Funded by the Global Horizons Fund at BU, which helps students finance trips overseas to discover new cultures, nine BA Sociology & Social Policy and BA Sociology & Anthropology students worked at both the House of Hope and the Peace Learning Centre in Penang, Malaysia.聽
The students spent nearly three weeks working with refugees, children and families affected by poverty, and presented their findings to an audience of academics and course mates at BU鈥檚 Executive Business Centre which was organised by Professor Sara Ashencaen Crabtree Professor of Social & Cultural Diversity at BU.
Student Maya Boland said: 鈥淲e saw a lot of potential in some of the boys that we worked with. I鈥檝e had the opportunity to do nice things, but these children are limited by what they can achieve due to their citizenship.
As social science students, we felt this was a really valuable experience where we were required to work in the community. We really became Malaysians for a month, we left for work in the morning like they did, and we lived like they did, in a residential condo in a predominantly Chinese and Malaysian neighbourhood.鈥�
Student Crystal Nicholson added: 鈥淲e really gained a strong attachment to the country and we鈥檙e still in contact with lots of the people that we met. The trip has allowed us to translate our skills globally and we鈥檙e really grateful to those that helped us along the way.鈥�
Professor Crabtree said: 鈥淲e have an excellent relationship with Universiti Sains Malaysia, of many years standing.聽 Each cohort of BU social science students choosing their Malaysia international placement has the opportunity to engage in truly unique work-based placements in Penang that would not be on offer in the UK or probably elsewhere - and we have enjoyed many successful placements to-date.
鈥淣one, however, have been more successful than this year鈥檚 trip where our BA Sociology & Social Policy and BA Sociology & Anthropology students excelled themselves in terms of their enthusiasm for and commitment to their various, challenging placements, their appetite to learn, help and immerse themselves in the local culture.鈥�
She added: 鈥淚 can speak volumes about how proud we are of these students and what bright futures we believe they have. Thank you to the Universiti Sains Malaysia, and very well done to our participating 鈥楽oc+鈥� students - outstanding BU ambassadors all.鈥�
Professor Azlinda Azman, Dean of the School of Social Sciences at USM, who facilitates placements in Malaysia alongside Professor Crabtree, said: 鈥淚t was wonderful to have the students here.聽 The girls and the two boys have been behaving very well and they are all adorable and motivated young people鈥�.聽
