KOTA KINABALU: A dedicated group of 26 third-year Construction Technology students from Keningau Vocational College (KVC) has come together to undertake a house repair and restoration project for a needy classmate.
The team leader, Ara Billa Biton said their classmate, who lost his parents years ago, lived in challenging conditions due to poverty and a flood-prone location in the Keningau district.
Ara said the project started as a pilot service business idea by five students from the class. Their proposal won a grant worth US$500 (RM2,300) at the YouthMADE Festival Amplify 2024.
This was followed by a crowdfunding campaign organised by the college's welfare committee, which raised an additional RM2,500.
"The amount of money raised from these efforts enabled the entire class of the third-year Construction Technology programme, with the assistance of the lecturers and the homeowner's family, to buy the necessary materials and arrange the restoration work.
"Our classmate's house is located in a Keningau paddy field. The project provided valuable fieldwork experience while allowing us to help those in need.
"We zeroed in on critical repairs, reinforcing the stairs, replacing the porch and kitchen floors, and restoring the exterior railings. We also helped to remove debris and trash accumulated due to frequent flooding."
With the remaining funds, the team plans to undertake a similar service on another home or building in the near future.
Other than the restoration work, the team conducted research on damage assessment and gained community service experience, improving their practical learning and community engagement skills.
College director Nordin Akup commended the team's hard work and noble deed, which can set a great example for other college members to find ways to support the community.
He said community service is a mandatory subject for all vocational college students and reaffirmed KVC's commitment to leveraging its skills and resources to support the community in every possible way.