NABAWAN: Students of La Salle Hostel Butitin deep in the rural Nabawan district in Sabah have praises for the De La Salle Brothers – past and present for being educators, mentors, friends and disciplinarians who shaped their lives.
The hostel is a place for poor rural students to live, study and learn to be good citizens of Sabah and Malaysia, said student Magdelena Palang, 19.
She said the hostel was built by the La Salle Brothers, and over the past 28 years hundreds of students living and growing up there had been given better opportunities in life.
Mentored by the Catholic De La Salle Brothers, the Form One to Form Six students come from far away to study at SMK Nabawan.
The hostel caters to Christian students who cannot find accommodation at the school’s hostel.
Palang described the hostel as “our second home and the place where we learn responsibility and discipline”.
“Here at the hostel, we students get free tuition, food and basic vocational skills like farming and housekeeping,” the Upper Six student told The Star.
She said the hostel has functioned as a second home to needy Form One to Upper Six students, aged 13 to 19, since Brother Peter Phelan, its Irish founder set it up in 1990.
Hundreds of children have since passed through its doors and grown up to become good citizens.
Palang, whose parents live five hours away by road, thanked the La Salle Brothers and hostel administrators for giving students a good footing in education.
Currently, Brother Egbertus Sevelinus who is in charge said the hostel was home for children from difficult backgrounds as they were cared for with love.
“The students are mostly from poor families of the native communities.
“Some have single parents who are unable to care for these children.
“We also have children from extremely poor families from remote settlements in places reachable by hours of boat ride and walking.
“They were referred to us by their parents or friends and we received them with open arms.
“We charge each student RM1 per day as a token sum to upkeep the five-acre site.
“They are part of our big family. We give them shelter, food, friendship, care and send them to school.
“This is a place for them to grow and mature.
“They also take computer lessons, learn cooking, baking, simple farming and housekeeping.
“We give them the foundation they need to become independent.
“Upon leaving the hostel after completing their secondary education, they will continue their studies or find work. We also help them in these areas where needed,” he said.
Every year there are about 70 to 80 students living in the hostel, said the 57-year-old Sabahan brother.
Hostel chief administrator Francis Tahip said the La Salle brothers were great mentors to the students while board chairman Datuk Johnny Kulai said RM15,000 per month was needed for its operations.
The hostel relied on donations from the alumni, individuals and private companies to make ends meet.
Local politicians and the state government also gave out occasional grants, said Kulai, adding that there were plans to build a vocational skills training centre on the premises.
Form 5 student Norianeh Ambiki said the hostel had many activities like games, gatherings and festive celebrations as well as lessons for its residents.
“It is a good place to call home,” she said.
Manny Pius, 16, said the La Salle Brothers were strict and it was good for the students to keep them disciplined.
Manny and Norianeh are from Kampung Saliliran which is 15 hours by road, boat and jungle-trekking to get to.
They said many poor students were given an opportunity to get an education and better themselves and the hostel was their home away from home.
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