This was taken from our 2022 Impact Report. Read the full impact report here!
Two years ago, GG made a thoughtful decision to gradually wind down our services in Taman Prima Selayang, setting a reasonable timeframe to avoid any sudden disruptions.
But why would GG choose to exit a community we have served in for over 13 years?
As a charitable organisation, we measure success by our ability to exit when our mission has been accomplished - where the reason for our intervention is no longer needed. The remarkable changes we have witnessed in this community has indicated that they are able to find solutions for their children’s education, the support system of families within their own community is strong and they are now a thriving community.
As we reflect on our journey, we are proud to have been part of Taman Prima Selayang's growth. It is an example to other communities that love truly transforms lives.
It Started With A Need
In 2011, Daniel Tan, GG's founder, noticed a troubling trend among the youth attending GG’s character enrichment classes. Despite their best efforts, many of these students were struggling with their studies, and they were unable to afford tuition or supplementary classes needed to support their learning.
Seeing this pressing need, he encouraged the GG team to venture into providing homework guidance for Form 4 and Form 5 students.
And what a difference it made! Starting with just a handful of volunteers and interested students, the programme quickly gained popularity through word-of-mouth alone. Over the years, more than 250 children in the community benefited from the programme.
On top of that, we have been fortunate to have the support of dedicated educators who have helped us improve our programmes and structure throughout the years. As a result, we have seen encouraging learning improvements among the children in Taman Prima Selayang.
However, the impact of GG's work goes beyond the number of children and families.
A Bright Future Ahead
It has been heartwarming to witness our students grow in confidence, especially in language subjects, and go on to excel in their other academic pursuits. What made us even prouder was seeing them complete SPM and pursue tertiary or vocational education, which offers better employment opportunities than what their parents had.
At our Farewell Celebration, we were delighted to learn many of our ex-students were pursuing different vocations such as law, speech therapy, accounting, and IT. These young individuals are a testament to the impact of our volunteer mentors in nurturing and inspiring them to pursue their aspirations.
Moreover, beyond academic attainment, our students have also demonstrated compassion for their community. Many of them were inspired by the volunteer mentors who taught them to do something for their younger peers. These students became junior mentors and mentored their peers in our programmes.
Children Have Better Learning Opportunities Now
In the last 4 years, we began seeing more of our students also attending other tuition classes. This was a clear sign to us that the financial circumstances of their parents had improved and parents were prioritizing their children's education more. By 2022, more than 70% of our students had additional tuition.
With this improved financial stability and the community's increasing focus on education, GG felt it was time to shift our support to families in other communities with fewer resources. We feel assured that our final batch of students will continue to receive support from the community even after our services end.
Sustained Support & An Inspiration For Others Our exit from Taman Prima Selayang was a bittersweet moment for GG, as we bid farewell to the families and individuals who became a part of our extended family. Yet, it was also a time of celebration, as we reflect on the changes in the lives of the children, their families, and the community.
We are confident that the increase in positive parental influence will propel their children’s growth and success in the days to come. We also hope that the compassion we’ve seen our students cultivate, by giving back to their community, will be an inspiration for other children facing similar economic challenges.
None of these changes would have been possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated volunteers and generous funders. Thank you for helping us mentor a generation of youth in this community who are a generasi gemilang.
Collectively, you have been a very big part of their childhood, allowing them to reach their potential and pursue bright futures. This chapter reminds us that love, in acts of kindness, truly can transform lives.
Read the rest of our 2022 Impact Report here!