When she was a teenager, Heidy began her human rights work after witnessing refugee children in Malaysia living in fear, without access to education or basic dignity. What started as an effort to keep a refugee classroom from closing grew into Refuge For The Refugees (RFTR), a movement she founded to stand alongside refugee communities despite mounting risks and resistance.

In Malaysia, refugees have no legal recognition and are denied the right to work, formal education, and affordable healthcare. Long registration delays, corruption, and rising xenophobia leave refugee families vulnerable to arrest, exploitation, and violence, while frontline advocates face increasing pressure and threats.

Through RFTR, Heidy has helped provide education to over 5,000 refugee children, dignified healthcare to more than 700 patients, and livelihoods for refugee women and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Today, RFTR supports 35 refugee learning centres, shelters, healthcare access, and women’s livelihood programs, while continuing to advocate for policies that protect—rather than punish—people seeking safety.