Boosting learning and skills training Orang Asli communities. Interested members undergo basic builder training to learn construction skills and ways to utilise power tools safely, followed by a workshop on window production. This initiative not only equ
PART of Epic’s initiatives include conducting classes and training among the Orang Asli communities to equip them with knowledge and skills. Here are some examples:
Digital Learning Hubs
Last year, in collaboration with Teach for Malaysia and Samuel Isaiah, Epic set up several Digital Learning Hubs as platforms to cultivate the interest of learning in children.
The hubs include a physical learning space and tablets to enable learning through a cloudbased platform, with content specifically designed to suit the pedagogical needs of Orang Asli primary school children.
“The current content focus is on literacy and numeracy. This is intended to supplement learning in schools to enable Orang Asli children, who are often left behind in the formal school curriculum, to catch up at their own pace and at their own level.
“This also provides an opportunity for locals to be trained in facilitating learning amongst the students. We believe these skill sets can open future opportunities for a career in education,” said Oei John-son, co-founder and chief executive officer of Epic.
To date, Epic has set up five hubs, trained six local facilitators, deployed 90 devices and impacted 100 students.
Local Builder Capacity Training (LBCT)
The Local Builder Capacity Training (LBCT) programme was initiated in 2020 with the aim of providing a pathway for the Orang Asli to gain basic building skills and become an Epic Homes specialist, eventually gaining marketable construction skills on par with the construction industry.
The participants then used their knowledge to build and repair basic infrastructure like homes, toilets and water systems in their villages as well as neighbouring villages.
“Our focus is to transfer the building skills required for Epic Homes to develop localised builder specialists within the villages for builds, repairs and maintenance. “Eleven participants have graduated from this programme so far, with seven homes built and 27 homes repaired,” said Oei.
Production for Epic Homes: Windows
The Epic Homes: Windows initiative first launched in Kg Sg Kelubi in Hulu Selangor with the objective of setting up window production hubs in villages. The initiative outsourced the production of windows for Epic Homes to the