“From community partnerships to clubs like MUN, my experience at ISKL is that the school loves to teach not only within the classrooms but outside as well.”

Now back in his home town of Kuala Lumpur, Mark Lim (‘18) is one of the many ISKL Alumni currently studying remotely as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts learning around the globe. But Mark already has firsthand knowledge of what that’s like for others, especially the refugees who found themselves in KL and with whom Mark worked during High School at ISKL.

Mark received the HS Community Partnership Leadership Award in 2018, recognizing his work with FUGEE School students and leadership of the HS Gardening Club and Model United Nations participation. He says, “From community partnerships to clubs like MUN, my experience at ISKL is that the school loves to teach not only within the classrooms but outside as well.”

The FUGEE School project was a play that featured in an end-of-year showcase, and allowed those students to experience using facilities not available at their own school. For Mark, the learning went both ways. He explains, “I felt that leading these clubs made me understand more about passion. For example, I learnt that I really enjoy teaching others, which led me to engage more with the clubs that I ran. Nowadays, I try my best to pursue things that I am interested in, not just because others are doing it.”

One of several community partnership leaders in his Senior year, Mark says receiving the award came as a bit of a surprise. “I never thought I would receive the award for we had five excellent leaders who were all equally deserving.”

As leader of the Model United Nations Society at Lancaster University where he studies Computer Science, and Dota 2 Manager of the Gaming and E-Sports Society, he continues to pursue areas of interest.

Remembering his High School years, working with community partners, Mark says, “I think my biggest takeaway from all four years teaching refugees was that these children/teens are no different to us in terms of their willingness to learn. I learned that I am quite privileged to go to a school like ISKL and be able to learn with the facilities that they had. I am also quite happy to have been able to give back!”

A final message for the winner of the 2020 recipient of the renamed Service & Sustainability – Community Partnership Award: “Thank you for passion and your drive! Congratulations!”

Mark Lim (‘18), HS Community Partnership Leadership Award 2018 (Mark pictured bottom row far left)