Friday, January 07, 2011

Mari Kita Membaca, a worthy cause

Philanthropic giving is a big thing in the USA, a cottage industry almost. About 2 out of every 3 American households gives to charity annually -- it's not something that just Bill Gates and Warren Buffett do. Unfortunately, not many communities outside the US have yet developed a similar culture of giving. If you're interested in doing something for charity though, some friends recently founded Mari Kita Membaca, a charity which gives books to libraries and pre-schools in isolated Orang Asli villages. One of them wrote to me explaining the project:

We started just a few months ago and in a nutshell, we fundraise to send books to orang asli villages which already have community learning centers. We screen and select villages that we think will benefit the most out of getting the books and after consultation with local teachers, we help them buy the books that would assist them in their curriculum. It's not a very big operation, but we do what we can. We have a pretty quick turnover of our cash, and 100% of it goes towards buying the books and any delivery expenses.


It's definitely a worthy cause, and if you're interested in helping or finding out more, check out the Mari Kita Membaca website: http://www.marikitamembaca.org/

26 comments:

  1. Whatever is not mother nature is not yours. Nice going Malaysia Malaysian, if ever Malaysia can grow so rapid rate I might be a billionaire just from international law suit to Malaysia governed but its not true. We are 3rd world water ways. Pretending to ever growing at snail pace. Maybe because too much influence from watching overseas justice of peace and unity. Language and career and education r just 2nd,3rd and 4th nature of our route embarking road towards green mile, just like birds soaring up the sky. Regards.Asylum Seeker kc.

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  2. are we seeing the end of EducationMalaysia blog? RIP.

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  3. hi, i m currently considering to pursue the Master of Economics in UM.. But wondering if i take this master, would i be able to pursue doctorate degree after that?? Thanks for your advice & time..

    Best regards,
    MK Lee

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  4. It's definitely a worthy cause. Long overdue.

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  5. The reading habit of Malaysian people is still low.. less than 7 pages per week?

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  6. Do you knw that the Amazon E Book Kindle is not available in Malaysia because the Company says that our lwas makes it difficult for them to operate. Even countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, not to mention our nemis Singapore allow Amazon to operate the Kindle. You may wish to go to the Amazon Book Site to check for your self.

    One arm is trying to promote reading another arm is trying to stifffle it.

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  7. Education Malaysia.. R.I.P.

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  8. Have taken a look at the site. Its definitely a worthy cause.

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  9. Ya,this is really a wise move since they took initiative to help orang asli to learn.I believe that education is a right ad must be accessible to all of us , even the orang asli. So,wish you all the best!

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  10. it is good cause but how can that help to address education gap in urban poor or those in the sandwiched class. once the NGOs step away, or aid is stopped, the ppl in the villages would lapse back to their original practice.

    perhaps some better alternatives are like
    1) teachformalaysia.org where they hv volunteers joining for a duration of 2 yrs
    2) bolsa familia from the brazil success story where there is Conditional Cash Transfer provided some requirements of school attendance / grades requirement are ment
    3) free tuition cram sessions provided by uni students / ex teachers provided at library to any students that need it

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  11. it is a worthy cause but what happens when the aid is stopped at the villages? a more permanent solution is required to address the social divide.
    some alternatives already exist such as
    1) teachformalaysia.org - volunteers joining for a period of 2 yrs
    2) bolsa familia - this has been implemented successfully in brazil where fmly are given $ if they meet requirement of children staying in school. a modified version can work where not only a requirement of staying in school but also to meet certain grades
    3) to hv free tuition cram sessions by volunteers.meeting ground to be set at the public library where uni students / ex teachers can participate to offer their time

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  12. Membaca menanmbah ilmu.
    Zamre Bin Ab. Wahab

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  13. Jika kita hendak jatuhkan sesuatu tamadun itu, kita lihat bahan bacaannya...

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  14. Wow, absolutely fantastic!
    Marilah kita membaca!! (Hope my Bahasa is still applicable!)

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  15. I strong encourage this efford. Keep up the good work.

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  16. Hi
    I have found my way to your blog because I have a four-year-old daughter and we are moving to KL later this year. I saw your blog about your then six-month-old daughter in 2005. May I ask what you eventually decided and how you have found the school you selected? We are native English speaking parents who also speak conversational Mandarin. I am ethnically Chinese. We have enrolled our daughter in Putonghua playgroups since she was a toddler and she currently attends a Cantonese kindergarten. She can understand almost all of these other languages but she is reluctant to speak them. She can, but she is much more comfortable in English, and requires a lot of encouragement to speak other languages.
    We are looking for a 100% Mandarin speaking kindergarten in KL. Do you have any recommendations?

    Thank you.
    longlakecabin@gmail.com

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  17. Hi
    I have found my way to your blog because we are moving to KL later this year and we have a four year old daughter. I would love to know what you eventually decided to do about schooling for your then 6 month old daughter in 2005 and how you have found your choice to turn out. Our daughter is multilingual in Mandarin, Cantonese and English, but is dominant in English. We would love to find a great Mandarin kindergarten for her in KL. Any recommendations?
    Thanks
    longlakecabin@gmail.com

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  18. That's actually a long pending cause & am glad something is happening for it! good luck!

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  19. Jika kita hendak jatuhkan sesuatu tamadun itu, kita lihat bahan bacaannya..
    this is really a wise move since they took initiative to help orang asli to learn.I believe that education is a right ad must be accessible to all of us , even the orang asli. So,wish you all the best!

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  20. Thanks for linking this up..

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  21. Heyya.

    Your initiative to improve the culture of reading in Malaysia is greatly praised and honored. It is however it is even greater to do such projects in rural part of Malaysia, from johore to Perlis, from Penang to Sarawak, maybe this is your initial plan I didn't know. But if possible try to increase the magnitude of the project, I believe many would love to help (hint: including me). This cultural reformation in reading must be made complete as knowledge is the heart of a nation, this value can help malaysian to be more open minded and progressive, while vastly help developing the level of our science and technology.

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  22. it is good cause but how can that help to address education gap in urban poor or those in the sandwiched class. once the NGOs step away, or aid is stopped, the ppl in the villages would lapse back to their original practice.

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