After almost one year of its launch, Impian Sarawak kicks into high gear. On 11 August, DAP reported that after completing 29 community projects under the aegis of Impian Sarawak, it will hold a cross country run to commemorate Malaysia Day in Kiding, Sarawak.
Sarawak DAP chairman and Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen announced that to celebrate the completion of the Kg Kiding road project, DAP will be holding an Impian Kiding Run to also commemorate Malaysia Day on 16 September 2014.
“We call upon all Malaysians, in Sarawak and elsewhere to come join the run with us. The views of this off-beaten-track location is awe-inspiring and is already well known to regular mountain hikers. With this road and run, thousands more will be able to admire Malaysia’s natural beauty,” Chong said.
The run also commemorates the launching of the Impian Sarawak project one year ago in September 2013. Chong said that since then DAP and Impian Sarawak volunteers have completed a total of 29 projects providing various assistance to marginalized and neglected villagers.
These projects include providing gravity-fed water or to help with urgent repairs or renovations to basic community facilities such as bridges, jetties, community halls and places of worship.
“For Impian Sarawak, we have spent to date a total of RM 357,000 benefitting nearly 500 families in the rural villages. We have also involved more than 117 volunteers who have spent their time and money to contribute towards the completion of these projects as well as building a strong community spirit and bond with the local villagers,” Chong, who is also DAP national vice-chairman, added.
With regards to the Malaysia Day run, it is also to celebrate the completion of the Kg Kiding village road project, Impian Sarawak’s biggest project thus far. Kg Kiding is a village located in the Mambong constituency, less than 2 hours away from Kuching, Sarawak.
“We started the project in May this year and completed it in July. With a budget if RM140,000 the sponsorship of heavy machinery services, 53 volunteers from West Malaysia and Sarawak as well as the gotong-royong spirit of the villagers, Impian Sarawak successfully completed the 3km village road which included 4 bridges to cross the rivers and ravines.”
“With the new road, villagers and school children don’t have to spend 1 hour plus walking each way to sell their produce and go to schools,” Chong elaborated.
Chong added that Impian Sarawak wants to shift into a higher gear by also providing ‘software’ needs on top of the hardware they are providing for rural communities.
“We will be kicking off our Impian Sarawak ‘Learning Camps’ in the September school holidays from 13 to 21 September 2014. The pilot camps will be held in Rassau, Sibu and in Bintagor to provide education workshops and motivation talks for the school-going children.”
“We are looking out for volunteers who are able to spend up to a week in these villagers to teach, tutor and talk to these young students to help shape a better future for them.”
Impian Sarawak is looking for 5-6 volunteers for each of these camps and those who are interested may write to [email protected] with their resumes. -TheRocket
