Feeding the Needy (FTN), a food aid foundation and non-profit governmental organisation (NGO), and Rembawang Holdings helped improved the daily lives of the Sandakan community through its effort in reconstructing three bridges connecting Kampung Pisang and Kampung Melayu, Sandakan.

The project took place in April 2019 as after FTN visited the villages, they were shocked at the conditions of the bridges. Not only were the bridges falling apart while still being heavily used by the community, there were crocodiles spotted in the river beneath the bridges.

“It was one bridge connecting Kampung Pisang to Kampung Melayu, which corresponds to two schools under the FTNKids Programme that caught our attention. It was really difficult to get into that village on a daily basis, let alone how extremely dangerous it was to cross the tottering bridge,” said Team Leader of FTN Sandakan and FTNKids Sandakan Farah Osman.

Farah added that the same pathway is used by the elderly as well as for individuals to transport daily supplies into the villages.

With the help of corporate sponsor Rembawang Holdings, FTN managed to reconstruct the badly damaged wooden bridges. The first two bridges restored are about 80-90 feet long, while the other bridge is at 30 feet long.

Although these bridges may not seem like much, the huge convenience and safety brought forth are a great step forward for the entire community.

Both Rembawang Holdings and FTN strongly believe that this reconstruction was necessary because apart from helping the community as a whole, it also encourages and motivates the children within the villages to commute to their respective schools. The community are now at ease knowing that their families’ safety and wellbeing are no longer a concern.