KUCHING – The Postgraduate Research Society (PGRS) of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus made a food donation to 55 households in Kampung Tema Saan, Tebedu district recently. The 87 food packs were donated by Swinburne staff and students, friends and associates PGRS. As one of the many socially responsible activities conducted by PGRS, this initiative aims to bridge the University with rural communities while helping to alleviate the difficulties of securing daily essentials within the community in Kampung Tema Saan.
“With the donation, PGRS hope it will also lessen the financial burden of the affected community,” said Shella Georgina Beatrice, Food Donation Committee Leader. The society also hoped that such an initiative be replicated by similar societies and NGOs especially in these difficult times, she added. PGRS also expressed its gratitude to Joseph Liaw, District Officer for Tebedu for giving his consent for the society to enter the village and for lending his support and assistance in making the food distribution a success.
On behalf of the community, Ketua Kampung William Batong expressed his gratitude for the donation and shared that it was tremendous help as many villagers are badly affected by the pandemic. The food baskets were presented to KK William at the operations room of the village, witnessed by Angela ak Thomas, SAO for Tebedu District and Penghulu Gaup ak Takip.
Kampung Tema Saan is a Bidayuh village in Tebedu district with about 339 people from 42 households. The village was part of a community detected with COVID-19 infections in June. The villagers have since received treatment and subsequent vaccination.
The donation drive was made possible by postgraduate students Shella Georgina Beatrice and Yvonne Thian Yee Woon and facilitated by PGRS advisors, Dr Victor Bong Nee Shin and AP Dr Lau Bee Theng, with the assistance of Jasman Chai Yi Hao, President of PGRS and members Edwin Thou Mun Chuen and Alfred Tan Jia Yee.
Swinburne Sarawak’s Postgraduate Research Society (PGRS) serves as a platform for its postgraduate students to foster academic and social interaction and sharing of research experiences with fellow researchers both within and outside of the University. Since its establishment in 2018, the society has organized various social and academic events.
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