Education should be made available to everyone. We are a modest student-led initiative that aims to improve the usage of English amongst Malaysian students from less-fortunate backgrounds. By doing this, we sincerely hope to tackle the education divide between the urban and rural children of Malaysia. We realize the enormity of this task, but we believe that our goals are achievable through the relentless spirit of our committee members and facilitators. An equal chance at a good education opens doors for young people, and we see our movement as a tiny, but sure step in helping solve the wider problem of poverty plaguing our society, Our focus also lies on students from high-performing schools, and this, we believe, is necessary in tackling the problem at both extremes. We welcome all Malaysian university students studying locally or globally to join us. This is the reason why we are committed to organize 2 major programmes, Kalsom Motivational Camp and English Enrichment Programme, which aim to address students from two different extreme ends. For more info, please visit www.projek-kalsom.org.

We hope our effort will help to address the social gap in the future, as the task ahead is not an overnight change.

Our pillars and objectives have been revamped into 4, to ensure a more focus and strategic approach:

1. The Usage of English Language

It is without a doubt that the grasp of the English language is an essential skill to survive in this globalised world and its importance is not limited to examinations purposes. However, the usage of this language is still at an unsatisfactory level, especially in rural areas. The entire Projek Kalsom is conducted in English and we attempt to instil the required skills through the modules designed to increase the confidence among the students to promote the use of the language in their daily conversation.

2. Exposure to Post-secondary Education Opportunities

Projek Kalsom exposes the students to options and opportunities offered in tertiary education. We aim to show the students that they do not have to do traditional subjects if they do not want to, as they can opt for many other non-traditional subjects that might appeal to their interest. They will be exposed to non-traditional educational pathways such as going into business courses to start their own small businesses if they choose not to pursue the usual traditional pathways.

3. Development of Academic and Non-Academic Skills

Academic skills such as note-taking, effective-studying and memorizing are important for those who are going to sit for important examinations such as SPM. Unfortunately, not all students are exposed o these techniques. Hence, we aimed to equip the students with these skills besides nurturing nonacademic skills such as leadership, teamwork, creative-thinking and entrepreneurial skills.

4. Nurturing the Kalsom Spirit Among Beneficiaries and Stakeholders

We realise that our stakeholders and beneficiaries are the main force in Projek Kalsom. To ensure maximum interest and commitment from our esteemed sponsors, we hope to convey the message of the Kalsom spirit – the Projek Kalsom is so much more than a one week motivational programme, but a force that drives us to make a difference in our society.

FUTURE PROGRAMMES

1. PROJEK KALSOM ONE WEEK MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAMME

• A week camp that will be held in Sabah for the first time in 22 years, gathering form 4 students from various areas in Sabah. This camp is aimed to tackle all the 4 pillars of The Kalsom Movement. The modules created will be based on the 4 pillars

2. KALSOM HARAPAN ONE YEAR MONITORING

• A year programme to monitor the students’ performance comprising of Monitoring Plan and Impact measurement. Kalsom Harapan is a ‘package’ to maximize our impacts.

a) Monitoring Plan (Kalsom School)

• Kalsom Mentor & Mentee Programme – To provide mentors for our beneficiaries for regular discussions via an online platform. It has always been our main motivation to boost English usage by our beneficiaries as well as to keep inspiring them. thus, this programme is created to progressively improve their proficiency in English through fun and interactive learning sessions with the mentors.
• Kalsom Tuition Programme – to strengthen the understanding of subjects learnt at school, we aim to provide tuition support for the beneficiaries. This way, subsequent improvement can be measured and keep tracked from the end of Projek Kalsom 21 Motivational Camp until start of SPM.
• Kalsom Book Buddies Programme – to nurture reading culture among beneficiaries. Teacher in each school will act as Kalsom officer to verify their achievement. Incentives will be offered to students who manage to complete filling in the ‘Kalsom Journal’.
• My Kalsom Journal – a new initiative in form of a journal designed by the strategic development team that serves as a multi-purpose tool. In the journal, it consists of organizer, Kalsom book club, self-progress, Kalsom officers feedback and Kalsom online material information.
• Kalsom Online Portal – consists of Kalsom forum, Alumni access, online learning, and Information regarding scholarships.

b) Impact Measurement

Short Term Plan

• Surveys and Video Interviews by Participants – Will be given out to participants before and after programme to analyse their performance.
• Facilitators’ Account of Participants’ Progress – Facilitators will monitor the participants’ performance closely through out the camp. By the end of every day, facilitators will be given a form with a list of criteria from scale 1 to 5 written on i it.
• Survey for facilitators – This will be given to facilitators at the end of the camp.
• Publicity: social media database and number of volunteers applied

Long Term Plan

• My Kalsom Journal – A personalized Kalsom journal are designed and will be given out to each participating student. The diary is designed in a simple yet measurement effective format.
• Examination results – the participating schools will be providing the test results for impact measurement purpose.
• Success stories and testimonials – any students or facilitators are encouraged to share their stories and achievements for personal development as well as making a change for the community.

All participants of the English Enrichment Programme will be required to take an English test before and after the programme. To maximise the impact, Kalsom Harapan will take place afterwards which will be explained further. Another survey will be conducted after the plan to ensure the effectiveness of our modules. All stakeholders will receive an extensive report regarding the outcome of the programme.

During Projek Kalsom Motivational Camp, participants will develop close bonds with their facilitators. Facilitators will be expected to identify the most underprivileged student in their respective groups on the very first day in order to monitor closely their progress throughout the programme. By the end of every day throughout the camp, facilitators will be given a form with a list of criteria and rating scale (1 to 5) written on it.

Projek Kalsom shall continue its efforts until the students finish their SPM and start to enter tertiary education. This programme aims to act as a monitoring scheme for the progress and impact of Projek Kalsom. This is a continuous one-year initiative that begins from the date that Projek Kalsom starts. Under this monitoring system, several mechanisms will be carried out.

a) Kalsom Reflective Journal (‘My Kalsom Journal’)

A personalized Kalsom journal will be designed and given out to each participating student. The diary shall be designed in a simple yet measurement-effective format to ensure students do not feel burdened and will commit to writing in the diary voluntarily throughout a period of one year.

b) Examination results

Participating schools which have agreed to be committed in providing student development information to the Kalsom movement committee will be expected to submit participating students’ test/examination results for impact measurement purposes. The Kalsom movement will work towards creating an online database for teachers to key in students’ examination results and report on students’ improvement in class.

c) Achievements in Competitions / Further Initiatives by Kalsom Beneficiaries

In order to measure the long-term impact of every programme held by The Kalsom Movement, we will also take into account personal or group achievements that prove our beneficiaries’ progress.