EAP Hooray Moment
Here at EAP Malaysia, we believe in honouring and celebrating moments, big or small. Whether it is one of our kids saying “mummy” or “daddy” for the first time, or learning how to use communication appropriately, or a team member that stands out, we want to celebrate each and every victory and milestone.
We decided to kick off our Hooray Moments with Jerusha Jaffery, one of our supervisors here at EAP, as this year marks her 7th year at EAP Malaysia! We’ve decided to ask her a few questions about her job and her passion.
1. Tell us about your journey here at EAP Malaysia over the last 7 years.
I started working here part-time in January 2009, when I was 20 years old. I found out about this job from a friend and decided to apply for it. In April that year, I decided to go full-time because I immediately fell in love with the job and the kids. My job at the time included being a therapist, a school shadow aid, the team lead for my team and a group facilitator. Even then, I could see myself doing this for a long term, and that is why I decided to pursue my studies focusing on this field after a couple of months being at EAP. A few years down the road, I was promoted to the role of Supervisor, which I am still holding until now.
2. What do you love most about your job?
Definitely the kids that I work with, seeing the hope in the families who are affected, the team that I work with and the values they carry for each child they work with. From the start, I’ve seen that EAP has always focused on the child’s success and I admire the perseverance this company carries in believing that each child has a future.
3. What is the most challenging part about your job?
I would have to say that time would be my greatest challenge. There are definitely many things to do in this everyday job that require time and resource, yet there are only so many hours in a day. Up till today, it is still a learning process for me to manage my time efficiently and take it one step at a time, day by day.
4. What drives your passion each day?
My belief in God is the one thing that drives me to do what I do each day and that is where I draw my strength from. Knowing that I’m called to be where I am right now gives me hope to see miracles happen in the kids’ lives. It is mind blowing to know that I, as a single individual, can impact so many lives and make a difference in the world.
5. Describe one moment over the last 7 years working at EAP that you consider your highlight.
This happened in my early years of working as a therapist here. I was working with this child for about a year when he finally made sounds and words, and one of the words he said was my name “Sha”! What I felt at that moment was indescribable. It was my first time seeing a miracle as such, and this pushed me to want to see more of it.
6. What is your hope for Malaysia in terms of autism awareness?
My hope is that everyone in this nation will know about ASD as well as the right treatment and approaches for it. I believe that every child deserves the right to receive proper education, whether they have special needs or not. They deserve to be accepted, loved and understood in society. I believe every child deserves a bright future ahead of them.
7. What is your word of advice to others out there?
Keep holding on, keep persevering. It can get tough, but if I can do it, you can do it, too. If you are considering whether or not to take on this field, know that if you do, you will be a life changer, and you will be a hero in the kids’ eyes.