Budiey
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]stro’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm, Astro Kasih continues to champion education by improving the living standards of students living in rural and remote areas. Among its many programs, the Astro Hostel project is aimed at providing a conducive environment for these students. Astro Kasih has completed two Astro hostels which provides for 80 students at SK Magandai in Kota Marudu, Sabah and 80 students at SK Sungai Paku, Kapit, Sarawak.
The third hostel will be built for 120 students at SK Malinsau, Ranau. Scheduled for completion in June 2013, the Astro Hostel project aims to support students in remote rural areas who are unable to attain basic education due to transport difficulties. Through this project, a 3-block hostel consisting a block each for boys and girls, a multi-purpose hall and a warden room will be built to accommodate 120 students from the 10 villages in the area.
Moreover, Astro has also equipped the school with the Kampus Astro Learning System consisting of a TV, an Astro decoder and access to 17 international and local educational channels.
Astro in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Sabah State Education Department worked together to identify SK Malinsau as the site for the third hostel based on its critical capacity issue and poor facilities. SK Malinsau is located about 85 km from the town of Ranau and take as long as 6 hours by foot from the farthest village.
Work has commenced on this hostel with a groundbreaking on 23rd February 2013 at the hostel site at SK Malinsau witnessed by Datuk Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, Kundasang State Assemblyman and David Yap, Director of Astro’s Community Affairs.
Astro will also collaborate with the Majlis Guru Cemerlang Sabah to organize UPSR workshops to introduce different ways for the students to study and do revision. Datuk Dr. Joachim Gunsalam said “We would like to thank Astro in making a difference in the lives of the community including the students of SK Malinsau. I truly believe that a new and improved building with better facilities will go a long way to help the students to perform better in their academic endeavours.”
The project will be implemented in three phases; beginning with the construction of the hostel buildings. The second phase is the 12-week “Road to UPSR” revision programme. Astro Kasih employee volunteers will partner with teachers for an intensive revision programme. The third phase involves in activities that enhance the vocational skills in the surrounding community to help them improve their standard of living.
Astro’s commitment towards Corporate Social Responsibility through Astro Kasih includes initiatives in learning, community, sports and wellness and the environment. The Astro Hostel project received international recognition when it was awarded the Silver Stevie Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year category by the Stevie Awards Organization in 2012. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people, the Stevie recognizes outstanding performance in the workplace worldwide.
For more information about Astro’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and activities, please visit www.facebook.com/astrokasihmalaysia.
