Recognising the persistent English literacy gap affecting underprivileged B40 children through its long-standing engagement with sponsored homes and learning centres, Soroptimist International Damansara organised a Spelling Bee competition for the children from five (5) homes and learning centres. The competition was intentionally designed to strengthen spelling and reading foundations through progressive learning, ignite excitement and motivation for learning, build confidence especially among weaker learners in a supportive, interactive environment where children could experience achievement. To further support their learning, its longstanding partners, Yayasan MR D.I.Y. supported the competition with the inclusion of its STEM kit activities during the event.
Participants came from Soroptimist International Damansara’s sponsored homes and learning centres: Rumah Aman Children’s Home, Program Akademik dan Insaniah (PADI), Desa Mentari B2 Learning Centre, Myanmar Refugee Community Learning Centre (MRCLC) and Rumah Hope. In total, over 130 children benefitted from the initiative through pre‑competition coaching sessions and preliminary rounds, with nearly 70 children progressing to the final competition.
Many of the children from these homes grow up in environments marked by learning poverty, overcrowded classrooms and limited or unequal access to quality educational resources. With minimal exposure to English at home, they struggle with foundational skills such as reading and spelling, impacting confidence and long-term academic prospects.
The project achieved what it set out to do on both academic and developmental levels. Children who were initially hesitant to speak in English became progressively more willing to participate, with quiet learners volunteering to spell words aloud and students previously perceived as weaker demonstrating noticeable improvement. These changes were observed consistently by teachers, caregivers and Soroptimist International Damansara members throughout the project cycle.