Fay is a gentle and smart youth. At age 11, he took the dangerous journey to Malaysia, fleeing from severe persecution in his homeland. In 2015, Fay enrolled in the ElShaddai Refugee Learning Centre (ERLC) in Primary 2, eventually becoming part of the ElShaddai Centre’s boy shelter in 2017 due to his older brother’s limited capacity to care for him. In 2019, he completed primary 6 but was unable to advance into secondary school. Instead, he was offered the role of an assistant preprimary teacher in a madrasah in Subang, mentored by Estephan and Cassie.
However, he left after 2 months to become a translator in the Klang Tzu Chi clinic. Feeling small and intimidated comparing himself to the other staff who are more qualified, he began to realize the importance of further education which drove him to take random online courses to better himself.
In 2021, he learned about the eGraduate program through his former teacher and sought enrolment. He began studying for a Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (HSC) and subsequently progressed to complete the HSC Level 5 Diploma in 2024, balancing work and evening classes. E-graduate courses are jointly funded by the eGraduate College and ElShaddai Centre through a scholarship scheme which requires a minimal contribution (5-10%) by deserving students.
With the Level 5 Diploma, Fay progressed on with the aim to graduate in Jan 2025, the final year of BSc (Hons) degree in Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care, a distance learning program offered by Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. He was offered a one year scholarship by Fugee HiEd.
Fay attributed his success to commitment and determination, and the support of caring people in faith-based organizations. He fondly remembers the encouragement of his ERLC teachers, saying, “My journey started with class 2 in ElShaddai.”
Fay is like a light that shines bringing hope to other young people in the marginalized and displaced community. He is a role model for those determined to reach for their dreams. ElShaddai Education and ElShaddai Advance Vocational Education are pathways for these underprivileged children and young people to unleash their potential and see their dreams became a reality.
