As she awaited her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia national examination results earlier this year, Jessy Caroline Lausin wasted no time getting involved in a community development project by RYTHM Foundation.
Driven by her ambition to become a teacher, the bright-eyed 18-year-old from the village of Kampung Lokub in Sabah, Malaysia, spent several months as a teaching volunteer, offering her assistance as a tutor to the primary school students in her community.
Jessie’s Noble Calling Grounded in Community Development
Education in Sabah differs from that in more accessible areas, and remote villages like the one Jessy belongs to often face significant challenges. These far-flung locations are marked by their distance not only from urban centres but also from the opportunities that modern education promises.
Jessy experienced this gap first-hand and decided she would help bridge it by choosing the noble field of education as a career path in pursuing positive change.
“I am focused on becoming a teacher,” she states, “because I believe in the power of education to transform lives and build stronger communities.
Youth Volunteers at the Heart of Educational Impact
Jessy owes the volunteering opportunity – and the initial step toward becoming an educator – to a special RYTHM project in Sabah, the organisation’s first Community Adoption Programme (CAP) in the remote Kiulu sub-district.
The three-year initiative, launched in 2021 in partnership with the NGO Good Shepherd Services, aims to advance community development in Sabah villages. One of the project’s social impact approaches is to nurture young minds in these communities through academic support for school-aged children.
Jessy’s unwavering dedication to education reflects her commitment to community development and the deeper goal of keeping kids interested in school.
“My journey to becoming a teacher is one of self-discovery and empowerment – both for me and the children I teach,” the youth volunteer says. “I believe that the role of an educator is not just about teaching but igniting the flames of curiosity in young minds.”
Grateful for the Opportunity to Make a Change
Reflecting on her journey towards bettering education in Sabah, Jessy shares her heartfelt gratitude for her time in the classroom. “The growth of the students fuels my dedication, and I consider it an honour to be a part of their educational journey. I’m also thankful to RYTHM Foundation and Good Shepherd Services for allowing me to impact these young lives.”
In a world where youth volunteers like Jessy actively embrace the role of change-makers, her journey highlights the profound impact a single person can have on a community. Her experience as a teaching volunteer also exemplifies the enduring potential of education to transform lives and fortify the bonds within communities.
RYTHM’s Immersive Approach to Community Development in Sabah
RYTHM Foundation believes education is the driving force behind social change and the most powerful tool for achieving equality in modern society. Over the years, we are proud to have taken significant strides in advancing this philosophy in communities worldwide and encouraging young people like Jessy to take action.
Sabah’s CAP has shown great success as RYTHM projects go. Apart from improving education, it equipped the youth with essential skills for personal growth and entrepreneurship and empowered women through micro-enterprise training.
RYTHM is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for quality education. To learn more about RYTHM Foundation’s related community development projects, explore our Impact Stories.
