QIU, RYTHM Foundation launch Community Impact Programme

IPOH, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- The Quest International University (QIU) and RYTHM Foundation today launched the QIU Community Impact Programme to foster a culture of social responsibility among its faculty and students.

QI Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Vijay Eswaran said this was an effort to make the students of QIU, which was established in 2011, become socially-responsible scholars, creative thinkers and thought leaders.

“This university also encourages them and its faculty members to serve others and build bridges in their communities. RYTHM Foundation is QI Group’s social impact initiative where it empowers lives and changes communities through various impactful sustainable initiatives,” he told a media conference after jointly launching the programme with RYTHM Foundation chairperson Datin Seri Umayal Eswaran, here, today.

Vijay said the emphasis on sustainability is proven through various activities within the QIU Community Impact Programme framework and even the RYTHM Foundation has collaborated with the university’s dedicated internal committee since last year in various community development projects to assist those in need. 

“The latest project under this programme includes digital and financial literacy workshops for single mothers running micro businesses in homes, academic guidance for Form 5 students from disadvantaged households, soup kitchens and public health campaigns,” he said.

Vijay said QIU also recently held tree-planting and clean-up activities at the Tasik Taman Indah park here and a jogging track with support from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage as well as the Global Environment Centre.

According to him, other community service activities carried out included Christmas events with special needs children and workshops on healthy eating, mental health, horticulture and many more.

He said QIU did this by working closely with various state government entities, including the Health Department, the Department of Women Development and the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.

He added that since the initiative began last year, over 160 QIU employees had taken part in community impact activities which benefited children, women and other communities in Ipoh.

Meanwhile, Umayal said the focus of the corporate foundation under the QI Group is to go beyond social responsibility and emphasise community development through the building of capacity of under-served communities for the long term.

“Our goal is to help the public create opportunities and break the disparity that plagues low-income communities.

“This university is a suitable place to nurture minds and lives, we want to see a different generation of students from QIU. We want them to have a heart, serve the community and develop a sense of gratitude,” she said.

-- BERNAMA