Several years have passed since Khairul, our co-founder was nominated for this award. His work with Iskul still makes a huge difference in the lives of the stateless children on Omadal.
Khairul is Iskul’s co-founder and pioneer Mastal Arikik. He was one of the first to teach the younger students. This formed the basis for our educational structure at Iskul. Not many young boys want to spend their free time after school teaching others. But, he picked up the role and continues to advocate for his community till today. He conducted the first trial class at 14, and committed to teaching on weekends.
After SPM, he stepped up as the Field Coordinator trainee. His background and experience provides insight to the Malaysian and stateless communities of Omadal Island.
He began training as the Field Coordinator in 2020. He is now in charge of Iskul’s meals and organising activities. He also acts as the key link with orang Kampung and external parties. Additionally, he is responsible for documenting Iskul’s activities.
Watch the video on his nomination below!
Fifteen-year-old Mohd Khairul Bin Atim was born in Pulau Omadal, Sabah. He spends his free time making sure that the Bajau Laut children in his village are capable of reading. He also ensures they can write.
He is one of 10 finalists of the inaugural Tuanku Bainun Young Changemakers Awards 2015.
In 2018, Iskul had the opportunity to bring on-board a full-time Field Coordinator, many thanks to the generous donors who have supported our #50forIskul fundraising campaign in the previous year. The Field Coordinator is expected to guide our Mastal Arikik, evaluate the teaching and learning experience, as well as to be entrusted as the guardian of Pondok Iskul.
We managed to get in touch with Aida, who was on board from mid-February 2018 to mid-January 2019. Due to local political conflict, Iskul was forced to let her go and fortunately, she is now serving in The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia.
The following is her sharing in Bahasa Malaysia, extracted from a brief conversation:
Apakah 3 perkara yang Aida belajar dari Iskul?
Pertama, saya dapat mempelajari dan memahami tanggungjawab dan tugas saya sebagai seorang penyelaras Iskul. Kedua, saya juga berpeluang untuk merancang pelbagai aktiviti yang menarik bersama rakan penyelaras dan Mastal Arikik. Akhir sekali, saya telah belajar menyelesaikan masalah-masalah dalam kelas, antara pelajar dan lain-lain tugasan yang diamanahkan. Pengalaman ini menjadikan saya lebih bijak dalam menguruskan tugasan yang diamanahkan bagi sesuatu pekerjaan.
Apakah 3 cabaran Aida sebagai Penyelaras Iskul?
Saya berpendapat yang utama, segelintir konflik yang wujud berkaitan dengan permasalahan peribadi atau dibawa oleh individu dan bersifat emosional, dan tidak mudah untuk didekati bagi mendapatkan penyelesaian jelas. Ketidaksefahaman dan kecaman orang kampung kerana saya menolong komuniti tanpa kewarganegaraan menyebabkan banyak tekanan kepada saya. Selain itu, saya berasa saya masih perlu membaiki pendekatan komunikasi saya.
Bagaimana Iskul telah membantu Aida bertambah menjadi lebih baik?
Menjawat peranan sebagai seorang penyelaras, nilai kepimpinan dapat dipupuk dalam diri saya. Selain itu, saya menjadi matang untuk berfikir dan mempunyai lebih banyak kesabaran dari pengalaman baik dan buruk yang saya alami semasa di Iskul. Tanggungjawab saya sebagai seorang penyelaras di Iskul telah memupuk nila berdikari dalam diri saya dan menjadikan saya seorang pemimpin yang berwibawa dan dihormati oleh pelajar-pelajar Iskul sehinggalah sekarang.
Apakah yang Aida paling rindu di Iskul?
Sepanjang perkhidmatan saya bersama Iskul, hubungan saya dengan pelajar-pelajar Iskul telah bertambah erat, kukuh dan bersatu. Kami akan saling menghormati.
Apakah pengalaman terindah Aida di Iskul?
Pengalaman terindah adalah masa Hari Sukaneka dan Majlis Anugerah Cemerlang akhir tahun 2018. Semasa aktiviti dijalankan, sebarang perselisihan faham dapat dielakkan dan suasana yang harmoni dapat dirasai. Saya juga dapat berkomunikasi dengan baik dengan peserta-peserta aktiviti.
Iskul would like to record our gratitude for her excellent service with Iskul and we wish her the very best in her endeavours. The students missed her around and Iskul’s door will always be open to welcome her back to contribute when she has the time to spare.
Iskul implemented the Mentor-Mentee program following the Strategic Planning Meeting in May 2018. Our Headmistress (Kak Roziah) and Field Coordinator, Aida meet with our ‘Mentor Pelajar’ (Mentor) to brainstorm how to kick-start the programme. This resulted in having four (4) Mentors to guide Level 1 and Level 2 (Pre-School levels) students from Monday to Wednesday in the Pondok Iskul for two hours daily. Each Mentor guides 3-4 students to revise lessons after the weekend classes. Mentors get an allowance of RM35 (for 3 days per week and 3 hours daily).
However, the journey met many bumps along the way. We faced challenges mainly from both mentors and students. Overall, we only managed to conduct 9 classes between June to July. Despite having agreed to teach during the initial meeting, Mentors were noncommittal throughout. Only two Mentors attended nearly half of the classes while one Mentor attended twice and another one, once. Therefore, our FC had to teach instead. The initial lukewarm responses was also a result of some students’ refusal to be taught by their friends. A few students prefer to be taught by either the Mastal Arikik (MA) or the Field Coordinator (FC). Students’ attendance was also poor, only less than 5 at the beginning.
The Mentor-Mentee program may be a helpful method to give both students and mentors more time to learn and practice writing. It may work in the formal school setting in the city but it did not work in our community possibly due to various reasons. Firstly, our students and mentors live in a different reality than students who attend formal school. They need to work to help support their family. One of our Mentor had to miss classes because he was away at sea fishing with his family. He only managed to teach twice out of the 9 classes. Another mentor was busy washing clothes at one of the Omadal resident’s house during at least two of the classes. Despite that, this particular Mentor managed to attend 4 classes. Secondly, during the high tide, some of our Mentors couldn’t find transport (sampan/wooden boat) to go to Pondok Iskul. Hence they had to miss the class. Finally, the Mentors were shy to teach and took some time to warm up to the idea of speaking in front of a group.
Despite the challenges, our 7th class and 8th class saw the attendance of 3 Mentors with at least 10 to 16 students. However, that did not last as the attendance dropped in the next class. Due to that, we decided to put this program on hold while we find ways to improve it.
The management team made the second visit for the year represented by Ee Chia. The visit while it was in conjunction with attendance to the invitation to the UNHCR Roundtable on Bajau Laut in Sabah in Sandakan. The brief 5-day visit from 5 – 9 August was also critical to follow-up on permissions from District Officer and Ketua Kampung to build Pondok Iskul on Omadal Island.
Dr Hj Chacho Bullah, Semporna District Officer has written a support letter for the construction of Pondok Iskul and recognising Iskul as a citizen initiative to provide basic education to the stateless Bajau Laut community residing at Omadal Island. The recognition provided us with the confidence to continue the project and injected a boost of faith that this initiative is a welcomed one. It was an important milestone marking the 2nd anniversary of Iskul.
Besides the meeting with the District Officer, Ee Chia also took time to provide a brief induction with Iskul first Field Coordinator – Roza, observed classes and conducted meeting with Headmistress, Mastal Arikik and students to find out challenges they still faces.
During this visit, it was also decided that a monthly allowance of RM 100 be provided to Headmistress, Pn Roziah for her management of Iskul operation base as well as a decision to increase the food budget from RM 1 per meal to RM 2 per meal for Iskul students.
