Ipoh Rotary Club president Yap Suan See (centre) presenting a smart card to a recipient at Seri Putera Sixth Form College in Fair Park, Ipoh.
SOME 105 primary and 60 secondary students from five schools in Perak are receiving monetary aid from Rotary Club of Ipoh.
Primary school pupils and secondary school students will each get RM60 and RM80 respectively every month, thanks to the Rotary Kasih Schools project.
The schools involved are SK Guru Kalgidhar in Buntong, SK Sungai Itek in Gopeng, SJKC Phui Ying in Simpang Pulai, SMK Aminuddin Baki in Chemor and Seri Putera Sixth Form College in Fair Park, Ipoh.
Organising chairman Datuk Dr Yap Yit Thong said the main aim of the project was to assist students from B40 families.
“The money will be in a smart card, specially designed by MyKasih Foundation, which they can use to buy things at the school canteen and bookshop.
“This project was started a few years back and it has become more relevant now with high inflation and the economic downturn due to Covid-19.
“The schoolchildren are chosen by the respective schools’ principals, headmasters and parent-teacher associations,” he added.
Dr Yap said the project allowed younger children to learn how to use a smart card and keep track of the amount spent.
He said the total cost for all five schools was about RM110,000 a year.
“Some RM22,000 will be allocated to each school annually.
“The amount is based on a RM1 to RM1 matching grant between the club and MyKasih Foundation.
“We intend to continue with this programme until 2024 and beyond, depending on the availability of funds.
“If we can raise more money and with matching funds, we may add more schools,” he added.
