KUCHING: The Youth and Sports Ministry has enhanced its Caring Youth Programme this year by including eight boarding schools located in Kuching and Samarahan.
Its minister, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the initiative was taken in view of the Covid-19 pandemic situation which resulted in the schools needing a little help from the state government.
“For this year, we begin with the two divisions and it will be expanded to other parts of the state in the coming years.
“The main objective is to invigorate youth development programmes as well as to help those who are underprivileged.”
He said this in his speech at the 2021 Caring Youth Programme assistance handover ceremony, here on Tuesday (Feb 9).
He added that the ministry had also increased the amount of contribution for the programme from RM5,000 to RM10,000 for each recipient.
“Today, we are donating to eight boarding schools as well as 12 welfare organisations consisting of orphanages, special needs youth and children, the needy and rehabilitation centres.
“It is hoped that the overall grant contribution amounting to RM200,000 will help ease the burden of those in need.”
Among the recipients are SMK Asajaya, SMK Hajjah Laila Taib, SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, SMK Agama Tun Ahmad Zaidi, SMK Agama Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab, SMK Agama Matang 2, SMK Balai Ringin, SMK Daro, Pusat Jagaan Nur Murni, Rumah Kanak-Kanak Toh Puan Hajjah Norkiah and others.
Fifty-six youth programmes and 41 sports programmes were on the cards this year, he added, but due to the movement control order (MCO) and conditional MCO as well as the current Covid-19 situation, the initiatives had to be limited, with priority given to important programmes only.
Also present were Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
