{
  "id": 522452,
  "title": "Cikgu Rafi’s free tuition centre helps children dream bigger",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/cikgu-rafis-free-tuition-centre-helps-children-dream-bigger",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T01:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/11/cikgu-rafi-s-free-tuition-centre-helps-children-dream-bigger"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abdul Rafi Abdul Karim, a 38-year-old teacher at SK Damansara Utama, runs a free tuition centre called Pekasih for underprivileged children in Kayu Ara. Rafi, originally from Perlis, transitioned from running a food bank during the pandemic to providing free education for children from B40 and low-income families. He took out a personal loan to establish the tuition centre, which operates every weekday evening, focusing on core subjects such as English, Science, and Mathematics. Rafi's own life experiences, including losing his father to cancer and overcoming a challenging upbringing, led him to provide the kindness and guidance that turned his life around. The tuition centre serves as a safe haven for children who may otherwise engage in illegal activities or spend excessive time on their devices. Rafi hopes that the discipline and support he provides will not only improve the children's academic performance but also inspire them to give back to others in the future. Despite his own health concerns, Rafi remains committed to his mission of giving back to the community.",
  "summary": "Through his non-profit Pekasih, Abdul Rafi Abdul Karim gives underprivileged students the kind of academic support he once received himself.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Cikgu Rafi’s free tuition centre helps children dream bigger",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/cikgu-rafis-free-tuition-centre-helps-children-dream-bigger-524275",
        "published": "2026-08-11T01:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}