The good fight: Deborah Henry continues to do what's right

Deborah Priya Henry is committed to shaping futures through education and creativity. — photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

Since she co-founded Fugee School in 2009, Deborah Priya Henry has witnessed the educational journey of over 500 refugee children, and continues to follow their lives as they achieve various milestones.

After our photo shoot, as she sits down to chat about her various philanthropic endeavours, the 36-year-old philanthropist, emcee, TV host, model and beauty queen speaks fondly of her experiences with her students over the years.

“I think one key standout for me, is I follow a lot of the kids’ journeys when they get resettled,” says Henry. “Whether they end up in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, I see how their lives are, from graduating to getting married to having kids, and especially graduating from college and university, dressing up in their caps and gowns, for me that’s just – wow – because they come from countries where they were not able to fulfill that.”

She has always had a passion for helping people, solidifying her commitment to effect change when she founded Fugee School with her university friend Shikeen Halibullah.

It started out with four children from the Somali refugee community learning basic Mathematics and English, and today, more than 500 students have completed their education since it was first established.

Deborah Priya Henry continues to do right by marginalised communities.

Henry keeps in touch with most of them as they brave new challenges to build their futures abroad, and while many of them would have liked to remain in Malaysia, Henry is happy to see them start over elsewhere.

“Their time in Fugee School, being part of the Fugee family is really critical because it sets the foundation for them. So when they get resettled, they are then able to continue that journey, and that’s really powerful,” says Henry, adding that the school has transitioned to online learning for the time being due to the pandemic.

Apart from providing an education, personal growth in different ways is an important part of the school’s teachings: to encourage kids to dream.

She recalls a moment from when the school first opened: she did what her own mother used to do with her – she gave everyone paper and crayons and asked them to draw something.

“The kids sat there and they just did not know what to put on the paper, and I said, ‘draw a house, your family, a bird, a plane’. The papers were blank, and I realised that these kids’ imaginations were gone, many of them had gone through trauma,” she recalls.

“I expected them to draw something that was from my childhood, not theirs, you know. And that memory has really stuck with me.”

“Having an imagination is such a brilliant thing. Because an imagination is what people need to break the norm, to invent and to create, right? Or just simply to have the goal of being a teacher or a doctor or a lawyer or a journalist or whoever.”

Henry also set up Fugeelah in 2017, a conscious jewellery brand that educates, employs and empowers refugee children and youth.

“The connection with Fugeelah is really our idea of wanting to start something that can be profitable,” explains Henry. “The idea is we talk about sustainability as a profitable business. That can also change the narrative but we do that through jewellery and through pretty things. We use this tagline ‘little pleasures, big impact’ – by buying a pair of earrings or gifting it to someone will have a big impact on someone’s life.”

“So that’s kind of our idea with Fugeelah to build that brand. And obviously in supporting the community and the school, and being able to financially sustain ourselves a little bit more rather than just relying on fundraising all the time.”

Rallying together

Since the pandemic hit, more people have been trying to help out those in need in any way they can.

Right after our shoot, Henry headed straight to a food distribution drive, where she and a group of volunteers put together food and other items to be distributed to marginalised communities.

“What’s really heartening and uplifting is to see people really coming together. I see our Fugee bank account, some people give RM10, some people give RM50, some people give RM5,000 and it’s really inspiring and that’s what my Malaysia is about and that’s what we should be about.”

While helping out in this way meets an urgent need, it isn’t sustainable and a long-term solution is needed – what Henry is pushing for is for refugees to be allowed to work.

“It’s a critical, urgent movement, and of course nobody should go hungry, whoever you are,” she says. “We can’t sustain this for two to three years, it’s not possible. It’s a temporary measure but eventually people need to get jobs, training, they need help to get upskilled.

“We are a country that relies so much on migrant workers, we have millions of migrant workers here. There have been so many assessments and think tank studies done that say refugees can contribute to the economy, they will be a positive addition.”

“They’re not a homogenous society,” she adds. “There are doctors, there are professionals, and they can help in all sectors.”

For individuals, apart from donating to volunteering, Henry hopes people will take it a step further.

“If you’re in a position where you can give a job to a refugee, or give a scholarship to someone, if there are opportunities for you to support people like this, not in a way that’s just charity, but in a way that ‘teaches them how to fish’, then invest in those things,” she explains, adding that volunteering one’s skills where they are needed can also be a big help.

“It’s not just about donating money, but look at your companies, look at your skill set, if you’re a great graphic designer, web designer, or you do amazing digital content, donate those skills!”

Education being the core of what Fugee does, Henry encourages people to look at how they can help out, long term.

Since it was founded in 2009, Fugee School has helped over 500 students complete their education. photo: Fugee

One can sponsor the children’s education by pledging to donate to the school monthly.

“That’s where the investment needs to be. You don’t necessarily see change overnight but it’s generational. It’s a generational investment and I can’t think of anything much better than that.”

Another important element that contributes towards change is having social consciousness and using our voices.

“I think we are a young nation; we are learning how to use our voices beyond being keyboard warriors, we’re learning how we can be a force to be reckoned with. And when you use that force for good, you see change, you see impact, you see transformation.”

Staying the course

Witnessing the suffering and desperation of so many, especially in the current Covid-19 climate, can take a toll on people, and Henry is no exception.

“It’s very hard to do this, but because of all the donors we are able to do this food distribution, we facilitate it. But you come home after finishing hours of packing and you’re not like, ‘oh wow, I feel great about myself’. I feel heavy. And I feel like what on earth is happening in my country? How are we in a situation where people don’t have food to feed their kids?

“But I’m lucky that I have family and friends who are very supportive,” she says.

Where the school is concerned, she finds that the drive to keep going comes from being immersed in what she does.

“I think motivation comes from the fact that I’m close to what I do, I spend time with the students, I see the real outcome and change, and that’s really it. That’s the motivation that’s kept me going all these years,” says Henry.

She’s had her fair share of unpleasant comments directed at her on social media and while she does occasionally get triggered, she finds it helps to redirect her energy into positive things.

“Are you going to feed the hopelessness, anger and frustration, which is very justifiable, or are you going to feed the positive things?”

“For me, what’s always worked since I’ve been in my teens is I like working out, I have to be physical. Essentially, it’s just moving, whether it’s doing yoga, riding, going on trails, walking, I think it’s a philosophy for life to just keep moving. There are times to keep still but not to be stagnant.”

Long-term, Henry hopes to expand her work into setting up a foundation, while continuing to be involved in fashion and entertainment.

“This work that I do is always going to be a part of me and I have bigger visions for a foundation, beyond refugees. I’ve learned so much just within the refugee community. So really, what else happens beyond that? How else can I as an individual – with all I’ve learned, with all my privilege and network – do more in a more sustainable way? ““And of course, I love the fashion and entertainment industry. I’m very blessed that I’m still a part of it. And it still gives me that fun element in life, the different things that I experience that keep life exciting, not mundane and routine.”