How Impian Malaysia's Camps Are Helping Rural Kids Realise The Power Of Education

Started in 2013 by the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Impian Malaysia is a local organisation that is dedicated to improve the lives of rural Malaysians, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

They have been doing a great many things to bring development to these communities by focusing on providing basic necessities, education and helping them to be more politically aware.

The five main changes are:

- Return Water Rights
- Light Up Their Nights
- Uplift Rural Economy
- Roads To A Better Future
- Education

From going through muddy roads to studying in dangerous school buildings, their daily struggles seem to be a never ending streak of underdevelopment.

While urban Malaysians complain about the lack of good Internet and efficient public transportation, rural Malaysians are still living in darkness without running water supply and electricity.

Photos and stories we see and read about these communities might seem a little far fetched, but the truth remains that they are indeed living in very poor conditions, almost like how the country was, about half a century ago.

1) Providing clean water to villagers with the gravity-fed water system. This innovative system uses the earth's gravity instead of pumps to move the water supply from one place to another.

2) Lighting up their lives by building pico and micro-hydro dams that uses a small amount of electricity to power up a number of fluorescent bulbs.

3) Building paved roads to replace muddy, uneven tracks so that people living in these villages can travel around easily, without risking their lives on a daily basis by trudging through muddy terrains and choppy streams.

4) Running health camps in different villages to help these communities get the medical care that they need and deserve.

5) Improve the lives of the younger generation, by running education camps that are aimed to instill love for learning and preach the importance of education to break away from the cycle of poverty.

It is a known fact that good education has the power to lift people from the depths of poverty and break the vicious cycle of sufferings that rural communities most often face.

The best thing about Impian Malaysia is that they work on long term developments like this that can help the young generation of natives and rural Malaysians find the balance between a decent life without forsaking their love for nature and living close to it.

The education camps are run by volunteers and facilitated by two or more representatives from Impian Malaysia, depending on the number of participants.

Impian has run their education camps in many villages in Sarawak, including Jelau Atas, in Betong, Kampung Sorak in Serian and Long Semadoh in Lawas, to name a few.

For a better insight on Impian Malaysia's experience of working with the children in Long Semadoh, Lawas, Sarawak, read below:

"They (the children) were an active and spirited bunch, as they responded enthusiastically to each and every story we told, or game we played. Their manners were highly commendable, as they would respectfully say 'thank you teacher' each time they receive something."

"At the end of the session, as we passed around registration forms for them to fill up for a possible education camp the next round, they fervently told us 'When is this next camp date, teacher? We hope to see you again soon!" Such a warm, fuzzy feeling to be hearing this from kids that we met just hours ago!" read a Facebook post by Impian Malaysia on 28 February.

Impian's next education camp will be held from 12th till 17 March in Skim B, Sibu, Sarawak.

If you are interested to embark on a life-altering experience, you can register with Impian Malaysia to help with any relevant programs that they are working on.