
Building the base for a love of learning
SJKC Pandan pupils now have a vibrant new space to read, learn and grow, thanks to the successful upgrading of Pondok Kasih, a reading corner at the Johor Baru school.
Designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and collaborative learning among school pupils and staff, the RM45,000 project was undertaken by Eco Spring, a subsidiary of Eco World, under the foundation's Eco World Cares initiative focusing on education.
The newly revamped space was handed over by Eco World Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and Eco World (southern region) divisional general manager Phan Yan Chan to SJKC Pandan headmistress Ong Lee Peng in a ceremony.
In his speech, Lee said every student deserved a safe space where he or she could feel inspired, explore creativity and enjoy learning in a meaningful way.
'Pondok Kasih was created with this vision in mind and aligns with our commitment to educational empowerment among students,' he said, thanking the Eco Spring team for bringing the initiative to life.
The transformation included roof replacement, new flooring, improved lighting, ceiling fan installation, a fresh coat of paint and upgraded landscaping.
The result is a cosy and pupil-friendly environment suitable for reading, extra-curricular activities and group discussions.
Praising the initiative, Ong described Pondok Kasih as an area where pupils can read quietly, relax during breaks, engage in group discussions or watch sports events.
She said teachers could also use the space for book sharing, extra-curricular lessons and mentoring sessions.
She extended her appreciation to the school board, Parent-Teacher Association and teachers for their support in the school's development journey.
The reading corner now features well-designed bookshelves, picture book displays and comfortable seating to foster interest in reading, enhance language skills and promote a positive learning environment.
The upgraded Pondok Kasih is expected to benefit 2,457 students and 122 teachers at the school.
SJKC Pandan is one of the many schools supported by Eco World Foundation's Student Aid Programme, which also benefits 28 underprivileged students at the school.
Nationwide, the programme assists about 2,000 students annually.
Last year, Eco World Foundation also contributed nearly RM60,000 to enhance facilities at SK Gelang Patah and SJKT Taman Tun Aminah.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
NRES Prioritises Four Key Projects Under MADANI Programmes In Pendang, Kedah
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) is focusing on four key projects under its MADANI Adopted Village (KAM) and MADANI Adopted School (SAM) programmes in Pendang, Kedah. In a statement today, NRES said the KAM project, with a budget of RM1 million, covers Kampung Nangka Siam and Kampung Lahar Tunjung, and is expected to be completed by October. Meanwhile, the SAM project, with a RM100,000 allocation, is focused on upgrading facilities at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pokok Asam (SKPA). The KAM initiative includes constructing tube wells as an alternative water source, improving village roads, and upgrading the community hall and cemetery in Kampung Lahar Tunjung, all aimed at creating a sustainable and resilient rural community. On Friday, NRES also organised the KAM Semarak Desa programme at Kampung Nangka Siam, offering various community engagement activities and services. The event, officiated by NRES secretary-general Datuk Dr Ching Thoo a/l Kim, featured cultural performances such as Siamese dance, silat, and muay thai, along with service counters from the Health Ministry, National Registration Department, Road Transport Department, and Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad, as well as an elephant show by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. The KAM initiative is supported by a whole-of-government approach, involving several agencies, including the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Kedah Federal Development Office, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. It aims to uplift the well-being of rural communities by improving basic infrastructure and addressing local development challenges. Under the SAM programme, the RM100,000 allocation for SKPA will fund the maintenance of classroom facilities and support the implementation of a smart classroom, as well as Digital Learning Enhancement activities to equip students with relevant digital skills.


Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Aid trucks move from Egypt to Gaza after Israel said it began airdrops
Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid wait on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing. (AFP pic) CAIRO : Aid trucks started moving towards Gaza from Egypt, the Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said on Sunday, after months of international pressure and warnings from relief agencies of starvation spreading in the Palestinian enclave. Israel said that it began aid airdrops to Gaza on Saturday and was taking several other steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli military said 'humanitarian corridors' would be established for the safe movement of UN convoys delivering aid to Gazans and that 'humanitarian pauses' would be implemented in densely populated areas. Dozens of trucks carrying tonnes of humanitarian aid moved towards the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing in southern Gaza, the Al Qahera correspondent said from the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. International aid organisations say there is mass hunger among Gaza's 2.2 million people, with food running out after Israel cut off all supplies to the territory in March, before resuming it in May with new restrictions. Israel says it has let enough food into Gaza and accuses the UN of failing to distribute it. The UN says it is operating as effectively as possible under Israeli restrictions. Israel's announcement on airdrops came after indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas were broken off with no deal in sight. The Israeli military said in a statement that the airdrops would be conducted in coordination with international aid organisations and would include seven pallets of aid containing flour, sugar and canned food. Palestinian sources confirmed that aid had begun dropping in northern Gaza. Israel's foreign ministry said the military would 'apply a 'humanitarian pause' in civilian centres and in humanitarian corridors' on Sunday morning. It provided no further details. 'The IDF emphasises that there is no starvation in the Gaza Strip; this is a false campaign promoted by Hamas,' the Israeli military said in its Saturday statement. 'Responsibility for food distribution to the population in Gaza lies with the UN and international aid organisations. Therefore, the UN and international organisations are expected to improve the effectiveness of aid distribution and to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas.' Aid ship intercepted The Israeli military stressed that despite the humanitarian steps, 'combat operations have not ceased' in the Gaza Strip. Separately, international activists on an aid ship that set sail from Italy en route to Gaza said in a post on X that the vessel had been intercepted. The Israeli foreign ministry said on X that naval forces 'stopped the vessel from illegally entering the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza' and that it was being taken to Israeli shores and all passengers were safe. The UN said on Thursday that humanitarian pauses in Gaza would allow 'the scaling up of humanitarian assistance' and said Israel had not provided enough route alternatives for its convoys, hindering aid access. Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in the past few weeks, according to the Gaza health ministry, while 127 people have died due to malnutrition, including 85 children, since the start of the war, which began nearly two years ago. On Wednesday, more than 100 aid agencies warned that mass starvation was spreading across the enclave. The military also said on Saturday that it had connected a power line to a desalination plant, expected to supply daily water needs for about 900,000 Gazans. Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led fighters stormed Israeli towns near the border, killing some 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages on Oct 7, 2023. Since then, Israeli forces have killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, health officials there say, and reduced much of the enclave to ruins.


The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Youth engagement in agro sector shows SejaTi MADANI success
ALOR GAJAH: The increasing participation of youth in agriculture and livestock sectors under the SejaTi MADANI initiative reflects its positive progress, according to Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari. The Alor Gajah MP stressed the need to sustain efforts in attracting young people by showcasing the stability of food security. Adly stated, 'This is because as long as there are people, food will always be needed. We only need to enhance their knowledge and interest, including financial management, use of technology, as well as opening up more avenues for assistance and funding.' He made these remarks after launching the Freshwater Fish Farming (Catfish) Project by Koperasi Usahawan Alor Gajah Melaka Berhad. The SejaTi MADANI programme, led by Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia (Angkasa) in partnership with government agencies, has demonstrated tangible benefits for communities. Adly noted that some projects have advanced to their second phase without additional funding, proving the initiative's effectiveness. 'With a maximum funding of RM100,000, we can see that projects under this initiative have produced positive outcomes, including the emergence of various youth agro-projects such as catfish farming, village chicken rearing, agricultural drone rental services, and even sustainable cooking oil filtration innovations,' he said. Adly also urged freshwater fish farmers, particularly catfish breeders, to adopt responsible waste management practices. He emphasized the use of filtration systems to prevent river pollution, especially during dry seasons. 'We know that ponds used for catfish farming produce wastewater that can pollute rivers if not properly filtered. The use of technology such as water filtration systems must be made mandatory to protect water ecosystems,' he added. - Bernama