UCSI’s "Leave No One Behind” Education project is a great initiative that allows youth from unprivileged backgrounds to develop their skills in various areas such as ICT, e-commerce, sustainable living, hospitality, peacebuilding, the English language and many more. This project does not only support their capacity and capability building, but also the growth of their well-being as well as social integration.

The Centre for Languages (CFL) has been supporting this project by conducting workshops and classes on various English modules since the programme just started in 2020. The first two batches were 7 refugee students from Ruth Education Centre, Mon Refugee Centre and El-Shaddai Learning Centre that took part in the 3-month Vocational Internship Programme (VIP). The programme was organised by UCSI Group SDG Secretariat Office and hosted by UCSI Living Lab and supported by its SDG partners. The youths received a scholarship from UCSI to join CFL’s foundational Cambridge English programme for International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

In early 2021, CFL continued to provide English lessons to the new VIP batch by offering its ‘Mind Your English’ module.  From August 2021 onwards, UCSI continued to partner with The Blue Ribbon Global, a stakeholder of the Regional Centre of Expertise Greater Kuala Lumpur, to support the implementation of this United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’ project aspiration under the name ‘Climate Action Incubator Programme’ or CAIP. There were 12 participants from five different countries including Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Yemen. The majority were studying in Alternative Learning Centres for refugees, as well as local schools and at home. Since it was a mixed-age group of students of 14 to 21 years old, the topics that were included were favourite places, food, music and movies. They were of the interest of this age group. The participants really enjoyed themselves conversing on these topics. The programme continues this February 2022, and 11 youths including refugees from Yemen, Iraq and Myanmar are taking part this time around. 

“I believe that educators and learning institutions are to support young people from disadvantaged background. This youth deserves to get access to quality education programmes that promote positive character values, relevant competencies and overall well-being as no one is to be left behind,” said Daria Morozova, Director of Centre for Languages at UCSI University.

Besides CFL, UCSI University’s Institute of Creative Arts and Design (ICAD) and Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management (FHTM) also contributed to this ‘Leave No One Behind’ project by offering some courses and workshops. The ‘Garden to Table’ module that FHTM offered for this ‘Leave No One Behind’ programme was acknowledged by the 2021 International Green Gown Awards by granting them the ‘Highly Commendable’ award for Benefitting Society category. This programme was also featured at Cambridge University’s Zero Waste festival 2020.

Some of the ‘Leave No One Behind’ participants that demonstrated preparedness for on-the-job training were recruited to intern by various UCSI’s subsidiaries and departments such as SDG Secretariat Office, Student Affairs and Alumni Department, Group Corporate Affairs, Group Logistic and Management Office, and Organic Farm. Moving forward, UCSI envisions that other faculties, departments and subsidiaries will take on active participation to live out the ‘Leave No One Behind’ corporate culture!

Reflections of a Refugee

Sundus Faress Al-Saquaf,from Yemen

How did you begin your journey with UCSI?

I was interested to learn about gardening and how to live a sustainable lifestyle. Also, to meet new people and contribute to the environment and community. Since I am a refugee myself, I wanted to support this programme that helps people like me to learn new skills, especially about the Sustainable Development Goals and more.

What is your ambition?

I am currently studying Associate's Degree in Health Science and I want to become someone associated with the medical industry. Most of my family members experience some kind of sickness and in Yemen, there are not many good doctors, so it affects the quality of health. This situation made me want to become the best doctor for my country and I would love to help the people.

What does this project mean to you?

In the programme that I am doing right now, the objective is to leave no one behind, to enhance the team’s resilience towards extreme climate change so regardless of where they come from or the status, we do welcome everyone to join so I am happy to be one of the coordinators for this programme and help others, which aligns to my objective as well.

What did you expect to learn from this project?

In the beginning, I hoped to learn new skills but the more I was involved with the projects, the more I learned things I never expected to learn and the more I contributed to the community. Essentially, communities that work together are stronger and can achieve things faster. Whatever we learn, we should contribute back to others. We should share our knowledge and learnings.

What is your advice for those who are interested to join the programme?

Give and take. If someone gives you an opportunity to learn, you always have to give back and contribute. We are at a young age, so we need to be open to learning new things. You will find a new passion and new interests by trying new things.

Htet Si thu (Leo),from Myanmar

How did you begin your journey with UCSI?

There was a virtual talk in my school and Ms Norani was one of the speakers. She interviewed me regarding community work and encouraged me to join the programme. After talking to her, the programme seemed interesting to me. Also, I wanted to meet more people and experience something more fun and beneficial than just staying at home.

What is your ambition?

I want to become a famous e-sport player, but that is just my dream and I am still chasing it. I would also like to be a chef, as my grandmother used to teach me how to cook since I was six years old. Of all the house chores, I love cooking!

What does this project mean to you?

It is not racist; it is not biased. Everyone is welcome to join. All kinds of people can come together and be part of this project.

What did you expect to learn from this project?

I also wanted to learn new skills, but I did not expect to learn something like gardening which I find cool, to be honest. They also teach us how to create and edit videos. I am happy to learn how to work as a team as I work with different types of people.

What is your advice for those who are interested to join the programme?

You need to sacrifice your time, be sincere and be willing to do this genuinely.