Making the Invisible, Visible: The First Step...

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In this challenge based learning unit, we have learned about the rights of people have been violated, specifically in the issue of human trafficking. Human trafficking is the act of people controlling others and forcing them into acts such as labour and prostitution. This is a world wide problem and is increasingly becoming serious by the second. We should realize that people are living in fear, and are under the threat of death. The most vulnerable targets of this problem would be people living in poverty and those who have no documentation and/or identification. The fact that people are being exploited as modern slaves provides one reason on why we should attempt to combat this problem. 

Human trafficking is very important to me, because I can't stand the fact that 27 million people are being forced in slavery, that they're living their lives in fear and violence. Knowing that human trafficking happens in the very place I live makes me feel both grateful and scared at the same time. The fact that I am protected by my family and my peers is what I am thankful for, but also makes me scared because human trafficking can happen to anyone. This topic is also very important to the community of Malaysia, because modern slavery is illegal now, but people still defy the law and still traffic people out of their homes. This also puts Malaysia, as a country, in a negative light because it shows that our country does not control the safety of the community and is not able to identify victimizers when they come into the country. Every 30 seconds, a child is a victim of human trafficking and nobody deserves to live in this kind of fear. This is also very important to combat because human trafficking creates inequality, the victimizers treat the victims like dirt, and force them to work for almost no pay. These victims are not able to protect their rights, because they believe they are being taken to a place where their life will get better. We have the responsibility to protect the rights of others, and we are not taking action. This definitely impacts the victims, but their families are also affected by this violation as their children/spouse/sibling are being taken away by strangers. 

One surprise that I have encountered is that human trafficking can be banished in just 25 years, but only if everybody does something. We could possibly end human trafficking if we band together to perform a task of anti-human trafficking, but not everybody knows of this issue. These victims of human trafficking have the right to know that they don't deserve this horrible kind of experience, and we should help them realize that they deserve justice. Another thing that I am surprised about is that the average age of a victim of human trafficking is about 12 years old. The fact that these victims are only about a year younger than me, shows that everybody is vulnerable to human trafficking. This realization makes me want to learn more about this topic and the steps of prevention we can take.

Learning about this unit has definitely opened my eyes to realizing how fortunate I am. I would have never realized I could be a victim of human trafficking until I heard all of the personal stories of how girls can just be taken off the street or forcibly removed from their homes. I could never imagine this happening to me or my family, because it has never crossed my mind. Human trafficking is a sensitive and grim topic, so hearing about how different anti human-trafficking have thought of ways to combat this issue and are working hard to provide shelter, education and donations to the victims so the number of human trafficking cases will be reduced. These organizations are providing the victims with a second chance to further improve their life and to make them happy. 

Deserved Education

Imagine yourself as a minority child. Uninsured, living in poor areas, poor economic situations, it all seems like torture to those who are fortunate enough to have the right opportunities. Thousands of families, specifically the children, are growing up in poor lifestyles that they do not even deserve. Even though segregation laws were outlawed in the 1960s, the economical situation has forced many minority families to live in the poorest areas of the city and to attend the poorest schools known. Many believe that minority children and their families should live as a lower class just because they’re different even though ironically, they make up a majority of the population. Out of all the 9,069,000 uninsured children in America, more than 60% are racial or ethnic minorities such as black and Hispanic children. Successfully, there are 3 organizations that have devoted their time and thoughts to helping minority children gain the knowledge they would use in the future. Because of the rising number of minority children living in poverty, The Josh Project, Young Black Scholars and The Perry Preschool Project are organizations that have been founded in order to allow minority children to have the education and opportunities they deserve.

Some minority children are born with gifted skills and they are not able to have the proper education they deserve. One organization called ‘Young Black Scholars’ helps African American children that are academically and mentally prepared with their college and university admissions. Because of the current economic situation, many of these children are situated in under-developed schools that don’t provide the challenges some children may need. This organization attracts their audience in a unique way. Young Black Scholars conduct workshops, seminars, and conferences as a way to invite people to this opportunity. “YBS conducts more than 40 workshops, programs, seminars, and conferences throughout the academic school year.” (Young Black Scholars) By publicly advertising this organization and showing what they can offer, they are inviting their audience to come take advantage of their program. Young Black Scholars wants to inform the minority population of Los Angeles that their program is worthwhile. If these children take advantage of this opportunity, it would lead them to a safe and successful future. Young Black Scholars doesn’t only help African American children, but also prepare parents for what these children are going to enter into. “They also help both scholars and parents prepare for college admissions, selection, and continued success.” (Young Black Scholars) Provided that generally minority children are not used to having these opportunities such as a college preparatory program, some children may find the program frustrating and may want to quit. Young Black Scholars believe that if educating the parents on supporting the child on achieving their dream, then the child will be more successful on approaching this goal. As a successful outcome, Young Black Scholars has improved the lives of over 1,000 African American children by providing the opportunity of university preparation to those who are prepared.

Minority children grow up in a lifestyle full of poverty and they come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Perry Preschool Project works to provide education to those minority children who have experienced disadvantages their whole life. This organization calls people out to take part in this opportunity by opening up preschools, home-based child care programs, which specifically target the youth of the minority population. “The High/Scope preschool approach is used in public and private half- and full day preschools, nursery schools, Head Start programs, child care centres, home-based child care programs, and special needs programs.” (High/Scope Perry Preschool Program) The Perry Preschool project creates programs targeted for 3-4 year olds for a reason. By influencing these children from young, they will have the right education to make the best choices they are offered in the future. When children are young, their brain acts like a sponge. It soaks up all the information you give them and they learn new knowledge quickly. By feeding them the right information, the Perry Preschool Project is ensuring a perfect future where these minority children will make the right choices when they are adults. This preschool also have very physical ways of teaching children. “High/Scope’s goals are for young children to learn through active involvement with people, materials, events, and ideas….learn to plan and execute activities, then talk with other children and teachers about what they have done and what they have learned (PlanDo-Review)…. Active learning: Children learn best from activities they plan and carry out themselves.” (High/Scope Perry Preschool Program) The main approach Perry Preschool Project fosters is active learning. Many studies show that young children learn their best when they are active. Performing in activities and active involvement are some of the best ways for young children to learn. Children do not respond to being told to watch or read something, they have to experience these hands-on activities by themselves. Because of these ways of teaching, the Perry Preschool Project has drastically the lives of many children of the minority population.

Children are the most vulnerable and the most at risk to be involved in an accident especially minority children, as they are not able to swim due to financial troubles. An African American woman hopes to change these statistics. Wanda Butts, the founder of The Josh Project, has experienced this tragedy hands-on. This organization helps minority children by giving them swimming lessons. “In 2007, she started the Josh Project, a non-profit that provides low-cost swimming lessons for children in Toledo, Ohio.” (CNN Heroes) Due to the fact minority children are mostly at risk to accidents such as drowning, Wanda is determined to prevent mothers from refraining their child to water safety. She wanted to help these mothers and Wanda also helps in another way by providing low cost lessons for those who are financially challenged. Many minority families are often living in areas struck with poverty and are therefore not able to afford high-class lessons. This shows the caring side of Wanda and how she cares for others also. But even though the Josh Project has already helped more than 1,000 children learn how to swim, Wanda’s goal has not been fully accomplished. “Butts said she has two goals for the future: One is to change the drowning statistics of minority children, and the other is to have an aquatic centre where the children can swim daily instead of just once a week.” (CNN Heroes) Swimming at public pools are very expensive to pay for and if children are not able to practice what they have learned, then it was a waste and a loss for the Josh Project. The organization’s sole purpose is to improve the lives of other minority children, and if their students are not able to apply their skills everyday, then they are not expected to excel. The Josh Project has devoted their life to enhancing the lives of minority children in a very unique way and this has classified their unique ways as successful.


To this day, all 3 of these organizations have achieved their individual goals and have even set new ones. Each organization also has their own unique ways of teaching and each organization has devoted life to improving the futures for minority children. Through the work of these organizations, the education of many minority children has been enhanced and has changed from poor to beneficial. These organizations are insuring a good and healthy future for these children by providing opportunities dedicated to giving minority children opportunities they deserve. It’s because of these actions, that these organizations have been rewarded with the recognition they have today. They have accepted a bold challenge of helping under-privileged children and have succeeded in their dream. These organizations set a good base and inspiration for others who have thought of saving the futures of these minority children. No child should be restricted to what they are capable of, and Young Black Scholars, Perry Preschool Project and the Josh Project have allowed them to blossom to their maximum growth.

Standing Up To Authority

Imagine growing up and being raised up with violence constantly lurking behind you. Police roaming the streets 24/7, with deadly guns strapped to their belts. Police are normally seen as ‘protection’, but sometimes the police are seen as a danger. Living in a town which is always violent, it implies that the violence will increase making the area even more dangerous than it already is. Innocent victims can get caught between this conflict as some may not be aware of what is going on outside their homes. According to the National Center for Children Exposed To Violence, current studies show that more than 33% of children are direct victims of violence and more than 75% are reported being exposed to community violence. Of the 7 billion people in the world, there are millions living in violent environments, and some are even victims of violence. In Brazil, there are many favelas (slums) that are considered to be the most violent of all. A civil war between the police and drug cartels is the root of this problem. Hundreds of children, with violated rights, are growing up with violence as a routine, deprived of peace and proper facilities. Successfully, there is one individual who has heard the voices of the children. Mayra, a 15-year-old girl from Rio De Janeiro, is working towards helping the children in her hometown who have been exposed to cruelty. After growing up in one of the most disturbed favelas in the country, Mayra Avellar Neves was awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize for her heroic actions and successful battle against extreme violence. By using her dangerous childhood as a drive, Mayra was inspired to improve the lives of other children by persuading the drug cartels and police to lay down their weapons and to enhance their favela’s facilities.

After growing up in one of the most violent favelas of Brazil, Mayra makes a difference by persuading the police and drug cartels to cease fire. Due to the fact Mayra was raised in a dangerous society, she did not want others to experience the pain she had. As a result, she organized campaigns and protests to express her concern and opinion about her favela’s environment. “At 15 years old, Mayra mobilised hundreds of children and youths to take part in a protest march, demanding that the police cease their patrols during school hours” (Children’s Peace Prize). A civil war had eventually broken out between the drug cartels and the police in Mayra’s favela. This event has caused her favela to have a reputation of struggling and as one of the most dangerous favelas in Brazil. Mayra’s favela was always being swarmed by police and ongoing violence, which eliminated the education for the children of the favela. Because Mayra knew how serious this war was going to be, she decided to take matters into her own hands. By organizing a protest and by appealing to a younger crowd as participants, Mayra was not only making a difference by persuading the police to cease fire, but she also made the decision for the future of her favela. Although Mayra knew that taking on this challenge was a risk, she could only hope for the best outcome possible. “This took great courage...As a result of this action, the police agreed to the demands, and children started coming back to school again – a great achievement...” (Children’s Peace Prize). Provided that Mayra’s favela is known as one of the most violent ones in Brazil, police are constantly patrolling the school which hindered the children’s education. With police stomping up and down hallways, classes are disrupted and students are not able to pay attention to their lessons. Children were eventually not allowed to attend school as police with guns by their side is seen as danger. Even though Mayra knew that standing up to the police was going to take an immense amount of courage, she stood still and powered through it. As a successful outcome, the police caved in to her appeal which shows how Mayra improved the future for her favela.

By taking risks like standing up to high authorities, Mayra was inspired to not only help herself, but to also help others like her as well by enhancing facilities in her favela. Mayra is a very generous person and she knew there were others like her, with a violent and dangerous experience of growing up. Mayra realized that she could help herself and others by organising an event that could benefit others too. “Last year she organised another march, this time appealing to everybody in the favela and elsewhere to stand up for the fundamental rights of slum dwellers” (Children’s Peace Prize). A majority of the population of  Mayra’s favela did not have the rights they may have deserved. By organising a protest march, Mayra was standing up for the rights of her fellow peers as well, she did not just think of herself. Specifically, Mayra was standing up for the enhancement of her favela’s facilities, which can also be thought of as standing up for the population’s rights for the best facilities they can have. Even though Mayra has taken the chance of expressing her opinion, not everything is possible as her favela is still violent and her local facilities remained regressive. “However, Mayra’s fight goes on, as life in the favela’s remains extremely dangerous and the local facilities are poor.” (Children’s Peace Prize). Mayra exemplifies peace as she keeps trying to make the favela better. She fought for what she thought was right, which was keeping the children in the slums safe. Due to Mayra’s fight still being continuous, it shows that the fight against poverty can never be solved immediately.

To this day, Mayra is still continuing her hope of improving the lives of many in her hometown because she understands what those children are experiencing. She knows about the dangerous living conditions and the lack of good facilities for these children. By persuading the police and the drug cartels to cease-fire, Mayra is insuring a good education for the children, and by fighting for the facilities they deserve, she is also insuring a good and healthy future for these children. It was because of her heroic and daring actions, that she was awarded the Children’s International Peace Prize in 2008. Mayra is an inspiration to children living in violent surroundings, and hopes to inspire others to follow in her footsteps. No one’s rights should be violated, and Mayra has decided to not fight for herself, but for others as well.

Where I'm From

Where I'm From

I am from Reese’s and M’n’Ms.
From dates and fasting
I am from Mexican and Japanese food too.
I am from ‘Drink your soup!’ and ‘Only 1 more!’
I’m from Nasi Lemak and chicken rice.
And kuih lapis: both the cake and the pink.
From flip turns, trophies, medals, and coaches, 
a change from “Huan Ying, Huan Ying!” to “Selamat Datang.”
I am from dedication and hard work:
I am from Rio 2016.

I am from baju kurung and chiong sam. From bowls of rice to bowls of noodles, from the ‘oh so good’ Pho.
I am from fort making, transforming it into my little heaven. 
From forgetting email passwords to Club Penguin,
I’m from a very happy and stressed out family.

I’m from Bop-It and Barney,
from Teletubbies and Glee.
I’m from fortune telling with paper pyramids and Dora The Explorer.
From Blue saying, “Follow me!”
to Handy Manny teaching me Spanish.
I’m from Mambo No. 5 and “I’m finished!”
From living in a place called Leman Lake, where everyone knew each other and a playground right across the street.

I’m from hot sun and polluted skies.
At first with 4 seasons but then no winters, just summer all year long.
I’m from diverse cultures and crowded areas in KLCC.
I’m from the dirty snow on my garden swing, to blasting Lizzie McGuire in my garage.
From dancing in the sun with umbrellas, with laughing and giggling at smoky barbeques.
I am from “Don’t tell anyone!” and “Are you serious?”

Yet from cows that decorate our shelves, to sudden cats found underneath our cars,
From kuih lapis and the Teletubbies,
to John Grisham and James Patterson: 
One thing that we can unravel from this story, is the awkward history known as the Redzas.

Victory. By Sonia Weitz.

This poem is about how Sonia Weitz, a holocaust survivor, was able to sneak into the men's barracks of the concentration camp to see her father, who at that time was about to be killed. Her father's inmate then started to play a song on his harmonica and Sonia's father then said, "Little one, let us dance. We may not have another chance." She had the courage to break the rules even though the consequences were terrible. To me, this poem means that anything can be victorious. In this case, victory for Sonia was the fact that she could have that dance with her father. I was very curious as to what the victory Sonia was talking about in the first place, but after re-reading the poem, I realized what her point was.

The Degree Of Choices.

"Some people say that what makes a person a victim is they have limited or NO options about how to act."

This statement is a very general and simple, but it has a lot of meaning. This relates to many situations, and generally speaking, I agree with with this statement. Victims don't have many options on how they can act, and with the options that are available, they have the choice of using them or not. For me, I do believe that limited options is what makes a victim. To support my judgement, I have related this statement to the unit we are studying now in Humanities.

http://www.elegantsimplelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/choices_web.jpg

In Humanities, we have recently learned about Kristallnacht, which translates loosely to "Night of Broken Glass". The Jewish refugees trapped in Germany were victims of Adolf Hitler's hatred and Kristallnacht. Stormtroopers, SS men and SA men go around Germany, invading Jewish-populated areas.The Jews have been recognized worldwide as victims, and I have related this statement to them. The Jews did not have many choices They first had the option of moving, but after many countries did not open up their doors to let Jewish refugees in, the only other choice they had was to hide. Once they were stuck in Germany without any options, they basically had no options. Their right were taken away from them even if they were innocent. The Jews just did not have a place in this jigsaw puzzle known as the world. In summary, I do agree with this statement.

The Eternal Jew

The Eternal Jew

When I first looked at "The Eternal Jew", I had absolutely no clue as to what this picture's point was. But after a few moments of analyzing and observing, I finally figured out what this picture was trying to get through. In this picture, a man dressed in black is featured and this man has a long beard and a hat on his head. This man has his hand thrust out with coins in it. This man also has a rock tucked under his arm. This man is enlarged and is obviously the main feature of this picture. There is some text on the lower-left corner of the page. I realized that the background of this picture is very bright and stands out, while the main pointof the picture is wearing dark clothing which is a sign on contrast.

The man in the picture, is most likely to be a Jew, as he has a traditional Jewish hat on. He seems very old and this picture could be trying to say that Jews are old and disgusting. The creators of this poster is most likely to be the Nazi Party Platform, which could be used to promote their political party. The intended audience for this picture would most probably be the genuine "German citizens" with "German pure blood". This poster could be used to show that the Jews were greedy, as indicated by the coins in the Jew's hand, and that they wanted to take over Germany and to have an communist government. I think the creator of the poster is trying to say that the Nazis generalize the Jews and is saying that all Jews want a communist government and that all Jews are greedy.

I believe this poster interprets both lies and misleading information as not all Jews are like this Jew. Maybe NO Jews are like this one. But all people do in those days, is just look on the outside of people and judge them through what they see on the outside. I also believe that the Nazi Party Platform may have expressed their thoughts with more exaggeration because, as I stated before, not all Jews are like this Jew. The Nazis made it seem like all Jews are like this one and that all Jews are horrible. But the thing is, the Nazis were the horrible ones by generalizing all people of either the same race or religion. The Nazis are trying to say that the Jews are greedy, and that they want to take over Germany with a communist government.