The companies honoured in 2010 for their CSR programmes have shown that one does not have to be amassive corporation in order to touch lives and influence positive change in society.

The winning submission was from Saito College which embarked on its  programme to empowering rural and financially disadvantaged youths in September 2009. It offers merit-based and need-based scholarships secured from “work and study” schemes, additional bursaries, as well as MARA and PTPTN loans. To maintain its students’ socio-cultural engagement, student-initiated clubs and societies provide healthy communal integration. Additional English lessons by qualified lecturers ensure language proficiency for an all-round better learning experience. After a year, the dropout rate among Saito’s students decreased from 33% to 7.7%. [Read more...]