Big Brother is still walking tall

Big Brother is still walking tall
By Joniston Bangkuai

2008/09/03

KOTA MARUDU: When former students of St John's Institution in Kuala Lumpur received a call from their former director, they knew what the conversation was going to be about. Some had been fielding calls from the well-loved educationist for the last 12 years since he "discovered" the needs of the children in the interiors of Sabah. Brother Lawrence Spitzig invariably asked for financial assistance to help educate the children, and was usually rewarded by money or items.

His latest target group of children were in Paitan, a two-hour boat ride from here.

Spitzig had just secured sponsorship of 1,000 writing books as well as clothing for them.

It was easy getting Bata Malaysia to sponsor 200 pairs of shoes as company regional manager Datuk James Selvaraj was a former student.

At 90, Spitzig was undeterred by age and used a walking stick to move his frail frame into the boat taking him to Paitan.

He did not mind the exhausting journey as he was eager to meet more than 100 children from poor families attending classes in six kindergartens he had helped set up.

"I have heard so much about the predicament of the children there. I wanted to meet them so much and am glad I made it there," said Spitzig, who was twice director of St John's Institution, first between 1955 and 1961, and later between 1979 and 1983.

Spitzig became involved in supporting young people in impoverished regions in Sabah after a visit to poverty-stricken remote Kampung Sungai Magandai and Kampung Sosogon Magandai, about three hours by logging road from here, 12 years ago.

Among the many community projects that Spitzig hadbeen involved in was the construction of a hostel for rural students here.

He came to know about the plight of the children in Paitan who were being taught how to read and write by Loreto Convent sisters -- Sister Dorothy and Sister Hilary Laudi.

Sister Dorothy, who was posted to Kampung Dalamas in Paitan in 2005, saw the need for pre-school education in the village and started a kindergarten in a small chapel there.

With assistance in the form of cash and in kind secured through concerned individuals like Spitzig, Sister Dorothy was soon able to open up five new kindergartens in the area.

The other kindergartens are at Kg Lubang Buaya (18 pupils), Kg Suli (28 pupils), Kg Vatangon Darat (15 pupils), Kg Lakan (15 pupils) and Kg Tawanan (22 pupils).

"I was told that plans are afoot to build eight more kindergartens in eight villages in Paitan but this is only possible with more funds," said Spitzig, who came to Malaysia in 1938 and is a Malaysian citizen

Those wishing to donate can contact Sister Dorothy at 013-5477525 or the Loreto Convent in Kota Kinabalu at 088-711991.
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