KUCHING: The Sarawak government has provided a grant of RM4,179,000 to the Kuching Autistic Association (KAA) to build their second three-storey educational block.
Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said that the total cost of the building is at RM5,117, 224.
“The association will raise the remaining funds through fund-raising efforts. On the other hand, my Ministry is also providing an allocation of RM10,000 to KAA,” she said.
She said this before officiating at the earth-breaking ceremony of KAA’s new education block at Batu Kawah here on Friday (May 17).
Meanwhile, KAA president Dr Catherine Chen said that their present buildings are not able to cater sufficiently for the growing number of students registering at the association every year.
“This is why we decided to build a second educational block to cater for the need for vocational training.
“We currently have 29 teenagers attending the Secondary Instruction Programme, and anticipate that another 10 more will join us next year. And many more will need vocational training in the years to come,” she said.
She added the new building will have vocational training rooms, kitchens, art rooms, music rooms, computer rooms and job simulation training settings upon the completion of its construction in about 15 months.
“In addition, there will be more training and employment opportunities for adults with autism, in our proposed café, bakery, art gallery, shop, laundrette and car wash,” she said.
