By Joanne Wong | Head of Programmes
“Reena”, her mom and 4 other siblings came to seek refuge at the WAO shelter in 2019. Her mother endured more than 15 years of abuse. She stayed on for the kids and with hopes that her husband would change someday. But it only got worse and to a point that “Reena” and her siblings did not attend school regularly as the situation at home was unrest. One day, the abuse was so bad that it drove her mother to a suicide attempt. Her mother was referred to WAO by a doctor in the hospital after a week of recovery in hospital. They all became WAO shelter residents soon after her discharge.
After being absent from school for 4 months, “Reena” was transferred to a secondary school in Petaling Jaya. The adjustment was not easy as she now only was it a new environment, but the stress of the crisis her family was facing. She struggled in class as she had missed many months of class. What worried her most was knowing she had to take her PT3 examinations in September.
WAO arranged tuition for English, Bahasa Malaysia, Science, Mathematics and History. “Reena” was determined to do well although it was a tough having missed 4 months of school. Though she was disappointed with her trial results, we continue to motivate her to study smart. Closer to the examinations we arranged for more tuition classes with intensive classes for her weakest subject History.
PT3 2019 Subject & Trial Results
Subject Trial Results Actual PT3 Results
English B A
Bahasa Malaysia E C
Matematik E D
Sains Fail E
Reka Bentuk Teknologi Fail E
Geografi Fail D
Sejarah Fail C
Her hard work paid off with much improved results in her PT3 examinations. She was very motivated and realised that she needed to continue to work hard to achieve better results. She knew that being the eldest of 5 siblings, she had to set an example to them. “Reena” is determined to do well in her SPM especially after seeing how difficult it has been for her mother to find a job without the SPM qualifications.
“Reena” also participated in all the other extra-curricular programs for the clients of WAO. With only 4 months of ukulele lessons at WAO, “Reena” was proud to perform for a live audience on 2 occasions. She also actively participates in all WAO sports programmes like futsal, badminton, yoga and body weight exercise classes. One of her favourite programme was Care2Run, a 10-week motivation programme.
She also attended the several WAO events for girls; Dream Big workshop with BodyShop, Love Your Body book launch with Scholastic & CRCM Report launch at Rumah Tangsi.
“Reena” has come a long way. She is diligent and very caring. She dotes on her siblings and is very organised. We are very proud of her achievements and the amazing personality she has.
“Reena’s” testimony: “I am now more confident and am able to come out from depression thanks to WAO. I have improved in my school work…..before I could not do mathematics and could not speak English, but now I can thanks to all the tuition and programme activities I have attended. I am now a happier me. Thank you WAO for helping my mother and us (children) from our abusive father and help me to go to school again….. for giving me a second chance to improve in my academic. Because of WAO I will continue to study harder and help my mother”
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