Page 49 - Berita Sunway - Issue 74

Interviews

LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
e Sunway School Public Speaking Class programme is an example of Sunway’s CSR
efforts that have benefitted SMK Bandar Sunway over the past two decades.
Located within the Bandar Sunway vicinity, it was only natural for Sunway to adopt both
SMK Bandar Sunway and SK Bandar Sunway among its seven sponsored schools, in keeping with
Sunway’s founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah’s philosophy of giving back to the society
through education.
In 1995, Sunway had adopted SMK Bandar Sunway when it was an
abandoned construction project. Investing RM3 million into constructing the
hen 16-year-old Raphael Siah joined school building, Sunway then surrendered the school over to the Ministry of
Sunway’s School Public Speaking Education upon completion.
W Class programme in 2014, little did In the same year, Sunway also adopted SK Bandar Sunway, refurbishing its
he know that it would change the course of his life. facilities which included the construction of the primary school’s PIBG
Emerging as the top public speaker of the multipurpose facility.
programme, Siah said the biggest takeaway was not
the RM300 cash prize but discovering his passion CREATING NEW
for communications as a future career. OPPORTUNITIES To date, Sunway has
Prior to the programme, the SMK Bandar contributed more than
Sunway student was shy and reserved in person Beyond the physical upkeep of
despite enjoying the occasional spotlight. the schools, Sunway’s CSR efforts also RM4 million to both schools
“Learning the fundamentals of public speaking involve empowering students through new through construction, paint,
helped me become more comfortable with being skills and training.
on stage and even enjoyed it! More importantly, I One of Sunway’s recent CSR initiatives at and repair works.
feel much more assured in my own skin and SMK Bandar Sunway is the Sunway SILK
gradually let loose the deep-seated insecurities (Seeding Inspiration and Leadership via
holding me back. I had wanted to be a doctor but Knowledge) urban farming initiative, which is a collaborative effort with NGO
after the programme, I knew I wanted to pursue Selangor Youth Community (SAY Community).
communications instead,” said Siah. e initiative, which started in 2019, aims to instil entrepreneurship among the students, and provide
e Sunway School Public Speaking opportunities for the youths to consider agriculture as a potential career pathway. [See Page 20 for more
Class programme was one of Sunway’s CSR on Sunway SILK]
programmes, organised for students of SMK “Sunway SILK has really impacted the students in a very positive way. e students, who are from B40
Bandar Sunway by Sunway University’s School families, are taught how to grow vegetables and generate income out of it. ey were also taught presentation
of English. skills in English, which gives them confidence to brush up on their English competency,” said SMK Bandar
Siah’s journey with Sunway did not end there, Sunway’s principal Haniza binti Mohd Jabar @ Ibrahim.
as he went on to pursue his Foundation in Arts and Sunway’s CSR efforts at SMK Bandar Sunway also extends to students with special needs.
Degree in Communications at Sunway University - Since 2006, Sunway has collaborated with social enterprise Generating Opportunities for Learning Disabilities
the former completed with the aid of RM10,000 (GOLD) and the school to organise the Sunway Job Training Programme annually.
tuition bursary awarded by the Rotary Club of e programme provides learning disabled students with hands-on prevocational and life skills training to enable
Bandar Sunway and Rotaract Club of Sunway independent living and gainful employment. [See Page 34 for more on Sunway’s partnership with GOLD]
University.
In January 2020, Siah interned at Sunway PRIMED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Group Brand Marketing & Communications By providing financial subsistence in the form of cash vouchers and sponsored back-to-school necessities, Sunway has
department for three months, before joining the helped alleviate the financial burden of SK Bandar Sunway’s students – 84% of which are from the B40 income group.
team full-time in September later that same year. SK Bandar Sunway’s headmistress Ruslina binti Mohd Yunus said that students were more inclined to excel
Today, the 22-year-old works as a academically when their basic needs were met.
corporate communications executive “It helps students to perform better in school. Students feel safe to be in school because necessities are provided for them.
at Sunway, which involves liaising Academic performance improved from 51.7% to 63% for passes in UPSR,” said Ruslina.
with external agencies to curate creative Describing the school’s relationship with Sunway as caring and friendly, Ruslina said the good rapport they enjoyed has
content for both Sunway City enabled the school to progress well over the years.
Kuala Lumpur and Sunway “Sunway’s CSR team is very committed to the school and is often concerned about the needs of the school to help us obtain
Stories media hub, as well as better achievements in all events and programmes,” she said.
overseeing selected aspects of She added that by motivating the students to achieve better academic performance, the school can achieve optimal results.
internal communications to
Sunway employees. “ ank you very much, Sunway and the CSR Sunway’s CSR is meaningful to SK
“Looking back, it seems like a team. You have touched the hearts of so many Bandar Sunway as it has contributed
series of coincidences had always led people in SMK Bandar Sunway with your so much to improve our students’
me back to Sunway. I see it as a generosity. We believe that we can work welfare and helped lighten the burden
blessing. I would not have grown closely with Sunway for many more years to of not only the school but by extension,
into the person I am today had it come. We owe you, and as we grow, we hope the local community of Sunway City
not been for Sunway,” he said. 16-year-old Raphael Siah joined to also join you in doing good deeds.” Kuala Lumpur.
Sunway’s School Public Speaking Haniza binti Mohd Jabar @ Ibrahim Ruslina binti Mohd Yunus
Class programme in 2014 (right) Principal of SMK Bandar Sunway Headmistress of SK Bandar Sunway
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