Loved and respected by the refugee community

Lilianne Fan – Malaysian – Co-Founder of Geutanyoë Foundation

THE AFTERNOON AIR IS PARTICULARLY HEAVY, and the sound of the ceiling fan is a calming
tempo against the laughter of the children of the Rohingya refugees as they jump and greet Lilianne Fan. She hugs them, radiating a genuine warmth that is immediately picked up by the children. The children eventually calm down and sit on the linoleum floor for their lessons, the girls on one side and the boys on the other.

Lilianne sits on the floor and the children gravitate towards her to show off their artwork.
With Lilianne, the children can let down their guard knowing that she is a friend who cares about what they have to say. The cultural anthropologist with over 16 years of experience working with refugees is respected by the refugee community here in Ampang, but more than that, she is loved.