“I’m very privileged to have the issues and problems I have.” That’s Gerald Anyi (‘17) talking about the mindset that has inspired him to be part of an inspiring initiative encouraging people to join up for exercise programs while also supporting a local refugee school in Kuala Lumpur.
Gerald continues, “Others worry about where their next meal will come from and if they will be able to have an education.” His approach certainly puts things into perspective!
Move for Hope came about when fitness-loving friends, led by dance teacher Amira Kamaluddin, decided to pool their talents and raise enough money to provide the 77 families of students at Hope Learning Centre with internet access for a year. To date, some 40 fitness instructors in KL and around the world have volunteered to run classes, with participants donating a minimum of 30 ringgit per session. They have already raised more than half the RM100,000 target for the month-long online campaign.
Gerald, who works as a freelancer in the ISKL Advancement Department, took on the job of marketing the project and has also enlisted fellow ISKL Alumni volunteers, including Jaan Joseph (‘17) and Dzaim Dzulkifli David (‘16) who are responsible for digital marketing and content creation. They, along with volunteer videographer/photographer Danial Marzuki (‘17) are all in Kuala Lumpur. United Kingdom-based Alex Webster (‘16) jumped in to help manage the fundraising platform and instructors in that time zone, making it a truly global ISKL Alumni effort!
The Hope Learning Centre is recognized by the UNHCR and provides education for the Zomi community, an ethnic group who come largely from Iran, Pakistan, Myanmar and the Philippines.
While ISKL families have the support of our school’s wonderful teachers and tech team allowing continuous learning despite the pandemic, the same is usually not the case for students at refugee school, and a very basic problem is not having an internet connection. This enthusiastic group of ISKL Alumni and friends are hoping to take away that obstacle entirely.
Gerald’s passion for the project came after he did some research into the Zomi diaspora, a group he hadn’t previously known about. He explains, “The only reason you don’t care about something is because you don’t know enough about it.”
To support Move for Hope, and enjoy the benefits of some great fitness classes, go to https://linktr.ee/Moveforhope.
