First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd today presented Sekolah Kebangsaan Ladang Bukit Sidim (Sidim Hill Plantation Elementary School) with educational and financial support to enhance the school's educational environment. The company's contribution covers the purchase of reference books for students and the library and school uniforms, the organization of a motivational workshop for parents, incentives for teachers providing after-school classes for students and the construction of a futsal court.
The initiative is part of First Solar Malaysia’s Educational Excellence program, which began in 2010 and is dedicated to the educational development of the local community in which First Solar operates. First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) is a world leader in the manufacture of photovoltaic (PV) modules and a premier provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions. The company built its first manufacturing plant in Kulim in 2007 and now operates six plants that employ more than 3,000 people.
Participating in a ceremony to mark the initiative were Encik Zulkefli bin Kamaruddin, the Headmaster of Sekolah Kebangsaan Ladang Bukit Sidim, Encik Yahaya bin Mat, the chairperson of school’s Parent-Teacher Association as well as First Solar Malaysia Managing Director Mr P’ng Soo Hong, and Asia Pacific Director of Human Resources Puan Norita Wan-Mat.
“First Solar is a great believer in people,” said P’ng. “Our growth in this country is largely attributed to our associates, who are part of the local community. By providing better educational opportunities to our community’s children, we hope to provide a foundation for a better future, both for our associates and for the local economy.”
First Solar’s Educational Excellence program helps schools in the company’s vicinity with their educational needs. Since the start of the program, five schools have benefited, receiving financial support, incentives, items such as office equipment, school uniforms for the underprivileged, field trips, and English language classes as well as workshops on environmental awareness with First Solar staff.
“Support from organisations such as First Solar is most welcome and invaluable to our school. It allows us to increase our activities and provide added value for our students. With the workshops and field trips, our children are not just exposed to textbook materials, but also to general knowledge such as environmental awareness. We hope to prepare our children with the knowledge for the betterment of their future,” said, Encik Zukefli the principal of SK Ladang Bukit Sidim.
Earlier, the school jointly organised a motivational workshop for its students and parents with First Solar Malaysia. “Our program is not about a one-off contribution. It is about adding sustainable value to the receiving schools and students. The centre of it is the community and we encourage our associates to participate,” said P’ng.
Other recent community activities organised by First Solar include a gotong-royong Project in Kampung Padang Cina, which involved 300 First Solar associates, 100 residents of Kampung Padang Cina as well as local authorities; and contributions to welfare homes to set up a learning centre and refurbish facilities.