KUCHING: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) and the Lions Club Kuching North (LCKN) have jointly adopted three secondary school students as part of their efforts in helping the underprivileged get proper education.
The three beneficiaries are Albert Affleck Thomas and Brenda Kueh of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kuching Town No 1, and Aloysius Lim Francis of SMK St Thomas.
These students will receive monetary aid of RM2,500 for their school expenses.
TSI and LCKN, in a joint statement, said potential beneficiaries were identified by the respective school principals and after the selection process by both organisations, selected students would be placed under the ‘Adopt a Student’ project.
“TSI and LCKN appreciate the announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on the allocation of RM10 million to Yayasan Sarawak to help underprivileged students pay for their school tuition fees and other expenses.
“This kind gesture shows that the state government is sensitive to the needs of students from poor families when it comes to education,” the statement said.
TSI and LCKN will seek a meeting with Yayasan Sarawak to further understand its policy to assist students who need financial assistance.
“Although we (TSI and LCKN) can only play a limited role in allocating financial assistance, we focus on a greater role when it comes to highlighting issues facing our communities.
“This is how we are able to work positively with the state government to bring about positive change in our society,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, both non-governmental organisations (NGOs) hope that both the state and federal governments could do more in assisting students from poor families to acquire laptops or computers for their studies during this pandemic.
Members of the public who has any spare devices that they could give away to underprivileged students can contact TSI at 082-452525 to arrange for device collection.
