LABUAN B40 RESIDENTS HAVE BENEFITED FROM R.I.S.E PROJECT

By Jailani Hasan

LABUAN, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- A group of Labuan’s B40 residents have benefited from the Reach Independence and Sustainable Entrepreneurship (R.I.S.E.) community development project, which was jointly organised by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Maybank Foundation and People Systems Consultancy Sdn Bhd.

R.I.S.E is an economic empowerment programme designed to support persons with disabilities and the marginalised community by helping them grow their income and become financially independent.

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Under the management of UPM lecturer, Associate Prof. Dr Nurulfiza Mat Isa, 20 single mothers, two people with disabilities and two married individuals from the B40 income group had taken part in the year-long project, which was completed on Sept 24.

Nurulfiza said the project was originally developed by the Maybank Foundation and was adapted and improved to suit the current economic situation.

“This project aimed to provide entrepreneurial training to those from the B40 group,” she said to Bernama today.

She said the programme covered practical topics such as customer analysis, operational planning, the blue ocean strategy, sales strategy and financial management. 

“This programme was conducted via a Service-Learning Malaysia-University for Society approach (SULAM), highlighting bio-entrepreneurial innovation ideas for small business owners to generate and increase their household incomes.

“Participants have benefited from holistic learning experiences and entrepreneurial skills through direct involvement with the community and industry throughout the project,” she said.

Maybank Foundation chief executive officer Khairudin Abd Rahman said some 19,000 people from targeted groups in Malaysia and Indonesia, among others, have benefitted from the R.I.S.E  programme since 2014.

--BERNAMA