SIBU, Aug 5: Recipients of assistance have been urged to pay it forward, when they can, so as to help others in need.
Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew who was present to witness the disbursement of financial assistance from Knights of Sacred Heart School here today, said it was only right that the recipients help someone else when they are in the position to do so.
Accompanying him were Sacred Heart English Primary School Headmaster Sylvastine Gelau, and Yong King Sung, Anthony Chan and Eddy Puah who are Sacred Heart School Old Students Association (SHOSA) President, Vice-President and Secretary respectively.
“Today is an example of how the former students of Sacred Heart are paying it forward,” he said.
Many of those who contributed funds came from humble beginnings, noted Lau, who is himself a former student of the school.
“After having left school and gone out to work, these former students have returned to the school to lend a helping hand to underprivileged students,” he added.
Lau pointed out that the students of today would one day become Sacred Heart alumni too and it was his hope, they will also remember to return to the school and help those in need.
“I call on all of you to pay it forward in years to come, when you are able. Remember to always lend a helping hand to those in need. And remind them to pay it forward. This will help create a cycle of kindness,” Lau said.
The brief morning event saw 76 recipients receiving cash assistance raised by the Knights of Sacred Heart School.
It started off as a small project, initiated by Anthony Chan from the Class of 1993 to help 50 underprivileged students with a token sum.
When the Knights were called upon to assist, the initiative snowballed into an effort that will provide financial relief to 244 pupils and students.
To-date, a total of RM20,500 have been disbursed to 49 secondary students, 66 primary pupils and 10 pre-schoolers. Another RM32,150 have been set aside for 119 secondary school students for when school re-opens.
A final tranche of RM35,300 will be utilised for targeted assistance for specific students on a case-to-case basis.
All in all, the Knights of Sacred Heart raised RM88,000 for this initiative over a period of four days in July. — DayakDaily
