Hope Place Kuching all set for ‘Giving Hope, Sharing Love’ 4x4 charity project
KUCHING: Local welfare nongovernment organisation ( NGO) Hope Place Kuching will kick off its charity four-wheel drive (4x4) convoy this Thursday (June 14).
The ‘Giving Hope, Sharing Love’ (GHSL) project is meant to help a Penan settlement in Ulu Baram.
The team, led by veterinarian Dr Ling Tung King, will head to Ulu Baram on June 15.
So far, 35 units of 4x4 vehicles are confirmed for the convoy with the operators coming from Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei.
The 100 volunteers taking part in the expedition also include three doctors, six nurses, three dentists, a pharmacist and a hairdresser.
Hope Place Kuching founder Kelvin Wan, together with three other Hope Place representatives, will assist all members of the convoy, who will head straight to Miri on June 14 to join the rest of the team there that evening – in time for the launch and appreciation dinner to be hosted by Hope Place.
“Hope Place is grateful to the public and all the private companies that have contributed various items – ranging from solar panels and accessories, food items, undergarments, secondhand clothing and basic medical supplies.
“The main objective of this project in Ulu Baram is to provide food aid, health screening and oral check-ups, as well as means to generate solar lights, to the Penans in Long Selulung.
According to Wan, he specifically chose Long Selulung this time for the solar lighting setup because for the children would enter school for the first time this year.
“Having electricity supply would ease their struggles, especially for the children who are studying.
“I feel it is imperative for the Penans to have good education, which is vital for the future generation.
“With access to solar lights, a lot of things can be done to improve their standard of living,” he said.
In this regard, Wan said the 4x4 team would act the ‘ technicians’ to set up the solar lighting – they had earlier undergone a briefing and demonstration conducted by solar light experts.
Hope Place carries out aid deliveries once every three months, given the many families on its list of recipients.
“Currently, we support more than 200 families,” said Wan.
For more information on ways to help, call Hope Place Kuching via hotline 013- 567 2775 / 082- 505 987 – from 8.30am to noon, and 2pm to 5pm Mondays to Fridays; and 9am to noon Saturdays.
The donors are advised to request receipts from Hope Place staff.