Community Project

As we celebrated the feast of St Mary Euphrasia on 24th April 2013, we also celebrated our 1st anniversary of ministry in Tulid. Only a year ago, at the invitation of Bishop Cornelius, Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd (PKGS) started a survey on a few villages around Tulid. Subsequently the four communities in the villages worked together on the piece of land which belongs to the Diocese of Keningau. From the clearing of the land to planting, harvesting, packaging and selling, we have seen the success in gathering the community to work together. Besides planting and harvesting for themselves, the yield of the community project goes back to the community to finance the next planting and other community activities. A resting house or in the local language “Langkau Nasisimpungan” was built with the joint effort of the communities and PKGS at the site of the plantation. The colourful house was painted and decorated by the Children’s Team, Youth Team, Women’s Team, World Vision Malaysia and PKGS. The Land Development Committee headed by Mr Stanis Sakunil meets every month to discuss on the projects they plan to do on the land.
Community Service Centre

The construction of the Centre which took six months to complete, costs RM215,000 and was financed by Sabah Credit Corporation. In his speech, Mr George Taitim, Chief Financial Officer, mentioned that this is the fifth project that they have supported PKGS. The other projects include the extension of Seri Murni Crisis Centre and the YouthPrep Centre. Our ministry of working with women and children is under their CSR focus groups – women, children and children with special needs.

On the ground floor of the Centre, there is an office space, a meeting room, a kitchen, an area for the sale of items made by the women or produce from the plantation. There are four bedrooms on the first floor for the staff. Rooms are also available for women and girls in crisis situations.

In June last year, we started running the Children’s Programme at Kg Delayan Baru, the Youth Programme at Kg Kiulu Baru and the Women’s Programme at Kg Pauh and Tulid. These programmes are financed through the grant given by World Vision Malaysia. We have seen the community take responsibility and ownership in the development of their people in social, environment, education, moral and economic aspects of their lives.

The communities are empowered to run the Children’s Programme. Volunteers from the community are trained in running the programme. They are now ready to run it on their own and will assist us in training other surround communities.

We have conducted the Family Building and Reconciliation Programme in two villages which have helped familited to address issues and to work on their relationships together. Programmes to empower women were conducted and they were encouraged to start small businesses to sustain themselves.

Training and visits to plantations were organised for exposure while speakers and trainers were invited to the villages to share their knowledge and experience.

Bishop Cornelius Piong of the Keningau Diocese expressed his gratitude, to all parties who have contributed to the success of the Community Project, at the Eucharistic Celebration. During dinner we launched “The Living Stories: In Her Footsteps” Volume 2. This comprises of testimonies written by sisters, staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of our programmes in the Province of Singapore-Malaysia.
Truly, the earth has yielded its harvest as we witnessed such great blessings for the day!