TAWAU: The Calvary City Church here decided not to turn a blind eye but make a difference to as many undocumented migrants as possible through the setting up Grace Alternative Guidance Centre (Pusat Bimbingan Alternatif Grace).
The vision to start a school to “Give Every Child A Chance to Life” materialised in 2010. Calvary Love Foundation was set up to finance the project. Grace Training Centre was started with a group of 34 children in a rented single shop lot at Mile 5, Jalan Apas qhixh provided those aged 5 to 16 with basic education to equip them for a better future.
The curriculum included reading, writing and speaking in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin as well as Mathematics, Science, Art, Music, Sports and Character Building.
Over the years, the basic curriculum has been expanded. The older children are now taught living skills in culinary and food hygiene, electrical works, hairdressing and sewing.
Computer lessons were started but lack of computers hampered this effort. It hopes to be able to get financial help to set up a computer facility so that the students can acquire computing skills.
Principal Madam Esther Thu said each child has the right to seek education and the opportunity for gaining knowledge.
Yet, undocumented children face barriers to accessing basic rights, including education.
Without proper identification or legal status, they may be denied admission to schools or excluded from public services.
She said it is essential that governments, communities and international organisations ensure that every child, regardless of legal status, has access to quality education.
“In Sabah there are many stateless children. Without a positive approach to help them, this issue will only worsen. One of the most effective ways to support these children is through education.
“With access to knowledge, they can continue to grow, build self-confidence, and be better prepared to face life’s challenges,” she said.
Driven by compassion, the church decided to take the initiative and chose to ac.
As to why the church’s efforts are focused on stateless children, instead of local citizens, she said: “Every child deserves a chance and someone has to take the first step.”
According to her, in the heart of Sabah, a quiet crisis continues to unfold—one that affects thousands of children born without legal identity. Stateless and invisible in the eyes of the law, these children are often denied access to basic services, especially education.
Stateless children in Sabah are typically the offspring of undocumented migrants, many of whom have lived in the region for decades. Lacking birth certificates or identification documents, these children are barred from enrolling in public schools.
As a result, many fall into cycles of poverty, child labour, or exploitation, simply because they were never given a chance.
“It’s not easy,” she admits. “It takes time, dedication, and a lot of financial resources. But we love these children and they deserve a future.”
She believed to ignore them, would lead to a greater social problem. She believes the solution begins with education. “Knowledge is the foundation. “When these children are educated, they not only gain the skills to survive, but also develop the self-confidence to shape their own future. Education gives them direction.”
She hopes others would join in the effort. “We don’t want to be the only ones doing this. We want to be the spark that inspires others do the same.”
“It’s about dignity, identity, and the hope of a better tomorrow.”
Esther noted that a meaningful program focusing on child labour was held recently at Grace Alternative Guidance Centre, bringing greater awareness and understanding to a topic that continues to affect many vulnerable children in the region.
“Some children are forced to work part-time while continuing their studies due to the environmental or family circumstance, it is an eye-opener for many of us.”
Grace Alternative Guidance Centre received approval from the Education as the first and to date only such educational facility endorsed by the government for stateless children in 2015.
In the past 15 years it had registered 874 students aged five to 16 year-old and 20 teachers. Some volunteers support in teaching living skills. More than half the students are sponsored by church members and friends.
Besides of academic training, the centre also serves as a health clinic, provides counselling on child abuse and help those in extreme poverty.
“We hope the community, NGOs and others will see the value of what we are doing to help these children. That it will inspire others to join us.”
“We also hope the business community and other organisations will respond with more compassion and generosity on a regular or yearly basis. This will help us to continue with this humanitarian effort,” Esther added.
