New hostel allows female students from remote areas in Tuaran easier access to schools

KOTA KINABALU: Students staying in remote areas of Tuaran district, some 40km from here, can now have easier access to schools in town areas with the opening of the Kampung Bantayan Girls’ Hostel.

The RM2.5mil hostel, which is a project between Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu South (RCKKS) and HELP (Help Eradicate Lasting Poverty) Foundation, is able to accommodate up to 120 students.

The hostel, also known as the St Marianne Girls’ Hostel, is located at Kampung Bantayan in Tamparuli, a sub-district in Tuaran.

The Kampung Bantayan Girls’ Hostel

The construction started after RCKKS and HELP Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding on April 23, 2010 but the project stalled due to delays in raising funds to meet building costs.

But after 10 long years, it was finally completed in 2022, with the grand opening held on Friday (Aug 18).

Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim, who is also the Tamparuli assemblyman, represented the Chief Minister at the event.

“The momentous ceremony marks the realisation of RCKKS’ second hostel signature project,” said its president Carlwin Yee.

Yee said this also signifies the successful achievement of RCKKS’ ambitious and long-term twin hostels signature projects, after its first hostel project, namely the St Maria Goretti Girls’ Hostel in the Keningau district having been completed previously.

Yee (right) giving a tour of the hostel to Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim (middle)

Since opening its doors, the hostel in Keningau has attracted more than 1,000 girls from the rural villages in the interior district.

“For the same purpose, the second hostel would now open its doors to provide accommodation for female students from the remote interior areas in and around Tuaran so that they can attend schools within the vicinity of Kampung Bantayan,” he said.

Towards this end, Yee said they were grateful that a good number of corporations and individuals had come forward to finance the project.

He said these funds were raised through charity dinners, a golf event and other fundraising campaigns with various corporations.

The first batch of students moved in on March 17 this year.

“There were also other donations in kind and in monetary terms from small and medium enterprises, individuals, as well as other rotary clubs, including RCKKS’ sister clubs.

“On behalf of RCKKS, we are sincerely thankful to all the contributors and donors for the last 12 years who have helped to make this project a success,” he said.

He said the first group of students started to move in from March 17 this year.