Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal

Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal đź“š Literacy for All. The Bajau Laut sea nomads have been residing in the Coral Triangle for centuries. Unfortunately, many of them are not recognised in Malaysia.

One Stateless Child At A Time 🙇‍♂️ 📍Pulau Omadal, Sabah
🌊 Education • Healthcare • Marine Conservation • Waste Management • Media & Production • Documentation 💪
🌟 2026 Grant recipient: Yayasan Hasanah and M*F | Yayasan MySGD Sekolah Bajau Laut Omadal is also known as Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal (in the Bajau language), is a community based children led school for the undocumented Bajau Laut (Sama Di

Laut) children who are in Pulau Omadal, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. They are undocumented, hence they cannot move around freely. They are subsistence fishermen. Many of them do not know Bahasa Malaysia (BM), the national language of the country they reside in. Hence, this school hopes to provide the children with basic language skill in BM, simple arithmetic and art classes. The classes will be conducted by the Bajau children who are living in the same island. If you would like to donate, please go here: https://goo.gl/CLhLYE.

Today, we have a little visitor at Iskul — two-year-old Adli! 💕Adli is Bina’s little brother. Bina is one of our student...
15/08/2026

Today, we have a little visitor at Iskul — two-year-old Adli! 💕

Adli is Bina’s little brother. Bina is one of our students in Ahungun Class (Level 2). Today, Bina had to bring Adli along to Iskul because their mom is away in Semporna, is taking part in Iskul’s Family Planning programme to receive her IM Depo injection.

We’re so glad that Bina knows Iskul as a safe space to learn — a place where, when there’s a need, they can bring their siblings along and still attend class. 💚

This is what an inclusive learning space looks like to us: understanding that children’s lives don’t always fit neatly into a classroom schedule, and making sure that family responsibilities don’t become a barrier to learning.

Thank you, Yayasan MySGD, for enabling us to operate this way. And thank you to Yayasan Hasanah and the Ministry of Finance for supporting our Family Planning programme.

Indeed, it takes a whole-of-society effort to uplift the most marginalised among us. We are only as strong as our weakest, and when we support one another, everyone wins. đź’š

P.S. Adli is one of the little pre-term twins who survived with the support of Iskul and our supporters through his NICU and medical journey over the past two years. We are so grateful to see how much he has grown!

We’re especially thankful to everyone who contributed to his medical needs and milk supply during the first 1.5 years of his life — and especially to Dr Tini, whose care and support made such a difference to his journey. 💕

Last Thursday, 13 August, the Iskul Marine Conservation Group (IMCG), consisting of 9 dedicated members, carried out a C...
15/08/2026

Last Thursday, 13 August, the Iskul Marine Conservation Group (IMCG), consisting of 9 dedicated members, carried out a Coral Spider Frame Cleaning activity involving two spider frames. The diving session was divided into two groups, with one session conducted in the morning and another in the afternoon.

During the activity, 12 coral fragments were replaced on each spider frame. The coral fragments that were replaced were those that had died due to several factors, including the impacts of fish poisoning activities and siltation. Replacing these dead fragments helps ensure that the frames remain healthy and suitable for continued coral growth.

It was also encouraging to see that the surviving coral fragments have continued to grow and are gradually becoming larger and more established.

This activity is part of our ongoing commitment to coral restoration and marine conservation, while also allowing our team to monitor coral growth and maintain the spider frames for long-term reef rehabilitation.

A huge thank you to the trainers from Larapan Marine Conservation Group for sharing their knowledge, providing guidance, and assisting our team throughout the sessions. Your support and expertise are greatly appreciated.

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia’s (SABM) Social Inclusion Agenda is what sparked and inspired the founding of Iskul through ou...
05/08/2026

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia’s (SABM) Social Inclusion Agenda is what sparked and inspired the founding of Iskul through our co-founder, Ee Chia.

Ee Chia worked closely with the SABM Core Group and the late Haris Ibrahim from 2009 to 2014. Her master’s studies and thesis were grounded in the spirit of SABM and the essence of its Social Inclusion Agenda. The vision of nation-building by including those who have been left behind, together with her faith, became the inspiration behind her master’s research and, eventually, the co-founding of Iskul.

Today marks the third anniversary of Haris Ibrahim’s passing. In memory of his fight for the underserved and his vision of including them in the nation’s story, SABM has launched the Gift of Inclusion (GoI) campaign.

We are honoured to be part of this campaign. It reminds us that even in his passing, Haris continues to build bridges—bringing together his networks and the people who share his passion to serve those in need. His legacy continues to inspire and connect us in ways that make hope possible for many.

Thank you, Haris, and thank you, SABM.

Bridging Healthcare Gaps on Omadal Island30 July 2026 – The Omadal Community Health Centre conducted another teleconsult...
03/08/2026

Bridging Healthcare Gaps on Omadal Island

30 July 2026 – The Omadal Community Health Centre conducted another teleconsultation session to support pregnant women in the Bajau Laut community on Omadal Island. The session brought together Iskul’s lead doctor, Dr Atiqah, and three Community Health Helpers (CHHs), community members trained and mentored by the Iskul team to provide basic health monitoring and connect families with healthcare providers.

Many pregnant stateless Bajau Laut women face significant barriers to accessing maternal healthcare, including financial constraints, geographical isolation, language barriers, limited access to health information, and lack of legal documentation. As a result, many pregnancies go without regular antenatal care.

Iskul began as a community-based learning centre for stateless and undocumented children. Over the years, we came to understand that education cannot be separated from health, legal identity, and community wellbeing. Supporting children means supporting the wider ecosystem around them—including mothers, families, and the community as a whole.

During this session, expectant mothers received basic health assessments, education on pregnancy danger signs, prenatal supplements, and follow-up recommendations through teleconsultation with Dr Atiqah.

While teleconsultations are not a replacement for comprehensive antenatal care, they provide an important safety net by helping identify potential risks early and encouraging timely referrals.

Our goal is to continue these monthly sessions as part of Iskul’s commitment to building a healthier, more resilient community.

đź’™ Every child deserves a healthy start in life, and every mother deserves care, support, and the opportunity to experience a safe pregnancy.

We are grateful to Yayasan Hasanah Yayasan Hasanah and the Kementerian Kewangan🇲🇾 Ministry of Finance for walking alongside us on this journey.

1 Aug 2026 Our Omadal Island Exploration was successfully carried out through the collaboration of the organising commit...
02/08/2026

1 Aug 2026 Our Omadal Island Exploration was successfully carried out through the collaboration of the organising committee, Iskul teachers, and all participating students. The activity brought together 46 participants and was designed to build self confidence through problem solving and teamwork, while promoting physical fitness through active challenges.

The programme began with a briefing by Rendy, the activity director, followed by a short aerobic warm-up at Padang Pasir. Students were then divided into eight groups, with each group starting at a different station to complete a series of missions. Iskul teachers and members of the local community served as facilitators at each station.

The eight stations were located at:

1. Omadal Island Main Jetty
2. In Front of the Mosque
3. In Front of the Omadal Island Museum/Heritage Centre
4. Futsal Court
5. Long Jetty
6. Pedestrian Walkway
7. Beside the Cemetery
8. Omadal Island Beach

The programme concluded with a closing ceremony and the celebration of Iskul’s 11th Anniversary, honouring Iskul’s 11-year journey of walking alongside the stateless community on Omadal Island by expanding access to education, healthcare, birth registration, leadership opportunities, and environmental stewardship.

The event ended with a prize-giving ceremony for the winning teams.

A heartfelt thank you to Yayasan MySDG for your continued support!

One month ago, our Vocational students gathered to plan an activity of their own. As part of Iskul’s commitment to build...
01/08/2026

One month ago, our Vocational students gathered to plan an activity of their own. As part of Iskul’s commitment to building students’ confidence and leadership through active participation, each student was invited to propose an activity for the group.

With guidance and mentorship from the Iskul team, the students discussed their ideas, presented their proposals, and voted on the activity they wanted to organise. The idea proposed by Rendy—Omadal Island Exploration—was unanimously selected by the group.

From there, the students took the lead in organising the programme, holding several planning meetings to develop the itinerary, assign responsibilities, and prepare everything needed. The exploration is set to take place on 1 August 2026 (Saturday), a date that also marks Iskul’s 11th anniversary.

The activity aims to strengthen the students’ confidence as they work together to solve challenges and complete tasks throughout the exploration. It also encourages teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and physical fitness through an outdoor adventure around their own island.

As part of the preparations, on 30 July 2026, Rendy, Majali, and Bayu travelled to Semporna via the transit route to purchase the supplies needed for the programme. While supported by the Iskul team throughout the process, the students are taking ownership of bringing their own ideas to life—an important step in developing their confidence and leadership.

Thank you Yayasan MySDG for making this possible!

Iskul Community Health Program | Volunteer Doctors Visit #1 (April 2026)Access to healthcare remains one of the greates...
27/07/2026

Iskul Community Health Program | Volunteer Doctors Visit #1 (April 2026)

Access to healthcare remains one of the greatest challenges faced by the stateless communities living on and around Omadal Island.

In April 2026, Iskul launched the first Volunteer Doctors Visit under our Community Health Programme. Led by our lead doctor, Dr Atiqah, and working alongside our Community Health Helpers (CHHs), the visit focused on strengthening access to healthcare, building local capacity, and improving our Community Health Centre (CHC).

Highlights from the Visit

đź©ş Infectious Skin Disease Survey
We conducted household surveys to establish baseline data on the prevalence of infectious skin diseases and better understand the hygiene and environmental factors associated with disease transmission. These findings will help us co-design targeted public health interventions with the community.

🏥 Strengthening the CHC
We refurbished the CHC and restocked essential over-the-counter medications to improve access to basic healthcare.

🤰Maternal & Neonatal Health
We conducted a health education session for local women on maternal health, postpartum care and child health

đź©ş Maternal & Neonatal Health
We conducted a health education session for local women on maternal health, postpartum care and child health

💙 Supporting Women’s Health
Ten women were enrolled in a two-year IM Depo family planning programme following medical assessment and counselling.

Challenges We Continue to Face

👶 Infant Nutrition
Recently, our CHHs found a newborn being fed air beras (rice water), a practice sometimes used when a mother’s breast milk has not yet come in. The experience highlighted the need for better emergency newborn support and has prompted us to explore providing a short-term supply of infant formula for similar situations, while continuing to promote breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for newborns.

We are grateful to our lead doctor, Community Health Helpers, Yayasan Hasanah , the Kementerian Kewangan🇲🇾 , our partners, and the Omadal community for making this work possible.

Several homes now have lights ✨For years, many families in the stateless community in Omadal have lived in darkness afte...
25/07/2026

Several homes now have lights ✨

For years, many families in the stateless community in Omadal have lived in darkness after sunset. Today, it was heartwarming to see several homes illuminated for the very first time.

Through our collaboration with NUS College Impact Experience (NUSC), solar lights were provided to the families of our students, our community teachers, and the Iskul team.

This partnership was about more than providing solar lights. The NUSC students partnered with the Iskul team to better understand the community’s needs. They then researched suitable solar lighting options, which we field-tested in Omadal before working together on the logistics and distribution.

Today, the NUSC students demonstrated how to install and use the solar lights with the Iskul community. Our student, Mutasli, served as the session’s translator, confidently interpreting the instructions in the local language. Community members then installed the lights in their own homes and learned how to maintain them independently.

Solar lights have also been allocated for the bridge to WAPO and the Balai Raya, with installation planned soon. Four additional solar lights were handed over to the JKKK for Kampung Omadal Hujung’s use.

Every partner played a role. We hope this inspires more meaningful collaborations in the future. đź’›

Listening First: Co-Designing Future Initiatives on Early Marriage24 & 30 June — Before designing any initiative on earl...
21/07/2026

Listening First: Co-Designing Future Initiatives on Early Marriage

24 & 30 June — Before designing any initiative on early marriage, we wanted to listen.

We held three discussion sessions with Iskul’s female students, male students, and mothers to better understand the community’s aspirations, social norms, and the factors that influence decisions around marriage.

Instead of starting with awareness messages about early marriage, we invited the community to talk about their hopes and aspirations for the future. We asked students what they enjoy most about Iskul and what they hope for in the future. Many shared that they wanted to earn an income and support their families before getting married.

The conversations were rich and honest. Some students even acted out what typically happens during a wedding ceremony, while others shared stories of turning down marriage proposals—with their mothers respecting their decision. Meanwhile, some mothers said they would respect their children’s decision if they were not ready for marriage, while others shared that they sometimes feel obliged to accept a lamaran (marriage proposal) when one is made. Many also hoped to celebrate their children’s weddings while grandparents are still alive.

Despite these different perspectives, both students and parents shared the same hope: a better future for the next generation.

The students have since expressed a strong interest in sessions on future planning. We see this as a meaningful starting point to explore education, livelihoods, relationships, and informed decisions about marriage.

We believe lasting change begins not by telling communities what to do, but by listening, understanding, and designing solutions together.

If you have experience working with communities on early marriage or positive youth development, we’d love to learn from you. Feel free to share your experiences or reach out—we’re always open to exchanging ideas and learning together. 💚

Today, Iskul classes ran from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The day began with breakfast, reading time, and our morning assemb...
18/07/2026

Today, Iskul classes ran from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The day began with breakfast, reading time, and our morning assembly, where we celebrated our students’ efforts and achievements together.

Today was also the appointment of our class leaders. Through this, we hope to nurture leadership, responsibility, and confidence, while encouraging students to become positive role models for one another.

At Iskul, we have six classes, from Level 0 to Level 4. Students are not grouped by age, but by their learning progress, readiness, discipline, and overall development. This allows every child to learn at a pace that best supports their growth.

Thank you, Yayasan MySDG , for your continued support in helping us create a safe, meaningful learning environment where every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive.

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Pulau Omadal
Semporna

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