Hadikusumo (4th right, back row) receiving the MBR Certificate from Lee, witnessed by the teachers and pupils of SK Bundu Tahuri, government officials and volunteers at Spring Garden, Kundasang.
KUNDASANG: What began as a “Jom Balik Sekolah” pioneer programme by The Society of Hope Sabah to distribute 10,000 sets of stationery to children from the B40 communities in 80 primary schools and kindergartens in 20 districts throughout Sabah, has earned the Society an enviable national record in the prestigious Malaysia Book of Records (MBR).
The districts comprise Beaufort, Keningau, Kinabatangan, Kota Kinabalu, Kota Marudu, Kuala Penyu, Kudat, Nabawan, Papar, Penampang, Pitas, Putatan, Ranau, Sipitang, Tenom, Tuaran (covering Tamparuli, Kiulu and Tenghilan), Kota Belud, Tawau, Tambunan and Beluran.
The initiative first started at SK Pulau Gaya in January this year, culminating in the finale at SK Mesilou, Kundasang this month.
On December 5, President of The Society of Hope Sabah, Josephine Hadikusumo received the certificate of recognition from MBR Officer Puan Lee Pooi Leng at the presentation ceremony held at Spring Garden in Kundasang, Ranau.
The document certifies that the Society is now listed in the MBR for completing the “Most Number of Stationery Sets Distributed to Children”.
Ranau Assistant District Officer Encik Hasinin Kinsim, who officiated at the event, lauded The Society for its charitable contributions in the field of education.
He was happy to note that Ranau is one of the 20 districts selected for the “Jom Balik Sekolah” programme.
“Eight primary schools in the district have benefited from The Society’s initiative. And today (Dec 5), some 208 sets of school stationery were given out to pupils at SK Mesilou alone.
“I am impressed with the commitment, enthusiasm and hard work put in by The Society’s team. They travelled the length and breadth of Sabah as far as Nabawan in the interior.
“As a government representative, I welcome and am ready to assist by supporting the Society’s effort if it plans to hold any social programme in the near future,” Hasinin assured, while congratulating the members on being accorded MBR recognition.
Also present was the Headmaster of SK Bundu Tahuri, Encik Junaidy Ajamain.
Earlier, in her address, Hadikusumo said : “Our journey has brought us to 80 schools across this beautiful state. These stationery sets have reached children who live in hard to reach terrain in the interior areas, children who live near rivers, jungles, paddy fields, children who live by the sea and children who live in the highlands of Sabah.
“We have traversed the state from Tawau to Kuala Penyu, from Kota Marudu to Nabawan, from Kudat to Tambunan, and many other districts in between. We have had the privilege of meeting children from every race and religion and their wonderful dedicated teachers.
“Their joy at receiving these sets made the journey so worthwhile for the team. I am personally very thankful we have had the opportunity to touch so many lives in the course of this one year.”
The President attributed their success to collaboration and partnership with teachers, sponsors and volunteers.
She said : “I want to express my gratitude to the Malaysia Book of Records for working with us throughout this journey from the time we brought up this initiative to this moment when we have actually achieved our goal.
“My profound thanks too, to the volunteers who have helped us along the way, from the Hope team, namely Grace, Agnes, Carmen and Flora, to Headmaster Encik Junaidy, and pilot Sofia William who works with the Sabah Flying Doctor Service, and the many, many caring teachers we have met this year who try their best every day to make life better for the children they teach.”
(Sofia was able to fly the supplies by helicopter to hard-to-reach places (where government health services are provided regularly).
The Society also received logistics support from the Karanaan Community Development Leader Unit (UPPM) Officer, Encik Syukri Saridih who led the team to the schools in the Karanaan area, said Hadikusumo.
According to her, parents try their hardest every day to provide for their children’s school necessities, but when food security remains an issue among the hardcore poor, school needs become very much a luxury for many.
“We in the Society believe that education is one of the main ways to lift communities out of the cycle of poverty. That is why our focus is to provide as much support as we can to these children to encourage them to remain in school and succeed at their studies.”
In an interview, Hadikusumo touched on the rationale behind the Society’s “Jom Balik Sekolah” programme which was mooted in 2021, the challenges encountered in its mission to reach out to underprivileged children in remote districts, and the organisation’s future plans.
She said the national record for distributing the most number of stationery sets in Malaysia helps to draw attention to the needs of these children “so that we could highlight the plight of the invisible poor in our state.”
Far from resting on its laurels, the Society will continue to work towards supporting the welfare of vulnerable communities in Sabah.
“We are looking for corporate and public sponsors who can provide mini-scholarships for diligent students from the B40 communities around Sabah. With their support, we will be able to lessen the financial burden of some of these students in 2023. When we lift up the lives of children, our future generation, we all rise together,” Hadikusumo shared.
The Society of Hope Sabah is a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) which means that donations will be tax deductible. “This is a fact I hope will encourage more people to donate to our cause,” she enthused.
Any potential sponsors who are interested in contributing to the proposed mini-scholarships or to the “Jom Balik Sekolah” program can contact the Society of Hope Sabah via its Facebook page or Hadikusumo’s email at jo_hadi@yahoo.com
