Fund aiding educational events for needy students

KUCHING: The Salvation Army and Boys Home are set to receive significant support through a new fund donation aimed at aiding educational programmes for students in need.

The fund donation was brought up by Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang during the press conference for the upcoming YB Dato Lo Education Fair 2024 at Batu Kitang Constituency Service Centre here today.

“Recognising the challenges faced by many aspiring students, we are particularly proud to offer support to Form 5 and Form 6 students from the Salvation Army and Boys Home

“Our team will guide them through the complexities of applications and financial aid at the education fair, empowering them to pursue their educational goals,” he said.

Adding on, he said that the criteria of the students in Salvation Army and Boys Home to receive this financial aid is that as long as they are able to get into the universities, they will receive financial aid.

He added that it will vary as some courses will be more expensive than others.

Touching on the range of donations, he said, “We will look at their needs and then we will help them. We may even be able to get help from the Sarawak Foundation as well.

“So we will help them to get all this financial aid either through Sarawak Foundation or Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN). There are different opportunities open for them depending on their results.

“We believe every child, no matter their background, deserves a chance at a bright future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the fair’s organising chairman Amy Chong said the donation would be provided in cash and presented during the opening ceremony of YB Dato Lo Education Fair 2024 on August 10.

”As far as we understand from the person in charge of the Salvation Army and Boys’ Home, there are around 15 to 20 plus students that need this kind of educational help from us,” she said.

She added that with the aim to help these students to find their suitable educational opportunities, these students have been invited to visit the education fair to help them apply for the education.

“We will also be guiding them with financial aid from sources like PTPTN and Sarawak Foundation. Our goal is to ensure these students can further their education and improve their future prospects,” she said.

In addition, she said that there are plans to make this education fair an annual event if it is successful since their primary focus is to support the students because education is the key to their future success.