Albukhary International University’s (AIU) Myanmar Students’ Association (AMSA) has reached a major milestone in its flagship community initiative, Project HOPE 2025, an education programme designed to uplift Rohingya refugee children through structured weekend learning.
Now in its second year of operation, the project has expanded significantly since its launch in 2024, bringing together nearly 100 Rohingya children aged 3 to 14 at Madrasah Tahfiz Md Noor in Alor Setar. Over the course of six months, the children are taught English, Mathematics, Science, and Computing, skills that provide not only literacy and numeracy but also the foundation for building confidence, independence, and resilience in the face of adversity.
A Structured Learning Model That Changes Lives
Unlike ad-hoc volunteer programmes, Project HOPE follows a carefully designed curriculum, dividing students into six levels based on age and ability. This approach ensures that each child receives lessons suited to their learning needs. With 24 out of 48 sessions already completed, the programme has reached its halfway point, showing steady progress and commitment to its long-term educational goals.
More than 50 Myanmar student volunteers from AIU rotate weekly to keep the classes running without interruption. Each group is supported by a Head of Class, who prepares lesson plans and mentors fellow volunteers, creating a model of leadership that strengthens both teachers and learners.
Collaboration Between Academia and Community
The project’s sustainability is rooted in a strong partnership between AIU, international organizations, and dedicated faculty. Oversight is provided by SBSS lecturers, Dr. Muath Khalil Amayreh and Ms. Farah Syazwani Binti Hayrol Aziz, ensuring that teaching methods remain effective and aligned with academic standards.
At the international level, Open Feed, an Australian NGO, has lent its support through the leadership of President Dr. Abdullah Sayyidd, while AMSA’s advisor, Ms. Hla Theingi Win @ Sharifah, provides strategic guidance. Together, this collaboration ensures the initiative remains aligned with AIU’s 8-Hour Rule, a unique university ethos that requires students to dedicate time to meaningful community service.
Impact on Children and Volunteers
For the Rohingya refugee children, many of whom have had little or no access to formal schooling, Project HOPE represents more than just classes—it is their first structured experience of education. For them, the classroom is a place of discovery, a safe environment where they can dream of opportunities beyond displacement.
At the same time, the volunteers themselves undergo personal transformation. By teaching and mentoring, AIU students develop leadership skills, empathy, and a deep sense of social responsibility. This dual impact underscores the project’s unique strength: it not only uplifts vulnerable communities but also nurtures socially conscious leaders for the future.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Hope
As the project enters its second half of 2025, AIU is determined to sustain and expand its reach. Plans include strengthening the curriculum with more digital literacy lessons, enhancing teaching materials, and creating more opportunities for direct engagement between university students and refugee families.
In a world where refugee children are often left behind, Project HOPE stands as a living example of how education can break cycles of poverty and marginalization. AIU remains proud of its students, lecturers, and international partners for their dedication to building a brighter future for the next generation.
📢 AIU invites individuals, organizations, and communities to support and collaborate on Project HOPE and similar initiatives that transform lives through education.
