Group pix with new Madam President!!

13th December 2008: A group pix of all the friends, volunteers, sponsosrs, homeowners, Board Members and Habitat executives together with the newly installed President Joanna Kitingan (in yellow hard hat)

New President's Acceptance Speech

13th December 2008: Newly installed President Joanna Kitingan giving her 'acceptance speech' immediately after her installation at the 4th AGM of Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu.

4th AGM on 13th Dec 2008

13th December 2008: Guests, friends, volunteers & home partners settling in just before the 4th AGM of Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu at Taman Likas, KK.

Volunteers & Friends at Habitat's AGM

13th Dec 2008: Ms Joanna Kitingan (left) welcoming Puan Evelyn Masudal and her son Allen to Habitat's AGM at its office at Likas Park, KK.

Home Partners at our AGM

13th Dec 2008: Board Member Ms Phyllis Chin interacting with and welcoming home partner Encik Mabulmaddin and his family to the 4th AGM of Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu.

Ms Joanna Kitingan installed as new President for Habitat KK

13th December 2008: Ms Joanna Kitingan was installed as the

new President of Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu at its 4th Annual General Meeting held at its office premises in Taman Likas, Kota Kinabalu. Pix shows outgoing President Allen Tong pinning the badge of office onto Joanna's lapel as well as presenting Joanna with the 'hard hat' of office.

Habitat KK holds its 4th AGM on 13th December 2008

Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu held its 4th Annual General Meeting on 13th December 2008 at its office premises in Taman Likas, chaired by President Allen Tong who updated the volunteers, home partners, Board Members on the various activities and programs that were successfully implemented during 2008. Everyone stayed back after the meeting for a fellowship lunch during which time, the volunteers, home owners and Board Members mingled and interacted in a warm, friendly and joyful atmosphere. President Allen Tong thanked everyone for their contribution and co-operation during the year.

Rusinah's new Habitat home in Kampong Sinagang

4th November 2008: Rusinah is now the proud owner of a new Habitat home in Kampong Sinagang, which is about half an hour from Kota Kinabalu. This village is located about 2,000 feet above mean sea level and is pretty cold at night! It was a great challenge for Habitat to build this home, having to transport the building materials all the way to the site. With commitment and perseverance and with volunteers from as far away as USA, Canada, France, Scotland, Korea, Taiwan, England, Australia, Malaysia and more, we finally completed the build!!

Rusinah receives personal letter from USA!!

4th November 2008: Rusinah received a personal letter and photos from Brittney who was here recently with the Global Village team led by Enzo Repola. Here is Rose proudly displaying the letter and photo sent by Brittney.

Consecration of new Habitat home in Kampong Sinagang!

4th November 2008: Founding President Allen Tong handing over the 'Key' to the new Habitat home to single mother Rusinah Gulingan at Kampong Sinagang, witnessed by National President Rose Au, National Director Dr Nestor Pestelos and other Board of Directors. Rusinah (or 'Rose' in short) is a rubber tapper and the mother of 5 children.

Visit to Home Partners

4th November 2008: National President Rose Au, accompanied by National Director Dr Nestor Pestelos were taken by President Allen Tong and KK Board Members to interact with home partners David Baba and Nancy Kilintong. Seen here in pix is the group with the home partners in front of the nearly-completed Habitat home at Kampong Kiansom Lama.

New Habitat Resource Centre for Kota Kinabalu

Habitat for Humanity is planning and will soon set up its Resource Centre in Kota Kinabalu.

Recently on 4th November 2008, National President Rose Au and National Director Dr Nestor Pestelos visited the prospective site at Kampong Contoh, Petagas, and gave the 'thumbs up' for the site! Pix shows the house that is already at the site, and the VIP visitors accompanied by Board Member Ms Joanna Kitingan for a familiarisation visit to all our Habitat projects.

Action Pix of 22 volunteers from Renaissance & Marriott

Once again, the Renaissance Hotels Malaysia and Miri Marriot Resort & Spa...in action at Kampong Tamau, Kota Belud, from 19th to 24th October 2008. Thanks for your hearts, your generosity and contribution to build a loving Habitat home...pictures show various action shots of the team!!

20-23 Oct 08 at Kampong Tamau: 22 volunteers from Renaissance Hotels & Miri Marriott build for Habitat KK

A quick visit to the beach at Rampayan Laut on the way back to the Ostrich Lodge (where the volunteers stayed)!
Pix shows the happy team from Renaissance Kuala Lumpur, with their team leader Nor Aizan (1st from left).

Ms Nor Aizan (from Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel) upscaling and bonding with village children making and coloring magnetic animated moulds. Aizan 'broke the ice' with the children making them feel very at ease and comfortable with the visitors/volunteers. Thanks Aizan, for your creativity!

On Day 3, the walls are up! Fantastic progress for a group of dedicated volunteers who have not built a house before! Syabas man!!

Team Toilet.com artistically constructing one of the most important
section of the new Habitat home for Mabulmaddin's family.

Reporter & Feature Writer Elton Gomes (seated, 1st left) from the Borneo Post at the build site interviewing the Team Leader Ms Nik Adura (with cap and white T-shirt)


Van broke down on morning of Day 2!! Great chance to warm up for the volunteers who walked for about 2km before help came! They took the chance to enjoy the country-side and beautiful view of Mount Kinabalu! Thanks for showing high and positive spirit, gang!!


Fiddler on the Roof: Hey Zamri, be careful there!

The Pintu.com team on Day 2 creatively 'designing' and constructing
the doors and windows for Mabulmaddin's house.

Enjoying team spirit at dinner time at the Ostrich Lodge at Rampayan Laut. Many of the volunteers met each other for the 1st time and bonded very well and became good friends!

Oh Mama! Naik kereta-ku...the pickup vehicle transporting the volunteers daily from the Ostrich Lodge at Rampayan Laut to the buildsite at Kampong Tamau, Kota Belud, Sabah.

The journey takes about 20 minutes.

Volunteers attract interests and build bonding with children too

21st October 2008 on Day 2 of Work at Kampong Tamau, Kota Belud, Sabah: The 22 volunteers from Renaissance Resorts & Hotels Malaysia and Miri Marriott Resort & Spa, worked in 4 separate teams under separate leaders, building team spirit and bonding not only among themselves, but also connecting well with the village children.

The Renaissance Hotel and Miri Marriott team in action in Kota Belud, Sabah.

20th October 2008: 22 volunteers from Renaissance Hotel Malaysia and Miri Marriott Resort & Spa are staying for 4 nights at Rampayan Laut, near Kota Belud, building a Habitat home for a sugar cane farmer and his family. It has been raining at the site prior to their arrival, but on their 1st day of work on 20th Oct 08 (Monday), the weather is beautiful...warm to cool and breezy! It's so blessed! The good weather and the high energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers augured well for the team work to make great progress with the build. This is the 4th consecutive year that this Hotel group is sending volunteers to help Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu build homes in Sabah. It is under their international program "Spirit to Serve" to help local community work. Thank you so much Fellas!! Pictures show the volunteers team spirit in putting up the house for Mabulmaddin in Kampong Tamau, Kota Belud, Sabah. This is only the 1st day of work and we are glad that the house is going up very smoothly.