Team supported recovering addict Syafiq to rebuild his shattered self-esteem and discover his purpose. He now helps others along their journey to recovery.

Syafiq started taking heroin as a teenager. After almost 20 years of chaotic addiction, including time spent in intensive care and in prison, he finally turned the page and entered a rehabilitation centre.

There he joined the full-time Team programme, delivered in Malaysia by our partner Selangor Youth Community (SAY). The programme supported him to gradually rebuild his sense of self after years of being judged, scorned and shunned.

Syafiq started to value and believe in himself once again and, with unwavering determination, set about building a better future. Upon graduating the programme, Syafiq immediately found work as a cleaner, gaining a secure job and a stable income for the first time in years.

But less than a year after completing the programme, Syafiq returned – in a different role. He now works for SAY, helping to deliver the Team programme for other vulnerable young people, including those recovering from addiction. Keen to support others along their journey, Syafiq, now 35, is also training as a specialist recovery coach.

‘Since participating in the programme, my life has undergone a remarkable transformation,’ Syafiq explains. ‘Your past does not define your future.’

Stability, structure and skills

Team is an intensive nine-week personal development programme, built around hands-on activities, small group projects and work experience placements that focus on gradually building core skills and confidence. When he first joined the programme, Syafiq’s unkempt appearance reflected his unstable emotional state.

But as the programme progressed, Syafiq built on his developing confidence and skills to establish a more focused, structured and stable approach to life. This included taking on a role as a general labourer at the rehabilitation centre, focusing on cleaning and maintenance tasks – an experience which led to a permanent job with a cleaning company.

Since then, Syafiq has applied for and secured a role as an assistant team leader with SAY, drawing on his own experiences to support other young people to make positive changes to their lives.

‘My daily life is now characterized by greater organization and happiness,’ he says. ‘This transformation has provided me with a clear life direction and a sense of purpose I lacked previously.’

The chance to start afresh

Alongside the practical changes that he has achieved – most notably a secure job and a stable income – Syafiq stresses the importance of the opportunity to rebuild relationships and trust.

‘The most enjoyable and useful aspect of this programme was the opportunity to start anew and experience acceptance within the community and broader society,’ he explains, ‘I’ve regained the trust of my family and the wider community, eliminating any lingering stigma associated with my past.’

Now supporting other vulnerable young people in his work with SAY, Syafiq has also been selected to train as a specialist recovery coach by Malaysia’s National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA), and is currently working towards that qualification. He has some wise words of advice for other young people on the road to recovery:

‘Be open to change and ready to let go of past patterns or habits that may be holding you back. Recognize that transformation and growth require embracing new experiences and opportunities… Recovery and personal development take time and dedication. Commit to the programme and the journey ahead, even when faced with challenges or setbacks.’