 and Project R.ED, which are dedicated learning centres for refugee communities in Kuala Lumpur.){kind=link}
In conjunction with World Refugee Day, 42 Kuala Lumpur (42KL), a computer coding school supported by Sunway Group, successfully organised Code4TheFuture, a programme aimed at introducing coding and igniting digital curiosity among refugee students.
This programme by 42KL and Sunway Education Group brought together over 35 refugee students, aged 10 to 14 years old, from the Children’s Training Centre (CTC) and Project R.ED, which are dedicated learning centres for refugee communities in Kuala Lumpur.
In Malaysia, access to education for refugee children remains a significant challenge. Recent statistics indicate that only a small percentage of refugee children have access to formal education.
Recognising this pressing issue, Code4TheFuture is a pioneer programme that seeks to bridge the educational gap and empower refugee students with essential skills for the digital age.
“The programme is rooted in the philosophy of 42KL which is the unwavering belief that every student should have equal access to quality education, regardless of their background. By introducing coding through Scratch, an intuitive and visual programming language, we not only spark interest in young learners but also expose them to the world of tech. Furthermore, the programme fosters important soft skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity as well,” said Jeff Sandhu, the 42 Malaysia Chief Operation Officer.
Code4TheFuture took place at the 42KL campus in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, and it was guided by student volunteers from 42KL. Beyond learning the basics of coding, Code4TheFuture encouraged students to explore their own creative potential.
The young learners delved into Scratch and worked collaboratively with their peers to create story video animations following theme of Code4TheFuturewhere the learners imagine their ideal world called “Imagine a world where…”.
This programme is designed to provide learners with a platform to express their creativity and bring their ideas to life. Through designing their coding own projects, such as interactive stories, animations, and games, learners can explore their imagination, experiment with different concepts, and showcase their unique perspectives.
Scratch, as an open and freely accessible programming platform developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, allows students to continue their coding journey. It enables them to create interactive stories, animations, and games, fostering a continuous learning process that can be pursued independently.
“Our deepest gratitude goes to Sunway Education Group, our student volunteers, CTC and Project R.ED for their active involvement, which made Code4TheFuture a meaningful initiative. We intend to build upon this initiative, continuously refining our approach and expanding our efforts to reach more disadvantaged communities,” Jeff added.
Franklin Morais, the principal of CTC said, “We extend our gratitude to the dedicated team behind Code4TheFuture. Our students explored creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork in an exciting way through the initiative. We are proud to witness their growth and accomplishments as they develop basic coding skills and unleash their potential. We are always looking for partners who will work with us to empower the refugee community in any way to bring out their highest potential in any field”.
Hilda Paviter Kaur, the co-founder of Project R.ED said, “Code4TheFuture goes beyond teaching coding skills. It empowers them to develop critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy. On World Refugee Day, we celebrate the resilience and determination of the students, as we equip them with the character-building skills to be the best version of themselves”.
42KL is a free computer science school that welcomes all individuals regardless of socioeconomic background, academic qualifications, or prior coding skills. This initiative is further supported by a host of 13 industry partners including Sunway Group, who share the same mission of strengthening the national digital ambition. It is also a part of 42 Malaysia, a nation-building initiative between Sunway Education Group and Khazanah Nasional Berhad seeking to develop 10,000 skilled tech talents within the next 10 years.
CTC is a refugee community learning centre that is currently providing education to over 200 refugee children, mostly from Myanmar and Pakistan in Setapak. Project R.ED stands for Reimagine Education and it is a learning programme that offers weekly lessons centred around global subject themes designed to cultivate resilience, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence.