OVER 180,000 SABAH COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMES

KOTA KINABALU, April 28 (Bernama) -- A total of 189,064 communities in Sabah have benefitted from 1,577 volunteer projects by university students selected from public and private universities, teacher training institutes, polytechnics and community colleges.

National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said this year was the ninth year Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa ran the projects, with 28 missions since 2015 involving 793 students at 50 locations in Sabah.

“All the volunteers today will be appointed as unity agents to strengthen the spirit of togetherness and to instil the value of tolerance and encourage active community participation to build a united and harmonious country,” he said at the close of MADANI in Service: Uni Students Volunteer Mission to Sabah at the Sabah Youth and Sports Complex (Federal) here today, in the presence of National Unity Ministry secretary-general cum Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa deputy chairman 1, Datuk Ruji Ubi.

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Aaron Ago said this year’s volunteer mission, from April 12 to 30, involved 100 students placed at seven areas, - Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Banggi and Kampung Loktohog in Kudat, Kampung Ongkilan, Kota Marudu; Kampung Mangkulat, Kota Belud; Kampung Lohan, Ranau; Kampung Kipouvo, Penampang and Kampung Merotai Besar, Kalabakan - to conduct projects such as the construction of a 200-metre covered pedestrian and wheelchair walkway for special programme students at Sekolah Kebangsaan (Sk) Loktohog, Banggi Kudat.

The project cost RM20,000 and would benefit 108 students compared to a the cost of a tender at RM118,000, which included logistics costs to Pulau Banggi.

Meanwhile, in SK Merotai Besar, Tawau, an additional food plan dining area was renovated to benefit 1,060 pupils at a cost of RM75,000 compared to the estimated RM200,000 cost of a tender, Aaron said.

“Student volunteer missions are an important platform as it serves as grounds for national integration for students of various backgrounds to come together for a greater goal,” he added.

-- BERNAMA