Living Literacies - The Orang Asli Literacy Project

Living Literacies – The Orang Asli Literacy Project
Abstract
This paper highlights the challenges and experiences of the researchers in an academic institution where the research project which initially began as part of an academic research initiative expanded to helping a marganalised community in need. As social science researchers in a technological university which emphasises natural science research, opportunities and motivation to carry out social based research is a challenge. Furthermore as minorities among academicians from the Engineering and Technology disciplines, obtaining funding and carrying out social based research is also difficult. In this paper we share the conception of Living Literacies, a literacy programme for the Orang Asli, an indigenous community in Malaysia, and share the challenges we faced in executing this project.