KUCHING – In a collaborative effort to enhance educational resources for underprivileged students, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and the Rotary Club of Kuching recently launched two impactful community service projects, “Give Books a 2nd Home” and “Bags2School”.
The “Give Books a 2nd Home” project aims to improve literacy among young learners from Primary 1 to 6 by collecting children’s books for two primary schools in the rural areas of Asajaya and Samarahan. Over the past few months, university students, staff, and non-governmental organisations have generously contributed a total of 19 boxes of books, expanding students’ access to quality reading materials.
Meanwhile, the “Bags2School” project serves to further support primary education through the distribution of 240 school bags and 240 stationery sets, ensuring that students have the essential tools needed to succeed in their educational journey.
Both initiatives underscore Swinburne Sarawak and the Rotary Club of Kuching’s shared commitment to social responsibility and equipping young learners with the resources they need to thrive.
Mr Kassim, headmaster of one of the recipient schools, commended the initiatives and noted that they “will support students’ learning”.
The handover of books to Mr Kassim (left), with Dr Mandrinos (centre) and Mr Bersales (right).
By fostering a culture of reading and promoting educational equity, these projects aim to inspire a lifelong love for learning among students. Mr Justin Bersales, President of the Rotary Club of Kuching, emphasised that these initiatives align with “the main goal of our organisation to dedicate ourselves to improving lives globally”.
Reflecting the values of both organisations, Dr Symeon Mandrinos, a representative from Swinburne Sarawak who has been actively involved in coordinating these community initiatives, said, “We believe that every child deserves access to educational resources. With the support of the university and the Rotary Club, of which I am currently an active member, we hope to make a positive impact on the lives of children in our community.”
Looking ahead, he added, “We aim to expand this initiative to benefit additional schools in other rural areas.”
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