Oh Shu Ann, 26
Shu Ann is from Ipoh, Perak, and currently works as an analyst at the Education Performance and Delivery Unit (PADU), where she oversees and manages the day-to-day implementation of the “Strengthening of Unity among Students” initiative under the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025. She graduated from McGill University, Canada with a degree in Political Science, and served as a Teach for Malaysia 2013 Cohort Fellow in a rural school in North Perak for two years.
What made you interested in joining the National Unity Youth Fellowship?
“When I was a Teach for Malaysia Fellow, I taught History Form 1 and 2, English Form 1 and 2 and Intervention sessions for the Transition/Remove class. During my teaching career in the high-need school, I found that bullying among students is prevalent. Students also had trouble trusting and making friends with other races. They made fun of how each other looks, and students with darker skin colour were taunted. My students who will be joining the larger community soon are not equipped to handle such issues. Thus, I started the Diversity Project in school to encourage acceptance among students, instill empathy in them and inspire them with stories of those who have succeeded in overcoming challenges in spite of the adversities they faced.
When I first heard of about the National Unity Youth Fellowship, I was determined to know more about the state of our national unity and how I can contribute to nation-building. NUYF provides us Fellows with the mechanisms to learn, discuss and strategically plan for a united Malaysia that we want to see. NUYF is the first ever national unity fellowship in Malaysia that brings Fellows together to work on nation-building specifically on unity. I am truly grateful to be selected as one of the Fellows. The fellowship gives me the opportunity to know and hear from people of various backgrounds, perspectives and experiences who share a common identity as Malaysians. The ideas, comments, visions, historical facts and information imparted by the speakers, fellows and leaders I have met thus far, have enriched my mind and soul. I found some answers to questions that I have had.”
What do you hope to learn or achieve from your experience with the Fellowship?
“What I further want to discover is whether the state of our national unity that I knew matches the reality on the ground. Are there disparities amongst the various races, religions, and the rural and urban areas in Malaysia? If there is, how large are those disparities and how will the disparities affect our nation? How have Malaysians coped with those disparities? Is there a need for intervention, and if yes, how will people of various backgrounds respond to the interventions? How can I remove my "unity lens" and put on others' lenses to have a balanced view of Malaysia? I take pride in being called a Malaysian. Will future generations share the same pride in twenty years time?”
To follow Shu Ann's journey, 'like' us on Facebook!
To go back to the NUYF Fellows 2015 page and learn more about the other Fellows, click here.
What made you interested in joining the National Unity Youth Fellowship?
“When I was a Teach for Malaysia Fellow, I taught History Form 1 and 2, English Form 1 and 2 and Intervention sessions for the Transition/Remove class. During my teaching career in the high-need school, I found that bullying among students is prevalent. Students also had trouble trusting and making friends with other races. They made fun of how each other looks, and students with darker skin colour were taunted. My students who will be joining the larger community soon are not equipped to handle such issues. Thus, I started the Diversity Project in school to encourage acceptance among students, instill empathy in them and inspire them with stories of those who have succeeded in overcoming challenges in spite of the adversities they faced.
When I first heard of about the National Unity Youth Fellowship, I was determined to know more about the state of our national unity and how I can contribute to nation-building. NUYF provides us Fellows with the mechanisms to learn, discuss and strategically plan for a united Malaysia that we want to see. NUYF is the first ever national unity fellowship in Malaysia that brings Fellows together to work on nation-building specifically on unity. I am truly grateful to be selected as one of the Fellows. The fellowship gives me the opportunity to know and hear from people of various backgrounds, perspectives and experiences who share a common identity as Malaysians. The ideas, comments, visions, historical facts and information imparted by the speakers, fellows and leaders I have met thus far, have enriched my mind and soul. I found some answers to questions that I have had.”
What do you hope to learn or achieve from your experience with the Fellowship?
“What I further want to discover is whether the state of our national unity that I knew matches the reality on the ground. Are there disparities amongst the various races, religions, and the rural and urban areas in Malaysia? If there is, how large are those disparities and how will the disparities affect our nation? How have Malaysians coped with those disparities? Is there a need for intervention, and if yes, how will people of various backgrounds respond to the interventions? How can I remove my "unity lens" and put on others' lenses to have a balanced view of Malaysia? I take pride in being called a Malaysian. Will future generations share the same pride in twenty years time?”
To follow Shu Ann's journey, 'like' us on Facebook!
To go back to the NUYF Fellows 2015 page and learn more about the other Fellows, click here.