Page 59 - Berita Sunway Issue 79

Puan Juairiah
Johari
Apshy Vimal Co-founder, Generating Opportunities
for Learning Disabled (GOLD);
Project lead, former senior assistant of the special
The Book Effect, Friends to Mankind needs class, SMK Bandar Sunway

Bringing the wonder of literature to all Inclusive entrepreneurship:
Unlocking opportunities for all Puan Nordina
Working with Sunway has given us the foundation to bring
our project to a scale we never thought possible. Sunway has been supporting GOLD to execute GOLD’s Haron
mission and vision via training, that is to provide vocational
YB Dato’ Hj. Mohd Rashidi Our goal has always been to help those who need it the most, rehabilitation to empower young adults with special needs CEO,
Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN)
into a sustainable social enterprise.
but due to nancial constraints, our project of building
bin Hj Mohd Nor libraries was initially limited to the Klang Valley.
Skills were taught at respective Sunway business divisions. Uplifting the welfare of the nation
Deputy chairman, With Sunway's support, we have been able to bring the joy of As of 2023, 286 young adults with special needs are now Since 2007, YKN’s partnership with Sunway has positively
National Committee for Community reading to all, going to more rural parts of Malaysia to provide working in open employment. Besides receiving the Social
Services, Malaysian Red Crescent impacted the welfare and development of Malaysians, especially
Society (MRCS) children with access to books. Enterprise Accreditation by the Ministry of Entrepreneur and the well-being of women, families and children. is is in line
Cooperatives Development, GOLD has been recognised by with YKN’s mission to foster strategic partnerships with various
It may be a small contribution in the grand scheme of things, numerous awards, such as the Prime Minister’s Award for Best stakeholders in our e orts to generate nancial aid and
An ever-ready helping hand in times of crises but reading is a powerful tool in providing insights for life; Volunteers Initiative from 1Malaysia for Youth (1M4U) community services to raise the living standards of the
We have worked with Sunway for many years now and it has hopefully, the children will be able to gain something from that. programme and the Amplify Award from Malaysian Global underprivileged community through welfare services,
indeed given a positive impact to the many programmes that Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC). healthcare and education.
we do with Sunway's support. One of the best library-building endeavours was building
libraries in the rural kampung of Pahang. e schools there Among the signi cant projects are the Job Training programme Anjung Kasih YKN is an initiative under the Ministry of
We have been able to reach out to the needy and vulnerable mainly cater to Orang Asli children but sadly, most do not under Sunway University’s School of Hospitality and Service Women, Family and Community Development that provides
during times of crises in delivering grocery boxes and hygiene have books or a space for the children to read. Within one Management, which equipped GOLD with a trade kitchen free temporary accommodation at government hospitals for
kits during disaster relief operations, for example, which has trip, we were able to set up six libraries, donating over 6,000 so young adults can train in-house and develop the baking family members who are accompanying patients receiving
given our volunteers opportunities to interact with the books and impacting more than 900 children. business at GOLD o ce itself. Sunway also helps by treatment there.
bene ciaries. e mission's goal of “being there whenever advocating and connecting
there is a need" is thus achieved. Over 2022 and 2023, we have impacted 14,000 children GOLD with its vendors. Typically, family members of patients from low-income groups
through e Book E ect collaboration with Sunway READ who travel from the outskirts or outstation cannot a ord
When it comes to signi cant projects, the rst one that comes (Reading Enhances Aspiration and Drive) programme. is During the Sunway to commute regularly or to pay for accommodation near the
to mind is donating groceries to about 900 people living with includes building libraries in schools, orphanages, refugee University Cultural Exchange hospitals for hospital treatment. Opting to stay at the surau,
HIV, furnished by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation. Sunway's schools, community centres and hospitals. Programme, GOLD was or along the hospital corridors, poses a safety risk to them.
vision of no one left behind truly re ects this deed; the recipients invited to share information
were appreciative of the aid given during these trying times. Because of Sunway's commitment to sustainability and social about our operations. Supported by the Ministry of Health, YKN as well as
responsibility, we know that we can rely on them not just for Sunway has also ordered contributions from Sunway and other corporations, Anjung
Another signi cant programme is the ood relief operations nancial support but also to provide volunteers and books. our GOLD Kindness cookies Kasih YKN helps the needy to save on transportation and
which brought comfort to the victims, providing a ected Sunway also actively stays involved behind the scenes while as corporate gifts and accommodation costs, alleviating their nancial burden. It also
households with hygiene kits containing essential toiletries, bringing a lot of heart and care to the table. hampers for their corporate bene ts government hospitals by preventing overcrowding in the
among others. functions such as buka puasa wards and protecting patients from exposure to infection risks.
Many corporates tend to write a cheque and that is it. With events. anks to Sunway’s
Sunway’s strength lies in the ease of planning and conducting Sunway, the commitment does not just end when the cheque relentless support, GOLD Sunway also supports YKN’s food basket programme, which
with the sole aim of making sure the aid reaches the desired clears, but goes deeper in ensuring that the libraries built are is now able to operate distributes groceries to Malaysians whose livelihoods have been
person or population – the easy handling and productive e ective and that the children are reading the books. independently as a Social disrupted by nancial crises, to help them with their daily
steps taken by the Sunway team ensures that the programme Enterprise instead of necessities and to carry on with their lives.
is delivered as planned and the desired results achieved. e Sunway’s commitment to sustainability is commendable, an NGO.
line of communication between Sunway and MRCS is always and we truly enjoy working with a company that is rooted
open and issues – if any – are easily resolved with decisions in meaningful change.
promptly taken.

AS OF 2023,
285 YOUNG ADULTS

WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
ARE NOW WORKING IN
OPEN EMPLOYMENT.

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