For refugee and stateless youth, access to education can mean much more than what happens in the classroom. It can create a pathway towards greater confidence, socio-economic stability, and the ability to shape their own futures.
That idea sits at the heart of Fugee Org, a Malaysia-based non-profit focused on improving life outcomes for refugees through education and opportunities beyond the classroom.
What began as tuition for four Somali siblings has since developed into an educational journey spanning primary school, higher education, and youth-led initiatives. To date, Fugee Org says its programmes have impacted more than 1,400 young people.
But perhaps the bigger story is what can happen when access to education develops into agency — when young people begin creating solutions not only for themselves, but for their communities.
Highlights
It Started With Four Somali Siblings
Fugee Org was founded by Deborah Henry, Miss World Malaysia 2007 and Miss Universe Malaysia 2011, after an encounter with four Somali siblings while she was filming a documentary with UNHCR.
Henry learned that the siblings did not have access to education and could not enrol in a national school. She began providing tuition, which eventually grew into Fugee School and later Fugee Org, with additional education programmes such as Fugee HiEd.
Today, Fugee School has educated more than 750 refugee and stateless students, including over 240 current students. Meanwhile, 87 higher education scholarships have been awarded through the Fugee HiEd Scholarship.
Fugee Org works alongside partners, local communities, and global organisations such as UNHCR as it seeks to bridge gaps in the Southeast Asian humanitarian landscape.
From primary school through higher education, it aims to provide young people with more than academic knowledge.
“Our vision is for every child and young person who goes through the Fugee system to achieve socio-economic stability, develop essential life skills, and aspire to shape their own future,” the organisation shared.
From a Classroom Project to a Globally Recognised Youth-Led Organisation
One example of that progression began inside a Fugee School classroom.
Project Stand Up started as a class project before growing into a refugee youth-led organisation focused on youth-led action and a community-driven approach.
The project went on to receive top honours in the 2017 Education in Emergencies Global Competition and, according to Fugee Org, has continued to gain international recognition for its work.
Its connection to Fugee has continued beyond the classroom, too. The Project Stand Up team includes Fugee School alumni and Fugee HiEd Scholarship recipients.
The project reflects the broader outcome Fugee Org hopes education can create: young people developing the confidence and skills to become agents of change within their own communities.
What Young Changemakers Need to Turn Ideas Into Action
For young people who are already developing ideas of their own, however, education and skills are only part of what it takes to turn those ideas into something tangible.
This is where Fugee Org sees an opportunity in Solve for Change. For Fugee Org, the next question is what happens when young people are given not only the skills to identify problems, but also the resources to act on their ideas
The organisation believes Solve for Change’s micro-grants and support could help driven young refugee students who are developing solutions for their communities turn their ideas into reality.
“The micro-grants will enable these youth to turn their visions into reality, creating leaders of tomorrow,” Fugee Org shared, adding that this aligns with its mission to empower young people to build “a future of dignity and purpose.”
The progression is significant. Young people who gain access to education can go on to become the ones identifying challenges, developing solutions, and creating opportunities for others.
Beyond Access — When Education Becomes Agency
Fugee Org’s story began with an immediate need: four children without access to education. Its work today points towards a much broader ambition.
Across Fugee School, higher education scholarships, and youth-led initiatives such as Project Stand Up, education becomes a starting point for young people to develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills to determine what comes next.
For those ready to turn their own ideas into solutions, opportunities such as Solve for Change could provide another step in that journey — from accessing opportunities to creating change within their communities.
And for young people considering whether to take that step, Fugee Org’s message is simple: “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there!”
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here.
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