The first batch of students moved in on March 17.
KOTA KINABALU: Students staying in the far reaches of the Tuaran district, some 40km from here, now have easier access to schools in town with the opening of the Kampung Bantayan Girls’ Hostel.
The RM2.5mil hostel, a project between the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu South (RCKKS) and HELP (Help Eradicate Lasting Poverty) Foundation, can accommodate up to 120 students.
The hostel, also known as the St Marianne Girls’ Hostel, is located at Kampung Bantayan in Tamparuli, which is a sub-district in Tuaran.
The construction started after RCKKS and HELP Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding on April 23, 2010, but the project stalled due to delays in raising funds to meet building costs.
Brand new ‘home’: The Kampung Bantayan Girls’ Hostel can accommodate up to 120 students.
However after 10 years, it was finally completed in 2022, with the grand opening on Friday.
Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim, also the Tamparuli assemblyman, represented the Chief Minister at the event.
“The momentous ceremony marks the realisation of RCKKS’ second Hostel Signature Project,” said Carlwin Yee, who is the RCKKS president .
Yee said this also signifies the successful achievement of RCKKS’ ambitious and long-term twin hostels signature projects after its first hostel project, namely the St Maria Goretti Girls’ Hostel in the Keningau district, was completed previously.
“For the same purpose, the second hostel will now open its doors to provide accommodation for girls from the remote interior areas in and around Tuaran so that they can attend schools within the vicinity of Kampung Bantayan,” he said.
At about 1,166 sq km, Tuaran is almost four times bigger than Melaka.
Towards this end, Yee said they were grateful that many corporations and individuals had come forward to support by contributing large sums of money to finance the project.
He explained that the funds were raised through charity dinners, golf events and other corporate companies’ fundraising campaigns.
“There were also other donations in kind and monetary terms from small and medium enterprises, individuals and other rotary clubs, including RCKKS’ sister clubs.
“On behalf of RCKKS, we are sincerely thankful to all the contributors and donors for the last 12 years who have helped to make this project a success,” he added.
Yee said upon completion of this project, both RCKKS and the HELP Foundation have agreed to have the Franciscan Sisters with the church committee near Kampung Bantayan to manage the hostel.
He said the first group of students moved in on March 17 this year.
“And it is with fervent hope that the hostel would be fully occupied in due course to allow the students to have easier access to education whilst having comfortable accommodation at the hostel,” he said.
