This year, Fugee HiEd is expanding into vocational training with Messi Skills Academy-a certified TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) provider in Malaysia that aims for a faster, equally dignified path to employment and independence. We are raising 25000 USD to fund both courses for 30 pax in full, with a target launch of July 2026. Once we secure enough funding to confirm a minimum cohort, Messi Skills Academy will set a start date and we can begin onboarding our scholars.
For many refugee youth in Malaysia, the traditional university route is out of reach - not because of a lack of ambition, but because of real, structural barriers. Financial constraints, documentation challenges, and the urgent need to contribute to their families make a multi-year degree programme an impossible ask for many.
Vocational training offers something powerful: a faster, equally dignified path to employment and independence. It costs less, leads directly to work, and - as our conversations with Talent Lift have confirmed - skilled trades like electrical work are actively in demand, with qualifications that support resettlement and open doors to both formal and informal employment. This year, Fugee HiEd is taking a significant step forward by expanding into vocational training.
We have already seen what is possible when Fugee HiEd's piloted the vocational training with Sigma School to run a small-scale Full Stack Software Development Programme for refugee youth. Students reported high satisfaction with their learning journey, highlighting increased confidence. This demonstrates that the vocational training is a viable and impactful pathway for refugee youth when paired with strong mentorship, structured support, and realistic expectations around learning pace.
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