and job involve in 3D, demeaning, dirty and dangerous. Nowadays, legal or illegal foreign workers are both the favorite of employers.
If refugees can hire legally in Malaysia, there will be imbalance amount of foreign and local workers in Malaysia. According to prime minister, nearly 3 million illegal foreigners get a job in Malaysia. Continuous influx of foreigners without any restriction has put the local worker in risk of losing job. There’s a saying. Greater amount of foreign workers will lead to greater suffer for local residence resulting from competing for the limited resources.
The influx of foreigners can be clearly seen around some cheap housing areas and surrounding public transport stations. To survive or live a life, they meet some friends and find their mates here in Malaysia, and some of them may start to strive for the same privilege as the local residences have it here, as far as they could. These are the phenomena commonly found in foreign workers. If refugees are allowed to come into Malaysia and find their work here legally, the same problems might occur and the problems will hence been doubled up.
Proper placement should be given to every refugee. If they are not given a job or they felt unsatisfied here, they may commit themselves in crime just to feed themselves. And if they are given legal permission to come into Malaysia and privilege to have education like normal residences, they may just be one of the Malaysian and indirectly, Malaysia may encourage more and more refugees to come over here.
Problems mentioned above may be some of the consideration of Malaysia not singing up as listed country for Convention and Protocol. UNHCR did a good job supporting people with needs, worldwide. By addressing their needs, I believe that UNHCR has solved some difficulties before some undesirable problems have actually occurred. From my personal point of view, refugees flee to Malaysia should have the rights to address their needs and given assistance in sending back to their home country; but not to encourage and support them to stay in Malaysia as an option.
yVonne
