Osimal trains youths to become agropreneurs

 By Olivia Miwil - November 15, 2021 @ 4:21pm

Osimal Foundation chairman Tun Richard Malanjum (third left) officially handed over a house to Kampung Sugud villagers who lost their home during severe flooding in Sept 16. - NSTP/OLIVIA MIWIL.
Osimal Foundation chairman Tun Richard Malanjum (third left) officially handed over a house to Kampung Sugud villagers who lost their home during severe flooding in Sept 16. - NSTP/OLIVIA MIWIL.

PENAMPANG: A non-governmental organisation is promoting modern agriculture venture among school leavers to become entrepreneurs.

Osimal Foundation chairman Tun Richard Malanjum said at present its Kaiduan Agriculture Training Centre had its first intake involving eight youths, who underwent a six-month training.

He said students would be taught on farm management and they would be given seed money if they were interested in managing their own farm.

"We will follow up (with their progress) until they are capable enough. Hopefully, they can expand their work to other areas.

"If we don't do that (teaching entrepreneurship), everyone will be migrating to town. Rural-to-urban migration is not good.

"If they stay put in the rural areas, these areas can continue to be developed," he said, agropreneur would have their own income instead of being odd or unskilled workers at town.

Malanjum was speaking to reporters after handing over two out of four Industrialised Building System houses to flood victims who lost their homes during severe flooding at Kampung Sugud here.

He said the foundation managed to raise funds to build four houses, water system and additional assistance for the flood victims at the village.

The former Chief Justice said the Osimal could also help in coordinating legal matters, if the flooding was due to "external factors" and the villagers wanted to take legal actions.

"We are not here to instigate them. It is not nice to do so...but it is also sad if we do not stop the culprit(s) from doing nonsensical (things that lead to flooding).

"Sometimes we have to stop activities that are detrimental to the environment and the people's welfare. If they don't stop after we ask them to do so, we have no choice but to go to court for remedy," he said.

Malanjum also urged people to donate to Osimal so that the foundation could help more people especially children from underprivileged backgrounds.

So far, the foundation has built school hostels at Kampung Buayan and Kampung Longkogungan here as well as Kampung Matanggal in Paitan; provide scholarships for three university students; school meal vouchers and textbooks for poor students at Papar and Membakut; a house for single-parent family among others.

"As for children who want to go to school but cannot afford (the school fees), Osimal is willing to help and we thank our sponsors for being generous (to support our cause)."



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