Journey - A Refugee Related Short Story by Adam Jodrie

Zafran is a 16 years old boy who has lived in Malaysia for almost a year now. He came to Malaysia alone, leaving his family in Myanmar. He has to leave the country to help his family to survive. Zafran lived in a rental room above a shop lot where he had to pay RM300 per month for the room rental. He is working as a shop assistant at a small hardware shop. The shop is owned by a Chinese couple. They had a 16 year old son named Chen.
Since Zafran never went to school, he did not know how to read or write. He could only count one to ten, that is because he could only count his own fingers. Chen is a very hardworking boy. He always spends his time at the shop doing his school work. Sometimes Chen will study using online websites or by watching YouTube. Zafran felt jealous of Chen because he did not have the same privilege as Chen. It is not a bad kind of jealousy, it is more like a sad kind of jealousy. They are of the same age but had a totally different fate in life. However, Chen is a very kind boy. He realised that Zafran shows deep interest to know what he was doing whenever he is studying. Chen will spend some time secretly teaching Zafran during his break. Chen teaches Zafran basic reading, writing and some basic calculation.
One day, a middle-aged man came to the store to buy some floor mat. That man is Professor Amran from Universiti Malaya. He wanted to buy the floor mat for his new home. Prof Amran called Zafran to get him a 20 metres floor mat but divided into 10 similar sizes. Zafran tried to calculate how each roll should be. He was struggling to do the calculation. Prof Amran could not believe a teenage boy like Zafran could not do a simple mathematical calculation. Seeing Zafran with a confused look on his face, Prof Amran asked why Zafran just stood there and not giving what he was asking for. That was when Zafran told him that he needed some time to calculate the measurement since he never went to school. Prof Amran was shocked so he asked why Zafran did not go to school. Zafran told him that he is a refugee and due to poverty, he never got the chance to be in school. Hearing this, he asked if Zafran would like to learn. He told Zafran that he is a university professor and he could help Zafran to study for International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). Prof Amran even told Zafran that he could find a sponsor to pay for the IGCSE examination fees. The only question is, whether or not Zafran is willing to spend at least three hours daily and sacrifice his resting time after work to study with Professor Amran. It is such happy news and a great offer for Zafran. Without thinking much, he said yes to the offer.
As promised, Prof Amran assisted Zafran in his study. At first Zafran would have to spend some money for his transport to go to Prof Amran’s house. After several months, as advised by Prof Amran, Zafran uses the money he had saved to buy a cheap laptop. After he bought a laptop, they can continue doing Zafran’s study using google meet. By doing this, Zafran gets to save his money for the transport and he gets a longer time to rest since he does not have to waste his time waiting for the bus and walking from one station to another.
Apart from being assisted by Prof Amran, Zafran put extra effort in his study by learning more subjects through online lessons on free education websites as well as watching YouTube videos related to education. The free study session provided by Prof Amran went on for almost two years. After almost two years, Prof Amran decided that it is time for Zafran to sit for the IGCSE examination.
As expected by Prof Amran, Zafran passed his IGCSE with flying colours. Zafran thought that was the end of his education journey but apparently Prof Amran has a bigger plan for him. Prof Amran asked whether Zafran would like to go for university and enrol for any Foundation course. It is a preparatory course before going for a Bachelor Degree. Hearing this, Zafran was overwhelmed but he knows for sure it is not possible since he did not have the money and he also needed to work to support his family back in Myanmar. Prof Amran told him that there are scholarships available for Zafran to pursue his study. However, he may need to choose online mode since he would have to continue working while at the same time trying to earn a Foundation Certificate as well as a Bachelor Degree.
Zafran did not mind doing online learning if that could make him save time and money. He knows it is not going to be easy but he is grateful enough to be given such an opportunity. After they both made a deal, Zafran started living a double life. He is a working adult at day time and a full-time student at night. It was never easy but giving up is not an option.
Zafran was 19 years old when he started his journey as a student of Foundation in Business Management. He went straight for his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and Management. Zafran graduated from his Bachelor Degree at the age of 25. He still continues working at the same shop but it is a big shop now because Chen, the son of the shop owner, is taking over the business. Chen hired Zafran as the branch manager with a higher salary.
At the age of 30, Zafran got his confirmation letter for a resettlement in the United States of America. He felt nervous about it but he knows this is what he has been waiting for. He went for it and started a new chapter in his life. With the qualification, skills and experience he has in business, Zafran managed to open his own company after living in the states for almost 10 years. It is a giant company supplying products for construction companies. With the extra profit he made, Zafran opened his own private school in Malaysia for all the refugees there. He tried his best to provide the opportunity for education among the refugees in Malaysia.
Zafran managed to open 10 private schools under his name in Malaysia. He continues to provide free education for the refugee students and training for the teachers who are teaching at the school. 
The journey that Zafran had to go through is never an easy journey. You may read this story in less than 30 minutes but Zafran’s journey and struggle took more than 30 years before he could finally achieve his success and give back to the community. It is true that education is the only way out, to be in a better world; not only for Zafran but for everyone who believes and is willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Let’s make Zafran’s journey a story to remind us about our own journey.