The gift of a home
In giving kids a safe space, one woman hopes they can dream far beyond their own neighbourhood, writes Aznim Ruhana Md Yusup
WHEN I stepped into the first floor premises of Buku Jalanan Chow Kit (BJCK) in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, I thought it was a kind of transit centre for children to come after school.
Some 20 children — well-mannered if a bit shy — were there in school uniforms having lunch, working on their homework or talking to each other.
But most of them were actually stateless children of Indonesian descent who don’t have the required identification to go to school.
And while they don’t need to wear school uniforms to come here, they chose to do so as it makes them feel like other children their age.
“We had asked a private Indonesian school if they can enrol there,” says BJCK founder Siti Rahayu Baharin. “We were willing to pay the fees but they said they only take students whose parents are professionals.”
So Siti Rahayu is taking their education into her own hands. With tutoring by BJCK teachers, they learn to read and get a hang on subjects like Mathematics, English and Geography. One subject is called A Wonder A Day, where a student gets to research on any topic they’re curious about, then present the findings to the class.
It’s been going on since early this year and ultimately, she wants the students to sit for IGCSE, which at this point, is the only academic certificate available to them. Another option is vocational training, which will make them employable.
In the meantime, Siti Rahayu just wants them to know that they’re loved and cared for, and that they have a safe place with her and her team.
TALE OF TWO CITIES
Chow Kit has a reputation for being a seedy neighbourhood, though it’s been gentrified in recent years with new hotels, office blocks and malls. But the fruits of these development don’t seem to be trickling down to the people who live there. Many are in poverty, with entire families dwelling in a single room.
There’s a misconception that the people on the streets of Chow Kit are homeless and without jobs. But in many cases, it’s a matter of the adults not earning enough for a decent living while the children have nowhere else to go to escape their cramped quarters.
There are no parks, library or playground nearby. The closest public space — if you can call it that — is Quill City Mall, which doesn’t exactly cater to the income bracket of the people of Chow Kit, especially its young.
This is where BJCK comes in. While the stateless children attend their classes, the Malaysian children would come in after school. There are tables, chairs, sofas, beanbags and air-conditioning, not to mention banter and affection from the staff and volunteers. There’s a bathroom to shower in, plenty of books to read and there’s usually some food as well.
“It might not be a luxury for us, but it is for them,” says Siti Rahayu. “They don’t have this kind of thing in their own home. When you live in a small room with your family, there’s no question of having a sofa.
“So we want to provide things like that. We want to create an environment where they can see something outside of their surroundings. We don’t want to dream for the children but we want them to be inspired. We want to nurture them in such a way that they themselves might change the situation in Chow Kit.”
KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY
BJCK started literally on the streets — or rather off the street — three years ago. Along with her volunteers, Siti Rahayu would lay down mats in an empty space behind a shoplot, bringing with her books, torchlights and whiteboards and give classes to local children twice a week.
They still have those classes, even though they’ve moved inside. The current space came courtesy of Julie’s Biscuits, which had featured Siti Rahayu in a CSR campaign. The company pays the rent while a ThinkCity grant funded the renovation.
“Everything here comes from the people,” she says. “A law firm sponsored the sofa and it’s brand new. We always feel that if you want to donate something, have it new. The children here are not an afterthought.”
Siti Rahayu was honoured with the President’s Award by Rotary Club Petaling Jaya earlier this year and she works full-time as a lecturer at a local college. What’s interesting is that it was one of her lecturers that inspired her to start BJCK.
“The professor was Abdul Rashid Moten from my political science course when I was doing my Masters degree at International Islamic University Malaysia. He said, quoting prominent philosopher Prof Dr Syed Naquib Al-Attas, that knowledge is gained when meaning has arrived into your soul. When that happens, your soul will tell you what you need to do.
“One of the purposes of knowledge is that you give back to society. That has more or less shaped my point of view and what I do,” she says.
We want to nurture the children in such a way that they themselves might change the situation in Chow Kit.
Siti Rahayu Baharin