KUCHING: Hope Place Kuching, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) devoted to helping the destitute has won top marks for its engaging work with the people here.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) which has been sending its students for fieldwork experience with the NGO said it has been playing a major role in the local community.
It has also been empowering the next generation, said course coordinators Dr. Athirah Azhar and Dr. Dolly Paul Carlo, pointing out that Hope Place has been consistent in receiving fieldwork students since 2018 and internship students since 2016.
“Hope Place wishes to spread awareness on humanitarian efforts and community works among the young generation,” said Kelvin Wan, founder of Hope Place.
“Our children need to be taught the value of love and compassion, regardless of background or creed.”
Earlier last week five final year students from Unimas who spent 10 weeks in the field with Hope Place Kuching took time out for a sharing session on what the organisation is all about.
“Their topic, ‘A Journey In Humanitarian’, looked into Hope Place’s story as a local NGO which helps the underserved since 2013 and how it has impacted the community around.
The sharing session was attended by Wan and Griffin Deng, a Unimas alumni who now works as the NGO’s Client Relations Coordinator .
Wan spoke about how Hope Place started humbly back in 2012, helping an elderly couple with two mentally disabled daughters.
Griffin, meanwhile, dwelled on how the NGO has enabled him to be actively engaged in the Sarawak community.
Wan added that Hope Place has been giving awareness talks to many educational institutions throughout the years, such as Lodge International School, Borneo International School, SMK Batu Kawa, Tadika Junior Bintang, Segi College and Swinburne University (Kuching branch).
“The NGO continuously opens its doors to any institution to share its passion in community and charity works,” he said.
For more information, Hope Place or Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching (PKHK) can be reached at 082-505987 or 013-5672775.
