The construction of a new preschool for Orang Asli children in Gua Musang has been funded and completed by social enterprise Projek57 and its supporters.
In January of next year, the preschool will enroll its first batch of 25 students, all aged between five and six years old.
During the school term, nutritious meals will be provided to all the children on a daily basis.
Projek57, established in 2015, is a social enterprise that draws inspiration from the vision of inclusivity held by Malaysia’s founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Its aim is to instill hope in Malaysians and improve the lives of underprivileged youth.
The organization places particular emphasis on helping underprivileged Orang Asli youth, as it believes that introducing the value of education from a young age can enable them to lead fulfilled lives.
“Education has the potential to level the playing field,” said Syed Sadiq Albar, co-founder of Projek57. “It allows Malaysians from all walks of life to advance, regardless of their background, race, or culture.”
The primary motivation behind initiating this preschool project was to better prepare Orang Asli children for the challenges they may face in primary school. Disadvantaged groups can find it more difficult, so Projek57 aims to give them a head start by providing them with the necessary tools and nutritious meals.
To sustain operations, infrastructure, and the provision of daily meals at the preschool, an annual budget of approximately RM100,000 is required.
“The preschool project is designed to be modular and can be easily replicated in other locations and communities in need of similar educational facilities,” added Syed Sadiq. “We believe that having more preschools can act as a catalyst for additional construction, with partners who share our core values.”
The construction of the preschool was a joint effort between Projek57 and Prudential Ampri Cleanroom Services (PACS).
Phng Wee Kiat, CEO of PACS, explained that Projek57 was chosen for its patriotism and love for the country. The organization’s admirable goal of providing educational support and other opportunities for the ongoing development of the Orang Asli community was particularly appealing to PACS.
PACS is thrilled to support this preschool project, as it believes that the Orang Asli, like all Malaysians, require assistance in order to progress. Phng also mentioned that PACS would continue collaborating with Projek57 by engaging employees and selling Projek57 merchandise to raise funds for future projects.
The Projek57 merchandise includes the iconic unity ribbon, which was inspired by the Jalur Gemilang and introduced in 2018. A newly crafted version of the unity ribbon, made from pewter, is now available for purchase at all Royal Selangor retail shops and showrooms. All profits generated from sales of this ribbon will be directed towards funding Projek57 programs.
“By taking these small steps towards the education and empowerment of the Orang Asli, we hope to raise greater awareness and support for disadvantaged communities in Malaysia,” stated Collin Swee, co-founder of Projek57.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
