KUCHING, March 14: Hope Place aims to go above and beyond through its Charity Without Borders (CWB) programme, to meet the needs of Orang Asal villagers and the underprivileged in Sarawak, regardless of race or religious background.
In a press statement today, Hope Place’s Head of Development Department, Kelvin Wan, stated that his team challenges themselves every day to be a beacon for the defenceless.
“We believe that showing concern to those in need and taking care of the Kuching community is a shared responsibility.
“If everyone just played a small part, the underprivileged communities in Kuching will stand a chance to break the vicious cycle of poverty,” he said.
The CWB programme brought Hope Place to Sarawak’s remote interiors during its last trip before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
The team travelled to Ulu Tinjar, Baram, with over 80 4×4 trucks and over 150 volunteers from all over Sarawak.
As a result, 126 families from three Penan villages in Ulu Tinjar received necessities and food aid totaling RM60,000, as well as haircuts and medical assistance.
According to Hope Place, the majority of Ulu Tinjar’s villages lack both water and electricity.
Furthermore, all schoolchildren face difficulties in obtaining a basic education because there are no schools in the villages and the nearest school is a long distance away.
Wan explained that Hope Place’s main mission as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is to assist B40 families, particularly in Orang Asal villages.
“Most importantly, we ensure that we set up learning hubs in these villages to ensure that the next generation will have a chance to be educated.
“With the help of our passionate volunteers and partners, we hope that our efforts will be a push for the Orang Asal community to move a step forward and escape the poverty trap,” he added.
Meanwhile, with Covid-19 continuing to impact people’s lives and livelihoods, Hope Place provided a way for Sarawakians to help by collecting donations and purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and food items, which were then transported to hospitals in Kuching for frontliners and others in need.
They also collaborated with Heineken Malaysia, which contributed additional funds to Hope Place through the Heineken Cares campaign to provide essential food aid to communities in need.
Hope Place is also making a positive impact in the community by operating Kedai Bajet, a thrift store which sells donated secondhand goods and essentials at a reduced price to all its beneficiaries.
Besides that, Kedai Bajet also provides employment opportunities, affordable necessities, and additional funds to the NGO for emergencies.
For more information on Hope Place and how to donate or volunteer, please visit https://hopeplace.org.my. — DayakDaily
