SIBU, June 16: The completion of a new RM13 million Agape Centre at Jalan Alan here augurs well for children and young adults with special needs in Sarawak, especially in providing early intervention, rehabilitation and education.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah emphasised that the development had set good example for others within the country and region to emulate in the aspect of providing care and support for individuals with special needs.
This new centre, located next to the current centre built in 1999, is donated by KTS Group of Companies as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
With the new centre twice bigger than the current one, Fatimah said special needs children can have access to vocational training that would help them to become more independent as they grow up.
“Agape Centre is providing early intervention, rehabilitation and education including vocational training for children with special needs to help them become more independent which is crucial especially when their parents are not well enough to look after them.
“Equipped with living skills, they will be able to also earn an income to become self-sustainable.
“There will come a time when they need to be on their own as their parents will age and could not look after them,” she pointed out after visiting the new centre today accompanied by KTS deputy managing director Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau and Pemanca Datuk Jason Tai.
Tai, in his speech, also expressed his appreciation to KTS for materialisation of the project as the current centre has been lacking in space for workshops to be organised.
“We are grateful to the Sarawak government for approving the land for the project. Community spirit is very much alive in Sibu when even those in Agape Centre are working tirelessly for children with special needs and encourage them to be part of the community,” he shared.
Earlier on, Lau pointed out that this project was one of the two biggest contributions by KTS Group with the other being Laila Taib College.
“For KTS, we are happy to be able to contribute to society through our corporate social responsibility. We will continue to give back to the community and the people who needed our help,” he said.— DayakDaily
