Provide Skills & Psychosocial Education to Kids From Low Income Groups

THE PROBLEM

Every child has their own innate abilities, but often they need someone to show them and teach them how to hone these abilities. Unequal distribution of resources means that high quality education is out of reach of the kids who really need it. These resources include tangible ones like training to hone their ability and develop their confidence. But also intangibles ones like exposure to varied perspectives or encouragement to develop growth mindset.

These deficits within low income communities in turn impact society in very substantive ways: the youth unemployment rate in 2018 is 10.9% compared to 3.4% for the general population. The causes cited are a lack of “soft skills” and the information and social networks required to secure employment, especially for youths from low income areas. Being unemployed for long periods while young, would have negative long term consequences on future income and employment prospects–all of which would impact the quality of life for this cohort for decades to come.

38% of children fall within the B40 group of households. In Kuala Lumpur alone, this means just under 50,000 primary school students are within this group that lack opportunities to hone their capacities.

THE SOLUTION

We Can Academy takes a "whole of child" approach to develop psychosocial and essential skills necessary for children to thrive. We bring a community of professionals from diverse industries to introduce their work to the students. Professionals like software engineers, economists, journalists etc teach students real life skills from their industries through highly interactive lessons. I work with these professionals to identify learning objectives and lesson plans that translate their experience and knowledge into material appropriate for kids at an upper primary school level. 

By the end of the program, children in the same cohort will be exposed to 16 different industries, giving them a diverse perspective on future careers. They also get exposure beyond what is provided by their social circles when they interact with a broad range of professionals who also act as role models for the students. Role models have been shown to be highly impactful in the exploration of and identification with a variety of career paths for youths.

Students are given the opportunity to build up their confidence through a scaffolded learning where they are allowed to explore, make mistakes, try again. They will learn to see challenges not as limitations but as an opportunity to learn and overcome.

By targeting students aged 10-12 years old, the intervention also reaches students at a time when they are curious and are developing their sense of confidence and self. Students learn to take on challenges not as limitations but as opportunities to learn and expand their capacities. Theories of childhood development show that positive reinforcement at this age will have an impact on the children for decades to come.

THE IMPACT

By equipping students from low income communities with life skills, confidence and network to pursue and secure work that are meaningful to them, it creates the space for these students to have better life outcomes, close the school-to-work gap among our youths, and enable them to carve a place in society where they can contribute in accordance with their interests and their capacities.

By targeting students aged 10-12 years old, the intervention also reaches students at a time when they are curious and are developing their sense of confidence and self. Students learn to take on challenges not as limitations but as opportunities to learn and expand their capacities. Theories of childhood development show that positive reinforcement at this age will have an impact on the children for decades to come.

Studies also show that role models provide important information to enable students to successfully pursue career options. The professionals in this program become role models for the students hence closing the social capital gap that is a major factor in youth unemployment.

The program has been running for over 20 years in Amsterdam and it has been shown that students who complete the program have higher confidence, better future perspectives and better connectedness to society.

Goal Breakdown

Goal 1 - Salary for 1 Teacher. Amount Needed: MYR40,000.00

Goal 2 - Transportation for students. Amount Needed: MYR4,000.00

Goal 3 - Food for students. Amount Needed: MYR4,000.00

Goal 4 - Material for class. Amount Needed: MYR2,000.00

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