SIBU: Poor students who received aid from the Sacred Heart School Old Students Association (SHOSA) recently have been told to be brave and to move forward with courage.
The advice came from the president of the association, Yong King Sung, during a simple presentation ceremony at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sacred Heart on Wednesday.
He explained that the aid was meant to motivate them and not to spoil them.
He said the funds aimed to encourage them to face challenges and to keep them moving forward with courage.
“It is certainly not aimed at allowing you to sit back and wait for more financial aid to come,” he stressed.
“Don’t forget, that many of those who came before you in this school came from the same humble and underprivileged neighbourhood as you.
“But today, there are many of them who are hugely successful because they made good use of the education accorded to them in this school and through their diligence and intelligence, they broke free of the poverty that they grew up in.
“So, I would like to dispel any notion that the funds we are disbursing is meant to pave your way with silk and gold.
“The fund are our way of saying, we understand and we feel what you feel. Life can be tough, but be brave and move forward with courage. And here’s a little something to motivate you to be the best that you can be,” he said.
Meanwhile, SHOSA vice president, Anthony Chan said that the disbursement was the first under Phase 4 of the SHS White Knights Programme aimed at helping deserving underprivileged students.
“In July 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, SHOSA Knights came together and donated RM88,000 over a matter of four days to the White Knights Fund,” he said.
Since then, under three different phases, more than RM31,000 had been disbursed in aid of 162 children from both the primary and secondary schools.
The funds received a surprise boost from a member of the school board of management Datuk Lau Ngie Hua, who was also present to witness the handover.
Chan said Lau was at the school for other matters. Yet when he saw the handing over, he immediately stood up and contributed, without even being asked.
“This is the kind of spirit, we hope, our current batch of students will emulate, when they come of age and find a measure of success. That’s when we hope they will return and help other students,” he said.
Also present at the event were the school principal, David Teo Wu, senior teachers of Sacred Heart School and SHOSA office bearers.
End with pics.
SBW-shosa-2508-avk: Chan (fourth from left) and his fellow vice president Ignatius Lau handing over the contribution, witnessed by Yong (third from left), Lau (eighth from left), Teo (ninth from left) and other SHOSA officers and SHS senior teachers.
