Students From Laos, Vietnam Among Volunteers To Malaysia's Miri

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Beginning Saturday, four international students, two each from Laos and Vietnam, will carry out volunteer works with Malaysians in Miri of east Malaysian state, Sarawak. The voluntter works end on Feb 26. A total of 121 volunteers of the Student Volunteers Foundation (YSS) ASEAN Volunteer Mission, including 117 Malaysian students from local public and private learning institutions will embark on the volunteer works at five villages. The villages are Buddy and Rawing longhouses in the district of Beluru; Ayai and Mentali longhouses in Bekenu; and, Kampong Lajong in Niah. Higher Education Deputy Minister Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching handed over the YSS-ASEAN flag to the YSS-ASEAN Volunteer Mission to Miri chef-de-mission and YSS chairman Zuraidah Atan at the ministry here Friday. The volunteers will stay in the longhouses and interact with the local community throughout their stay. The volunteer work includes fun learning session on mathematics, science and English for children in rural areas and helping to repair school facilities such as building cement pedestrian walkway, drawing murals and painting the classrooms. Speaking to reporters at the event, Yap said the YSS-ASEAN volunteer mission contributed to nation-building and was in line with Prime Minister Najib Razak's vision in the National Transformation 2050 to empower the youth. "Students learn about cooperation, disclipline, collaboration and team building through this programme," she noted. The two female students from Laos, Soudalath Khongsavanh, 19, a literature student and international relations student, Soleuthai Syvongsa, 20, from National University of Laos were excited to go to Sarawak and learn about its culture. The two girls from Vietnam are Vietnam International University student, Le Nguyen Thuy Van, 21, and Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Pham Thi Quynhchi, 22. They said they would do their best to contribute to the local community. The student volunteer foundation was established under the Companies Act 1965 and launched in 2012. It is aimed at delivering students who are competitive and holistic in meeting global challenges. Since 2012, YSS has organised a total of 21 student volunteer missions. --BERNAMA