SJK (T) Ladang North Hummock board of governors chairman Arumugam Subramaniam, Eco World Development Group president and executive officer Datuk Chang Khim Wah, Lee, Eco World Foundation trustee Philip Mathews and Sooria unveiling the canteen.
Pupils at SJK (T) Ladang North Hummock in Setia Alam, Selangor, received a nice surprise upon returning from their two-week break.
They found a newly expanded and renovated canteen, which would give them more room to gather and chat with friends during recess.
The work was funded by Eco World Foundation in collaboration with Eco Ardence and Eco World Development Group.
This Eko Kids Cafe project is part of the foundation’s Special Projects for Schools initiative under its Students Aid Programme (SAP).
SJK (T) Ladang North Hummock headmistress Sooria Kumaree Marimuthu said the original canteen struggled to accommodate all 475 pupils at the same time.
“This resulted in three break sessions, which posed scheduling challenges for our teachers.
Pupils from SJK (T) Ladang North Hummock checking out the newly renovated canteen.
“Now, EcoWorld has transformed the canteen to provide our pupils with a comfortable space to enjoy their recess,” she said.
The RM40,000 Eko Kids Cafe features a 20m × 5m extension with roofing, flooring, lighting, fans and new canteen tables as well as benches.
Year Five pupil Thejasvinee Thiruvarasan said, “Our canteen used to be small and hot but now it is a spacious and delightful place for us.
“We are grateful for the people who made it happen.”
Yazhiny Kalidass, 11, said the spacious canteen provided a good space to socialise comfortably with her friends.
Eco World Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye thanked the Eco Ardence team for their commitment in crafting a nurturing and inviting school atmosphere for the pupils.
He said the Special Project for Schools initiative received aid requests from 43 schools but only three schools were ultimately chosen, including SJK (T) Ladang North Hummock.
The other two schools are SK Seri Perling 2 in Johor Baru and SJK (C) Convent Datuk Keramat in Penang.
“I am hopeful that all pupils here can now enoy their break at the expanded canteen,” said Lee.
The foundation has also dedicated RM1mil to support schools, with a strong emphasis on providing financial assistance to underprivileged students, he said.
“We are providing assistance to 23 needy pupils at this school, and they will continue to be sponsored until they complete primary school,” he added.
