STUDENTS of SJK (T) Ladang Juru in Simpang Ampat, Seberang Prai, can now have a better place to grab a bite during recess, thanks to SP Setia Foundation for refurbishing the school canteen.

The foundation, which is the charity arm of property developer company SP Setia Berhad, donated RM20,000 to replace the ceiling boards, flooring and to build a new kitchen.

Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the upgrading also included plumbing work, plastering and painting of the canteen walls, which was completed last December.

?We always believe in creating conducive environment for students, and the school canteen is an important place for children to interact while they have their break.

?We are happy to be able to contribute to this small project,? he said after opening the refurbished canteen at the school premises recently.

Lee said the foundation also allocated RM2mil annually under its Setia Adoption Programme (SAP) to provide educational assistance to 2,300 students from 119 schools in Johor, Klang, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Pahang.

?Over the last 10 years, the foundation has spent RM18mil on the Setia Adoption Programme and a total of 7,377 students have benefited from it.

?At present, four of the children adopted by Setia are pursuing their tertiary education and 434 children are studying in their secondary level,? he said.

Later, Lee launched the Setia Foundation (Penang) Volunteers Club at the Setia Pearl Island in Bayan Lepas.

He said with the launch of the club here, SP Setia planned to do even more for the community through its corporate social responsibility programme.

In his speech, Lee praised the 60 new volunteers for sacrificing their time to help the community.

?When we first started in 2009, we only had 59 volunteers ?- now we have a total of 271 from Penang, Johor and the Klang Valley.

?The main purpose of setting up the club was to encourage staff participation in social work and to promote the Setia spirit of caring and sharing,? he said, adding that the company believed in the 1Malaysia concept of assisting everyone in need regardless of race or religion.

SP Setia Property (North) general manager S. Rajoo said volunteers from the state would be visiting students from 26 primary schools regularly to organise activities and holiday camps for them

SOURCE: The Star