80 Korean volunteers renovate education centre

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KOTA KINABALU: Eighty youth volunteers from Korea took part in an 11-day project to remodel the Numbak Vision Centre, which was initially set up as education classes for poor children in the area.

The centre, however, was temporarily used to shelter 410 families who lost their homes due to a fire recently.

According to the Hyundai Motor Company’s (HMC) Asia and Regional Headquarters head Kim Hoo-Keun, the project, which entered its fifth day yesterday, was part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He said the centre was set up by the Korea Food for The Hungry International Malaysia in Sabah (KFHI), a non-governmental organisation, and a total of RM200,000 had been allocated to carry out the remodeling and restoration project.

“The 80 volunteers, comprising university students in Korea, had applied to join the Happy Move Global Youth Volunteers Programme, which is another CSR campaign by HMC. They arrived here on July 17 and immediately began the renovation works.

“Among the renovation works undertaken by the team were construction of a classroom wall, putting on a fresh coat of paint, painting a mural on the fence as well as on the walls of the building.

“We are glad to be able to help in a way we can and we believe nobody should be denied a helping hand, even if they are refugees,” he said.

Also present at the event was HMC Corporate Responsibility Team manager Sunny Eo.

He said the funds allocated were also used to purchase raw materials, paints, tools and equipment, which were used for the construction project.

Kim said the renovation works were expected to be completed within nine days, and upon completion, they hope that classes for the students can be carried out conveniently and boost their interest, thanks to the murals.

Apart from renovating the centre, the team also visited a nearby school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Kebagu, and conducted a series of cultural education programmes for about 395 pupils.

“Pupils were not only taught traditional Korean plays and handicrafts but also introduced to our cultural and contemporary performances such as Taekwando, Fan and Mask dance, and K-pop,” he said.

To date, some 1,000 volunteers have been sent to help communities of various countries such as India, China, Turkey, Hungary and Thailand through the Happy Move Global Youth Volunteers Programme.

This year, over 10,000 university students in South Korea submitted their applications to volunteer in this programme, but only 500 were selected through a strict evaluation screening process.