In the wake of Myanmar’s military coup, thousands of people have been displaced. Many lost their homes, families, and hopes for the future. For some, the only choice was to flee to other countries, including Malaysia, even at great risk.
Yet arrival in Malaysia brings its own challenges. Newcomers face unfamiliar languages, different cultural norms, and stories of harassment, arrest, or discrimination. Many arrive carrying trauma from their homeland and their difficult journey.
It is into this reality that the Crossroads programme was born. A collaboration between NGOs, refugee community-based organizations, and the local Church, Crossroads aims to provide orientation, guidance, and above all, a sense of dignity and welcome to newly arrived asylum seekers from Myanmar. Now in its fifth cycle, Crossroads has served 198 beneficiaries across multiple communities.
Helping Refugees Integrate
Over five days, participants are guided in navigating their new lives. They are introduced to Malaysian culture, language, and the diversity of society. Sessions on the legal framework and human rights equip them with practical knowledge for dealing with authorities and protecting themselves in cases of arrest or detention. Other sessions cover essential aspects of daily life: social etiquette, employment opportunities, education pathways, personal hygiene, family planning, and strategies for managing mental health and trauma.
These are not abstract lessons but concrete tools that help restore confidence and reduce fear of the unknown. Underlying all of this is a simple message: “We see you, you are not alone.” As Pope Francis has often reminded the world, migrants and refugees are not mere numbers but faces, names, and stories, brothers and sisters created in the image of God.
The Journey to Crossroads
Crossroads is a project of Young Lives Malaysia, one of the missions of Fondacio Asia. Beginning in March 2017, Young Lives offered night classes in English for refugees, each course lasting four months.
As the situation of refugees evolved, Young Lives discerned “the signs of the times” and expanded its outreach to more community development. This led to the creation of Crossroads, focusing more directly on integration and empowerment. Transitioning into an NGO opened new service opportunities, strengthened by the close support of Archbishop Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur, who consistently calls the Church to care for “the last, the least, the lost, and the little.”
In 2025, the mission deepened when Young Lives was formally commissioned under the Archdiocesan Office for Human Development. This new chapter reminds the team that their work is not merely a social project, but also a response of faith, a way of living the Gospel.
Walking Together in Hope
Crossroads is only a beginning, but it is a sign that even in suffering, hope can be rebuilt when the Church, civil society, and refugee communities choose to walk together. Refugees still face many struggles, but Crossroads takes joy and pride in accompanying them through knowledge, friendship, and solidarity.
As Young Lives Malaysia looks ahead, its mission remains clear: to walk hand in hand with the displaced, restore dignity where it has been denied, and bear witness that the Gospel of love is alive in concrete acts of welcome. In this, the Church remains faithful to Christ, who Himself was once a refugee.
