Little Didi with Big Dreams
Deek Penaniy means House of Knowledge in the Semai language. This community-based education centre in Ladang CARE aims to offer early childhood education to the Orang Asli (OA) community, fostering their interest in learning and improving basic literary skills.
“Eh, today is Tuesday, right? Didi won’t be in class.” – said all teachers at Deek Penaniy.
You might find this statement odd. Why were the teachers so certain Didi would not attend class on Tuesdays? And why was nothing being done about it?
Didi first joined Deek Penaniy in July 2023. I was doing the usual school run in our old pick-up truck, picking up children from Kampung Sungai Cincin, when two new faces stopped my truck and shyly asked, “Can we join the class?” One of them was Didi.
He came to class with a shy attitude, but Didi was well-behaved. Quiet, respectful, and observant, he would always finish his homework diligently. Over time, he opened up and started volunteering to wash cups and plates, wiping tables, and caring for the younger children.
But there was one consistent pattern: every Tuesday, Didi was absent.
After noticing the trend, we asked around, and finally asked him directly. His answer was a surprise:
“My mum does not let me come to class on Tuesdays.”
“Why only Tuesdays? What about other days” we asked.
“Because that is her day off. She would be home. On other days, I can sneak out to class.”
We later visited his home to understand more. We learned that his mother was not against education. She was just deeply protective and concerned for her child’s safety. After the meeting with his mother, he would attend the classes everyday except for Tuesdays so he could spend time with her on her off day.
Fast forward to 2024, due to some unforeseen circumstances, both teachers and children had to walk to and from Deek Penaniy.
We could only manage one pick-up time – 2:30pm. Didi took the initiative to gather his friends at the pick-up point before the teacher arrives. If he ever missed the pick-up time, he would find a relative to walk him to class.
Didi has a dream: to become a teacher. He would observe how the teachers conduct classes, and mimics their teaching methods. In his free time, he will be the little teacher teaching the younger children. The whiteboard and teaching materials are his favourite “toys” – his training tools for his future career.
His mother, due to her busy schedule, found it difficult to attend our events. Usually, she sent someone on her behalf. But last year, something remarkable happened. At our class party, Didi received the “Best Academic Award” and his mother was there to see it. Unbeknownst to us, she had intentionally arranged to swap her day off with a colleague just to be there.
I will never forget the smile of pride and joy on her face as her son was recognised.
Since then, the “Tuesday tradition” has ended. Didi now confidently attends every class, including Tuesdays to learn and play with his favourite “toys”. His persistence paid off. His mother witnessed one of his proudest moments, and it opened her heart to support his education journey.
Even as a child, Didi taught us something important: initiative, consistency, and quiet determination can move hearts. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn. We pray that many more children like Didi will continue to grow and dream through their time at Deek Penaniy.
Story written by Quinney Ong, a Malaysian CARE employee who works amongst indigenous children, focusing on education development and promoting parental awareness and support for their learning journey.