KOTA KINABALU: The Society of Hope Sabah has selected Kiulu for its annual “Jom Balik Sekolah” outreach programme this year.
Its President, Josephine Hadikusumo, led an eight-member delegation to pay a courtesy call on Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, and briefed him on the programme at his office in Menara Kinabalu on Wednesday.
She mentioned that the Society proposed to distribute school bags to approximately 1,000 students from underprivileged families in the area. Each bag will contain exercise books, a pencil case, coloured pencils, socks, and a water bottle.
Joniston, who is also Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), has agreed to participate in the “Back to School” initiative. Drawing on his knowledge of his constituency, he was pleased to offer his input in the selection process for the Society’s beneficiaries.
“I am pleased that the Society of Hope Sabah has chosen Kiulu for this programme, which will undoubtedly benefit needy students. I fully support its commendable plans and welcome them to my constituency,” he said when met after the courtesy call.
Earlier, during her briefing, Hadikusumo stated that since 2020, the organisation has provided assistance to nearly 15,000 rural school children across 27 districts throughout Sabah. This has been achieved through programmes such as “Jom Balik Sekolah,” the Kuek Bak Heng Scholarship Scheme, and the Free Milk Powder Project for kindergarten children during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Founded in 2007 by Datuk Seri Christina Liew, the Society of Hope Sabah is a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), meaning donations are tax-deductible. Its primary beneficiaries are underprivileged children in Sabah’s rural areas, who receive support in the form of educational tools such as school bags, books, stationery, milk powder, shoes, and occasionally small bursaries.
In December 2022, the Society achieved a place in the prestigious Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for successfully completing its year-long “Jom Balik Sekolah” mission, distributing 10,000 sets of stationery to children from B40 communities in 80 primary schools and kindergartens across 20 districts throughout Sabah.-pr/BNN
