Einayah Binti Khalil, one of the 49 participants whose business has grown tenfold after successfully completing the Sime Darby Property EEP. Image from: Sime Darby Property Berhad.
Sime Darby Property Berhad (“Sime Darby Property” or “Company”) announced yesterday its successful completion of the Company’s inaugural Economic Empowerment Programme (“EEP”) to support B40 communities living within its townships. Almost 80% of the 49 programme participants residing in the townships of Ara Damansara, Bandar Bukit Raja, Bukit Subang and Putra Heights in Selangor, have recorded increased income during the first phase of the 6-month programme which commenced in October 2020.
On the initiative, the Company worked with People Systems Consultancy (“PSC”), a multinational social organisation dedicated to alleviating poverty and focusing on numerous UN Sustainable Development Goals (“UN SDGs”).
At the virtual closing ceremony of the programme’s first phase held yesterday, Sime Darby Property’s Group Managing Director, Dato’ Azmir Merican, said that the EEP extends the Company’s commitment towards building sustainable communities through equitable growth for all stakeholders within its townships.
The Company is committed to delivering on its Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) commitments which are aligned with the UN SDGs via 18 Sustainability Goals targeted to be achieved by 2030. Participants were coached individually on a variety of topics including financial management, business innovation and data analysis, among others, as well as undergo five half-day online training courses followed by a three months mentoring via telephone conversations and online mentoring classes.
At the same event, Raymond Gabriel, Executive Director of PSC, added, “It has been an honour to partner with Sime Darby Property to impact underprivileged communities through programmes which are designed to uplift participants’ livelihoods. We believe in the sustainability of EEP to be implemented further at other Sime Darby Property townships. The tangible results from this programme are good examples for other organisations to learn more on how they could help small business enterprises and the B40 community with valuable skills and knowledge.”
(27 May 2021)