Page 60 - Berita Sunway Issue 79

Nurturing leadership potential
JCF also o ers scholarships such as the JCF Community Beyond the greens in the backyard vegetable garden of SMK
Scholarship speci cally for youths from children welfare DID YOU Bandar Sunway, the Sunway SILK (Seeding Inspiration and
homes, NGOs or underprivileged communities, so that they Leadership via Knowledge) programme also hopes to nurture
could pursue their tertiary education at Sunway College or KNOW? self-con dence, leadership and entrepreneurship skills among
Sunway University. the students.
Sunway Group
Other JCF scholarships and grants such as the Je rey Cheah e Sunway SILK urban farming initiative was introduced
Travel Grants for Southeast Asia Studies at Harvard, sponsor founder and in 2019 in partnership with strategic NGO partner Selangor
scholars and practitioners on Southeast Asia studies from chairman Tan Sri Youth Community (SAY), to equip academically low-performing
Sunway Education Group to travel to Harvard University Sir Dr. Jeffrey students with necessary skills to explore agriculture as
to present lectures and conduct research. Cheah KBE AO a sustainable career option.
hopes to disburse
is o ers Malaysians the opportunity to learn from the several billion In 2022, Sunway SILK set up hydroponic farming at four
brightest minds at one of the world’s pre-eminent universities, Ringgit worth of welfare homes around Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, yielding
as well as strengthens Malaysia as a centre for educational and scholarships and 84 kilogrammes of vegetables for 210 bene ciaries. Ten more
research excellence in the study of Southeast Asia. grants to deserving welfare homes participated in Sunway SILK in 2023.
students in his
Fostering entrepreneurship and lifetime. Mentorship is a key aspect of the Sunway SILK programme,
financial independence which sees Sunway volunteers making a di erence by actively
When it comes to pursuing education and eventual employment, spending time together with the students and youths, and
individuals with learning disabilities often face many closed being positive role models to them.
doors as they nd it di cult to read, write, memorise or stay
focused in class. Sunway SILK volunteer and Sunway XFarms chief operating
o cer Eleanor Choong said that the mentorship aspect of the
Being learning disabled also means being unable to understand programme was as important as learning technical farming skills.
social cues, and thus face di culty maintaining friendships,
relationships and employment. “It was also important for us to instil values and characteristics
such as perseverance, kindness, humility, courage and curiosity
Recognising the challenges of the learning disabled, since Sunway has always in the students. rough the programme, these students from
2006, Sunway has been collaborating with the Association of believed that B40 communities who did not do so well in class were taught
Learning Disabilities District of Petaling, Selangor (GOLD) corporations that they can create their own non-stereotyped future with
and SMK Bandar Sunway to organise the Sunway Job exist not merely the right attitude, discipline and commitment,” said Choong.
Training Programme annually.
for profits As group leader of the Sunway SILK 2019 cohort, SMK
SMK Bandar Sunway is one of the seven schools adopted by JCF. but for the good Bandar Sunway alumnus Muhammad Azhar bin Sazali oversaw
Sunway helps level Endorsed by the Malaysian Education Performance and of society the management of vegetable garden beds and students under
his care, as well as ensuring the garden’s cleanliness and safety.
the playing field Delivery Unit (PADU), the programme provides hands-on
for Malaysian prevocational and life skills training, simulating working “I’m now more con dent in myself. e programme involved
us interacting with others and doing presentations. Our mentors
youths to attain habits with mentoring from the job coaches within Sunway have inspired us to develop ourselves in whatever elds we are
business divisions.
success by offering Life can be challenging for many of us, but more so for Easing the pathway to higher education interested in,” said Azhar.
opportunities to those who have been dealt a bad hand very early on in life – Over the past decade, the Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition Under the programme, GOLD trainees work in areas such
as baking and pastry arts, o ce and general housekeeping,
pursue learning, poverty, a learning disability and the lack of positive role – Malaysia’s longest running and most coveted national-level culinary kitchen operations, and ticketing at Sunway Medical
models or educational opportunities – the journey can
to build leadership, be demanding. English essay competition – has challenged national secondary Centre, Sunway Pyramid, Sunway University, Sunway
school students across Malaysia to write essays detailing their
as well as to provide Sometimes, the pivotal factor that can enable someone to ideas and aspirations for a better Malaysia. Lagoon and Sunway Resort Hotel.
financial help break through these challenging circumstances and reach As of 2023, 286 young adults have graduated from the
through bursaries their potential is a helping hand – a gesture of support that Organised by Sunway Group, the Oxford & Cambridge Sunway Job Training Programme into open employment.
Society Malaysia, the Je rey Cheah Foundation (JCF), and
and scholarships o ers them a shot at success. Sunway University, with support from Sunway Super App, One such graduate is Angie Lim, who is currently the trade
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, Sunway has always the annual competition provides a platform for youths to kitchen supervisor and head baker of GOLD.
believed that corporations exist not merely for pro ts but for showcase their critical thinking and pro ciency of the
English language to critically dissect current a airs.
the good of society. Driven by the aspiration of sustainable Once timid and lacking in self-con dence when she rst
development, Sunway remains steadfast in its commitment joined GOLD in 2011, Lim now oversees the production
to ensuring that no one is left behind in the race of life. Besides addressing the challenges of learning English in the of cookies sold by GOLD – the social enterprise’s primary
national school curriculum and to improve English-speaking source of income.
pro ciency, the competition also provides a nancial boost
Be it in education, healthcare or community enrichment, for students to further their education at Sunway.
Sunway’s CSR initiatives under the #SunwayforGood banner “With the skills I learnt, I am now able to work independently
help alleviate the hardships faced by Malaysian youths, with minimal supervision at GOLD. I enjoy being able to go
by providing them golden tickets to success – valuable In 2023, a total of RM200,000 worth of bursaries and to work like my siblings, baking cookies that are needed by
opportunities through education and entrepreneurship. RM28,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the top 26 winners. others and spending time with my friends who work with me,”
said Lim.
64