Restiawati, a visually-impaired entrepreneur whose business has flourished under the mentorship and training provided by the Maybank R.I.S.E. programme, employs others with disabilities for them to have gainful employment.
In a world marked by diverse challenges, fostering equity by addressing basic needs and supporting individuals in marginalised or underserved areas is of utmost importance. The significance of providing healthcare and basic necessities to those who need them is great, and it is with this assistance that a more level playing field can be created for a more equitable society.
Community initiatives and programmes often are the bridge between vulnerable populations and the opportunities for them to succeed.
Addressing Healthcare Disparities
Receiving healthcare is not as simple as just going to the clinic or hospital when one is unwell. For some, it is an expense that they cannot afford and as a result, they are unable to get the treatment necessary which affects their daily lives and their ability to earn a living, leading to hardship and poverty. By establishing clinics, organising medical camps, and facilitating health education programmes, healthcare initiatives contribute to reducing healthcare disparities. Ensuring access to basic healthcare is a fundamental step toward creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy life.
Maybank has several initiatives to assist the B40 community to ensure that they receive the healthcare that they need. Among them:
Save a Child's Heart - To fund the cost of treatment or surgery for underprivileged pediatric patients.
Free Mammogram Programme - Mammogram screenings to help with early detection for the B40 community nationwide.
Free Cervical Screening - Free cervical screening to enable early detection for the B40 community.
Meeting Basic Necessities
Basic necessities, such as food, clean water, and shelter, are fundamental human rights. Programmes and initiatives that provide these essentials not only alleviate immediate suffering but also empower individuals to break free from the cycle of poverty. Affordable housing initiatives, and clean water projects are examples of how communities can come together to meet these basic needs.
Maybank’s Clean Water Project provides end-to-end solutions to the water woes faced by villagers in underdeveloped areas nationwide, while Water For Life & Energy For Life saw the setting up of a mini water plant for distribution of clean water, and providing electricity via solar panels for Asnaf households in Sabah.
Maybank has also made available affordable housing loans and affordable vehicle loans to increase home ownership for low income household, as well as empowering individuals and families with owning their own mode of transport, enabling travel to and from work to generate income
Empowering Local Economies
Sustainable community projects contribute to the economic empowerment of local residents. Initiatives that focus on skill development, entrepreneurship, and job creation help individuals become self-reliant, breaking the cycle of dependency. As people gain skills and employment opportunities, the entire community benefits, fostering a more equitable distribution of resources.
Maybank Women Eco-Weavers promotes traditional textiles globally in a sustainable manner whilst creating economic independence and financial inclusion for women weavers across the ASEAN region, while the Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship (R.I.S.E.) enables persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the marginalised community through mentorship and training to grow their income and become financially independent.
Promoting Education
Education is a powerful tool for empowerment. Initiatives and programmes that support educational initiatives, scholarship opportunities, and literacy campaigns, contribute to breaking down barriers to knowledge. This is particularly important in marginalised communities where access to quality education may be limited.
Cashville Kidz is a financial literacy programme designed to provide schools, as well as educators, with tools and resources that will enable them to sustainably educate and elevate the financial literacy level of students for years to come.
ASEAN-Maybank Scholarship Programme is a partnership between Maybank Foundation and the ASEAN Secretariat designed to provide young, talented and deserving ASEAN nationals with full scholarships to pursue their undergraduate programme at a prestigious university outside their own countries, but within the ASEAN region, and in the process promote intra-ASEAN integration.
The Maybank Group Scholarship Programme awards full scholarships to selected students with high potential in their academic and extra-curricular activities as well as outstanding leadership qualities, who are sponsored to study at top-tier universities in Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom and United States of America. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and enrolment fees, and related expenses including books, accommodation, and living allowances. The Maybank Group Scholarship Programme is available in countries where Maybank has significant local presence and full banking services i.e. Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Community projects, programmes and initiatives that focus on healthcare, basic necessities, and overall community well-being are essential for building a more equitable society. By addressing the root causes of inequality and empowering individuals, these initiatives contribute to the creation of resilient and self-sufficient communities. Through collaborative efforts, we can continue to support and uplift those in need, creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
