AIU’s AMSA HOPE Project brings education to 100 Rohingya refugee children
ALOR SETAR, 19 August 2025 – Project HOPE 2025, a community education initiative spearheaded by the Albukhary International University (AIU) Myanmar Students’ Association (AMSA), has reached the halfway point of its six-month cycle, marking steady progress in expanding access to education for Rohingya refugee children in northern Malaysia.
Launched in 2024, the project is now in its second year of operation and has grown into a structured weekend learning programme at Madrasah Tahfiz Md Noor, where nearly 100 children aged 3 to 14 are taught English, Mathematics, Science, and Computing. Divided into six levels according to their learning needs, the children benefit from tailored lessons that focus not only on literacy and numeracy but also on practical skills that build confidence and resilience.
This carefully designed structure is sustained by more than 50 Myanmar student volunteers from AIU, who serve on a rotational schedule to ensure continuity across classes. Each group is guided by a Head of Class responsible for preparing weekly lesson plans and mentoring fellow volunteers. With 24 out of 48 sessions already completed, the project has reached a meaningful halfway milestone, demonstrating the consistency and dedication of the student teams.
The programme is further strengthened through oversight by the School of Business and Social Sciences (SBSS) lecturers, Dr. Muath Khalil Amayreh and Madam Farah Miranda Valery Ellis Crooke, with support from the Australian NGO, Open Feed, represented by the President, Dr. Abdullah Sayyidd, and strategic guidance from Ms. Hla Theingi Win@Sharifah, AMSA’s advisor. Their combined contributions ensure that the project remains aligned with AIU’s 8-Hour Rule, which embeds community service into the university’s educational ethos.
Beyond its operational success, Project HOPE has also become a platform of empowerment. For many of the Rohingya children, these weekend classes represent their first structured encounter with education, offering them the chance to learn, discover, and imagine possibilities beyond their current circumstances. At the same time, AIU’s student volunteers find themselves equally transformed, developing leadership, empathy, and a sense of social responsibility that extends well beyond the classroom.
As Project HOPE moves into the second half of 2025, AIU takes pride in the perseverance of its students and partners who continue to uphold the university’s commitment to inclusive, community-driven education.
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