– Photo shows Hadikusumo (4th left) presenting a specially designed school bag for the “Jom Balik Sekolah” programme to Joniston. Looking on are Exco members of the Society of Hope Sabah.
By Mary Chin
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 at Menara Kinabalu on Wednesday.
She said the Society proposed to distribute school bags to about 1,000 students from poor families in the area. Each school bag will contain exercise books, a pencil case, colour pencils, socks, and a water bottle.
Joniston, who is also Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board (STB), has agreed to participate in the “Back to School” programme.
Based on his knowledge of his constituency, he was pleased to offer his input in carrying out the school selection process for the Society’s “Jom Balik Sekolah” initiative.
“I am glad that the Society of Hope Sabah has chosen Kiulu for the programme that will certainly benefit needy students. I support its well-intentioned plans and welcome them to my constituency,” he said when met after the courtesy call.
Earlier, in her briefing, Hadikusumo said since 2020 till now, the organisation has offered assistance to almost 15,000 rural school children in 27 districts throughout the state under its “Jom Balik Sekolah” programme, Kuek Bak Heng Scholarship Scheme, and Free Milk Powder Project for kindergarten kids 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) which means that donations received will be tax deductible. Basically, its beneficiaries are underprivileged kids in Sabah’s rural areas, who are provided support in terms of educational tools like school bags, books and stationery, milk powder, shoes, and sometimes also mini-bursaries.
In December 2022, the Society gained a place in the prestigious Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for having accomplished its year-long “Jom Balik Sekolah” mission to distribute 10,000 sets of stationery to children from the B40 communities in 80 primary schools and kindergartens in 20 districts throughout Sabah.
