A group of second-year master’s students from UKM's Graduate School of Business is actively engaged in the EduReach initiative, aiming to bring about a positive impact in the lives of Orang Asli students belonging to the Semelai tribe. The students at Sekolah Kebangsaan Iskandar in the remote area of Pos Iskandar in Bera, Pahang, are confronted with challenges such as a limited library with only 50 books for 200 students. Additionally, the library lacks tables and chairs, forcing those who visit to read while sitting on the floor. Beyond this, despite the students' notable sporting accomplishments, their sports equipment is in poor condition, and even the school's storage room requires repair.
The EduReach team aspires to transform the current challenging situation by fostering a more encouraging and enriching atmosphere for the students. "We are firm believers that every student should have the opportunity to excel in their studies. Hence, we are leveraging this platform to introduce enjoyable learning experiences for the Orang Asli students. Our overarching goal is to uplift the Orang Asli community in Pos Iskandar by nurturing the younger generation. Our mission is centered on enhancing the quality of education for the Orang Asli community", expressed Sangkarii Mahadevan, a member of EduReach.
The team has identified three primary pillars for their endeavour: enhancing the library, implementing digital and creative learning, and upgrading sports equipment. To accomplish this, EduReach aims to curate 1,000 non-academic books for students aged seven to 12 and raise RM100,000 to revamp the library into an engaging learning space. The allocated funds will be utilized to install an interactive smartboard, furnish comfortable seating with bean bags, and provide tables and chairs. Additionally, the team is actively addressing the sports requirements of the students by seeking support from sports retailers for new equipment and exploring the acquisition of second-hand sports equipment in good condition.
