Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, adopted a local primary school, Kitobu Inanam Primary School, that is a 45-minute drive from the resort on March 2021 as part of the Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts’ Sustainability programme, Embrace.
In addition to the government syllabus for the young children, Kitobu Inanam Primary School provides academic programmes with social and emotional support for pupils with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism and Down Syndrome.
The two hundred and fifteen children attending the school come from impoverished families living in villages around the school. Most families there earn below MYR 1,000 a month.
During the five-year programme, the Resort will enhance some physical structures to provide a safe environment for its pupils and will add some essentials to existing facilities. Some key areas that require special attention include:
- Upgrading the library with new furniture to create a conducive environment,
- Purchasing science equipment to complete the science lab that has been empty since it was built in early 2019, and
- Upgrading the special needs classroom with a kitchenette and functioning toilet/ shower room to help the pupils learn necessary life skills.