'Steel Steady' community project receives Rakan Muda Academy Grant
KENINGAU (Aug 15): The community project team from the Welding Technology program of Keningau Vocational College (KVC), known as 'Steel Steady', has been selected as one of the 10 recipients of the Rakan Muda Academy grant worth RM15,000, organized by Impact Malaysia in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The team attended a series of mentoring workshops for grant recipients held in-person at the end of July in Negeri Sembilan and in early August 2025 in Selangor.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh officiated the workshop series on the final night through a special ceremony.
The team consists of five main members: Firdaus Sariman, a vocational teacher who also serves as the team leader, along with four diploma students in Welding Technology – Nur Alia Ayuni Muahamad Husrin, Andrew Mark Dalubatan, Dylan Ivander Lucas and Gareth Randall Gisil.
The 'Steel Steady' project focuses on repairing and restoring public buildings such as schools and houses of worship, particularly structures made of steel, including stair railings, drainage grilles and door and window bars.
The project also empowers youth by training volunteers in basic welding techniques so they can participate in this community initiative together with vocational students who are already skilled in repair and maintenance work.
The team has developed a workshop module designed for participants without a vocational background to effectively learn these skills. With this grant, the team will provide training and exposure to youths aged 15 to 20 from the Keningau area before carrying out repair works at a primary school in the district.
The college director, Lumang anak Lang, expressed pride and joy in the team's efforts, highlighting that they not only use the skills they have learned to serve the community but also strive to educate and encourage youths to actively volunteer in the project.
This, he emphasized, proves that vocational college education can develop human capital while instilling positive values.
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