Foundation builds book kiosk at Semenyih school

The Star

3 days ago

(From left) Yap, Azril Sham and Lee with SK Bandar Rinching pupils in the kiosk.
TO spark a love for reading, a book kiosk has been set up at SK Bandar Rinching in Semenyih, Selangor.
The RM75,000 facility was gifted by Eco World Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld).
Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said he had witnessed first-hand the teachers and students' enthusiasm for the facility.
Calling it encouraging, Lee expressed certainty that the kiosk would grow into a vibrant hub of learning, curiosity and inspiration.
'We want to make books easily accessible and ensure that reading becomes an enjoyable part of daily life.
'At Eco World Foundation, we believe education is the cornerstone of a better future and every child should have access to tools that help them thrive.
'Reading is one of the most powerful ways to unlock knowledge and opportunity.
'This kiosk is more than just a corporate social responsibility project as it reflects our deep commitment to educational empowerment,' he said at the kiosk handover to SK Bandar Riching headmaster Azril Sham Mohamed.
Also present were EcoWorld president and chief executive officer Datuk Chang Khim Wah and divisional general manager Evon Yap.
The kiosk, funded by Eco Majestic township in Semenyih, is expected to benefit the school's 2,700 pupils.
Construction began in February and was completed by mid-March.
The kiosk will offer pupils, teachers, parents and the wider school community access to diverse reading materials.
To ensure everyone has a chance to enjoy the facility, the kiosk will operate twice a month.
This initiative builds on Eco World Foundation's past support for SK Bandar Rinching.
In December 2023, it donated 150 sets of desks and chairs worth RM25,000, while its Students Aid Programme (SAP) supports 27 underprivileged pupils at the school.
On a broader note, SAP supports some 2,000 students annually at 117 schools nationwide, with essentials including school supplies, uniforms and financial assistance.
To date, 106 students under the SAP have continued on to tertiary education.
Eco World Foundation on a whole undertakes humanitarian projects to mitigate social shortcomings in education and literacy, health and well-being, poverty and lack of community infrastructure throughout the country.