We believe every child deserves the opportunity to pursue their education and fully realise their potential as young adults. Providing financial assistance and support to children from poor and vulnerable communities is essential, and we need your help to make this possible.

The challenges faced by less fortunate families have been ongoing, but the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation. For less fortunate families, the economic stress of losing jobs and sources of income has made their days more challenging. To this day, many families continue to struggle in silence. The stories of their struggles are rarely shared, as parents strive to provide the best for their families.

One of the saddest challenges is the inability of children to continue their studies. Many children who were once full of enthusiasm for learning have had to drop out of school. They not only lost the opportunity to access quality education, but their dreams and ambitions were also halted as they had to work to help their parents.

This is a crisis that requires immediate attention and action because it will create a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break, affecting the future of these children.

At Good Shepherd Services, we focus on three key areas to ensure that children living in poverty have access to education:

Good Shepherd Education Fund (GSEF)

Since the start of this programme in 2021, we have reached 152 schools across 13 districts in Sabah and 7 areas in Perak. GSEF aimed to provide financial assistance and support to children from poor and vulnerable communities. In 2023, we proudly supported 329 beneficiaries from Sabah and Ipoh.

Hostels

In rural Sabah, many poor indigenous children rely on school hostels to attend school regularly. However, most government schools can only meet 60% of the accommodation demand. To address this needs, Asrama Desa Pukak, Kiulu was established in 2008, followed by Asrama Komuniti Tulid, Sook in 2016. Together, these hostels have accommodated 215 residents to date, ranging in age from 12 to 19 years old.

These hostels not only provide the children with a consistent opportunity to attend school, but they also empower them through various programmes designed to equip them with essential soft skills. This initiative plays a vital role in reducing the risks of child marriages by keeping children in school and engaged in their education.

Additionally, the hostels also provide the Komuniti Van Sekolah service that offers transportation to 186 children who previously had to walk long and exhausting distances daily just to reach school - a significant barrier to their education.

Looking forward, our goal is to continue expanding these initiatives to reach more children in need. We are committed to ensuring that every child in rural Sabah has access to education and the necessary support to succeed. By providing safe accommodation, reliable transportation, and empowering programmes, we are working to break the cycle of poverty and give these children a brighter future.

Academic Support

The Sabah State Education Ministry stated in a press release published in The Star on April 12, 2022, that a large proportion of children in Sabah, especially those in Primary 1 & 2 struggle with literacy and numeracy or 3M (membaca, menulis dan mengira). According to data from 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic made matters worse for 12,000 pupils from 180 schools in the state. In order to assist Sabah's rural pupils in making up lost knowledge and enhancing their fundamental abilities, GSS put the following strategies into place:

a) ENUMA Literacy Project

Children between the ages of 5 and 8 can benefitted from the gamified learning app Sekolah Enuma. The three primary subject materials—Mathematics, English, and Bahasa Melayu—have their content modified to align with the Malaysian curriculum. This app's accessibility from anywhere, including places without internet connection, is one of its main advantages. We have reached out to a total of 13 primary schools and 1 community centre in Kiulu, Tuaran and Sook, Keningau impacting a total of 750 children through enhanced educational chances and resources.

b) KelasKita Tutoring

This is the latest pilot project, an online learning platform according to the Malaysian national curriculum, with a focus on Science, Mathematics, English, and Bahasa Melayu. The programme is accessible to all children in primary and secondary education. With the assistance of six committed volunteer tutors at our hostels in Kiulu and Keningau, we have already reached 38 students since the pilot phase started in June 2024.

Let’s come together to support children in need. Your donation is more than just money - it’s a symbol of hope and a step toward breaking the cycle of poverty. By contributing, you help provide quality education to underprivileged children and expand educational programmes to reach more communities. Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. Give today to make a lasting impact on their futures.

Janet, 11 years old, Ranau

"I am very grateful to have received this financial assistance, which has provided me with a valuable opportunity to develop my potential. This opportunity gave me the confidence to participate in national-level competitions, and I managed to win awards and recognitions. These victories not only proved my abilities, but also increased my motivation and determination to continue striving for excellence. I have also learned the importance of teamwork and leadership skills."

Mavi, 18 years old, Ipoh

"I am enthusiastic about pursuing my studies in political science or law, driven by my ambition to become a politician. Inspired by my role model, Barack Obama, I aspire to lead the country with the same dedication and integrity he exemplified. My passion lies in advocating for others and taking on leadership roles."