A New Chapter for Fugee: Celebrating Our New Space and a Bigger, Brighter Future!

This year marks a monumental milestone for the Fugee family. We have successfully moved into a bigger and better space: a four-storey building that is already transforming the educational experience for refugee children in Malaysia.

It’s a moment that makes us pause and reflect on just how far we’ve come.

From Humble Beginnings: The Fugee Origin Story

Every great journey starts with a single step, and Fugee’s began in 2009 with a profound, chance encounter. Our founder, Deborah Henry, met four Somali siblings who, despite their dreams and potential, had no access to formal education. What started as simple, private tuition sessions soon ignited a larger mission, as Deborah realised the critical, unmet need for quality, structured education among the refugee community in Malaysia.

Our first home was a modest apartment. From those simple beginnings, we quickly grew. The next step was a move to a single shoplot unit, which expanded our capacity to reach more students. As our student numbers swelled, we adapted yet again, expanding into two shoplot units. These early spaces, though challenging, were always filled with boundless energy, hope, and the sound of children learning. But as our commitment deepened, so did the need for a facility that truly matched our growing aspirations.

Welcome to Our Dream Space!

We are ecstatic to finally be in our new home. This isn't just a bigger space; it’s a dedicated centre designed to provide a holistic and empowering education.

In our previous location, limited classroom space forced us to implement demanding half-day sessions (AM/PM) to ensure every student received an education. Now, that challenge is a thing of the past!

The new facility allows for full-day, consistent learning by providing an individual, dedicated classroom for each year level. Beyond simply increasing capacity, we can now offer a much richer educational environment with specialised facilities. Our students now have access to a science lab for hands-on discovery and libraries designed to foster a lifelong love for reading and research.

Furthermore, we’ve prioritised holistic development. Our Montessori-inspired Kindergarten now includes a dedicated play gym area, essential for movement and play therapy to support both mental and physical health.

The entire community will benefit from the large cafeteria/hall, which serves as a hub for shared meals, assemblies, and crucial community events. Finally, our team is working more efficiently than ever in better-equipped offices, ensuring the smooth running of all our programmes.

A Community Built on Generosity

This incredible move was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our friends and partners. This space is a testament to the power of collective compassion, and we extend our deepest gratitude to those who brought this dream to life.

We owe special thanks to the Robert Ho Foundation, =Dreams Asia and Wenya Foundation for their significant financial contributions. We also wish to acknowledge the crucial support from our board members, including Thomas Knudsen and Yati Zainuddin, alongside Nazir Razak and Marcus Chan, for their generous donations.

The vision for the space was realised through the expertise of Sabirin Rosli, and the building itself was furnished with the support of partners: Guocera provided beautiful, quality tiles, while Haskell Malaysia and Streamline Studios equipped our new space with essential furniture.

And to the countless individuals, volunteers, and donors—thank you. You have invested in the potential of every Fugee child.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we settle into our new home, we are filled with excitement for what the future holds. We look forward to 2026 being a year of deeper learning, greater stability, and stronger community building in this wonderful new space.

This is more than just a school—it's a sanctuary, a launchpad, and a symbol of hope. Here, refugee children will not just survive; they will thrive.

Join us in this new chapter! Your continued support helps us keep the doors of opportunity open wide.