Through the course of Farah’s educational journey, even without her asking, many have reached out to lend a hand.
In secondary school, a Vietnamese ASEAN scholar classmate tutored her between and after classes whenever she had difficulties. A teacher gifted her with a copy of a chemistry 10-year-series when she did not want to burden her parents, whose jobs had been affected during the 2001 and 2008 recessions.
All these experiences made the 25-year-old, who graduated from a two-year Master of Philosophy in Psychology programme at SMU in June, resolve to give back as soon she could.
In 2014, she and her brother, Faris, a digital marketing trainer, launched Sky High Educators.
The social enterprise taps undergraduate tutors to help primary-to tertiary-level students access more affordable tuition.
Of late, the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has made it even more difficult for underprivileged kids to get the help they need.
Free online tuition was the siblings’ way of chipping in.
Funded by a grant from a donor organisation which prefers to remain anonymous, the social enterprise launched free online tuition for students with financial difficulties last month. On top of paid sessions, they are offering 10 free tuition sessions to at least 70 students, to help them through the end-of-year examinations.
Another non-profit youth organisation, Majulah Community, also believes in the power of mentorship. Since 2010, it has run various programmes to nurture leadership qualities in youth, focusing on those facing academic and personal challenges.
It identifies youth at risk, helps boost their self-esteem and offers them guidance through after-school engagement sessions and outdoor adventure activities.
Those with criminal records or whose parents have filed family guidance orders – formerly known as beyond parental control orders – also take part in a separate programme called GEAR UP. This focuses on one-to-one mentorship and outdoor activities.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 2 August 2020