MYTC holds 15th graduation ceremony

KINARUT – “Through the intervention of Montfort, many have graduated and were able to secure good employment with established companies in Sabah, Labuan, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.”

Words fittingly spoken by Archbishop John Wong, who officiated at the 15th Graduation Ceremony May 16 for 65 Monfort Trainees at its Residential Campus in Kinarut, as he shared the joy and pride with Montfort on the occasion.  He acknowledged that the Montfort Youth Training Centre (MYTC) has, since its inception 15 years ago, uplifted and empowered hundreds of youth economically by providing technical skill training and character building through their holistic programmes.

Also present were the Chairman of the Board of Governors,  Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, who together with other Board Members, Montfort Brothers, benefactors and friends of Montfort, parents, staff and other invited guests, witnessed the success of youths who were once at the brink of despair and becoming recalcitrant.

Not forgetting the partnership of those who had a hand in the success story of the Graduates, the Archbishop congratulated the Brothers and the staff for their continuous dedication and commitment to the formation of Youth.  He made a vote of thanks to the Board of Governors, as well as to the numerous benefactors and donors for their personal involvement and financial support which give new hope to many young people of our society.

Sharing the joy and happiness of the Graduates, he commended them for their success and the resilience in making it through their training. While calling them on to put God first in their lives, they were also reminded to live out the values and teaching which they had learnt in Montfort, and to stay connected with each other and with Montfort.

Among the Graduates were 16 Mechanics, 16 Welders, 16 Carpenters and 17 Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Technicians, with six of them achieving the Terampil Cemerlang in their Level 2 Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) examination.  All received their Certificates from Archbishop John Wong.

Richard Onsogit from Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanics Domestic (RAM) was elected to be the Most Improved Trainee of Batch 15. Richard, who hails from Paitan, came to Montfort without any formal education and no knowledge of English. After two years in Montfort, he had advanced tremendously in his skill training, English and personal development. Richard managed to excel his English proficiency in reading, writing and speaking. He is the sole Graduate from his Department to attain Terampil Cemerlang in his Level 2 SKM examination and would be proceeding to SKM Level 3 in July 2015 with a government institution. Richard was also a member of the Montfort Prefectorial Board, holding the position of Deputy Head Prefect.

A small number of the Graduates has opted to continue their SKM Level 3 while a majority of them have secured employment in Sabah, Labuan and Peninsula Malaysia.

In June, Montfort will be taking in another batch of 100 new Trainees, an increase from the usual intake to necessitate the overwhelming applications received.

Besides the technical skill training program at the main campus at Kinarut, Monfort also manages two other hostels in San Damiano Boys’ Hostel, Kiulu and St Mary’s Youth Hostel, Sandakan, to cater for 100 school-going youths coming from remote parts of Sabah to study in the government secondary schools.

The aim of the hostels was to provide a secure and conducive environment for youths to continue their education and improve their academic performance for a brighter future.- MPA, Marcella Tiong