Nestled in the heart of Kota Belud, Sabah, lies the remote village of Bokilong, where education is a daily struggle. Before Projek BacaBaca arrived, many children grappled with basic literacy, falling behind in school and feeling disheartened.

Since 2022, Projek BacaBaca has been a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of these children. Each year, we engage with 10-12 eager students whose commitment to learning is truly inspiring. Despite geographic and infrastructural challenges, the children and their parents maintain an impressive attendance rate of over 85%. Students often walk long distances, sometimes up to 5 kilometres, to their kebun (plantations) just to find a phone signal strong enough to join our reading sessions, underscoring their determination and the profound value they place on education.

The tangible results of their dedication are evident. For example, Nur Feyza Aaliesha (9 years old) can now read fluently and comprehensively understand what she reads. Mirza (10 years old) has also achieved fluency in reading and can answer questions based on passages, though he continues to work on his English skills. Abigayle (9 years old), another student, has made remarkable progress in both Bahasa Melayu and English, now capable of reading and answering questions in both languages. Graduates of our program have reached the highest reading levels, while current students excel at Level 3, thanks to the supportive environment nurtured by their families and our dedicated reading coaches.

Beyond literacy, these children now thrive in school, showcasing improved grades and newfound confidence in their academic abilities. Projek BacaBaca’s impact in Village Bokilong transcends literacy. It has fostered a culture of learning and perseverance, proving that with determination and the right support, even the most remote communities can achieve remarkable educational milestones. The radiant smiles of the children, the pride of their parents, and the village’s collective progress are the heartwarming rewards of our efforts. This inspires us to continue bridging educational gaps in rural Sabah, turning dreams into reality for these deserving children.

At Projek BacaBaca (PBB), our small team of five members coordinated with 350 students, 350 parents, 300 reading coaches, and eight different beneficiary teams. One surprising aspect has been the sheer scale of coordination required, managing diverse individuals from various backgrounds. Balancing the needs of such a large group while providing personalized reading sessions tailored to each student’s abilities is both overwhelming and rewarding. The key learning here is the necessity of flexibility and quick problem-solving, ensuring PBB's continuity and impact.

Another major challenge has been educating parents about the importance of reading in their child’s education. Many participants come from the bottom 40% income bracket in Malaysia, where immediate family needs often overshadow educational priorities. To address this, we focus on raising awareness about learning poverty and the significance of foundational literacy. Building strong, trusting relationships with beneficiaries and maintaining open communication has been crucial, allowing us to work with some families for two consecutive years and reinforcing our impact.

A critical aspect of our leadership has been convincing funders to sponsor Projek BacaBaca. Through compelling storytelling, demonstrating tangible impacts, and maintaining transparency, we have successfully garnered support from various sponsors. This financial backing has been vital in sustaining and expanding our program, enabling us to reach more children in need.

For those considering a similar path, our advice is to be prepared for dynamic challenges and to develop strong problem-solving skills. Building meaningful relationships with stakeholders, staying adaptable, and effectively communicating your mission will help ensure the success and sustainability of your initiatives.

Projek BacaBaca’s future plans focus on expanding its impact and sustainability while continuing to align with SDG 4 and SDG 10. SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Our project addresses foundational literacy skills and fosters a lifelong love of learning, central to SDG 4. SDG 10 seeks to reduce inequality within and among countries, which we support by providing equal educational opportunities to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We plan to enhance our intervention by continuing to offer personalized, reading ability-based support using diagnostic tests to tailor our approach. Our expansion will target more underserved areas, especially those with limited internet access, by improving offline resources and engaging local volunteers. We will also enhance our sub-programmes to better address diverse age groups and reading levels, ensuring high engagement through customized pedagogies.

Additionally, we will strengthen our data-driven approach by tracking long-term student progress to measure academic success. A key future plan is a national mapping exercise to identify literacy hotspots, enabling us to explore a more targeted approach through Projek BacaBaca. By consistently assessing and adapting our methods based on student needs, we aim to bridge educational disparities and increase academic outcomes. Our commitment to ongoing training for volunteers and collaboration with local schools and communities will support our goal of sustaining educational success and providing equal opportunities for all children, reinforcing our mission and expanding our positive impact on educational equity.