Empowering people with skills

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 18, 2014): Believing strongly in the saying "give a man a fish, he would eat for a day. But teach him how to fish, and he will have food for a lifetime", Tan Sri Vincent Tan seeks out opportunities to empower people with skills and knowledge.
As in previous Berjaya Founder's Day events, Tan has sponsored some underprivileged individuals from various vocational centres, opening up a possibility of a successful future for them.
Vocational Training Opportunity Centre (VOC), set up in 1998, has been developing skills in young girls from underprivileged families.
They offer six skills courses, namely computer, secretarial and basic accounting, hair and beauty care, preschool teacher training, health care training, sewing and tailoring as well as culinary and baking.
"Every year we take in 100 girls and their education, food and boarding is fully sponsored at a cost of about RM6,000-RM8,000 per student, annually. We always have to seek out donations and sponsors, which isn't always easy," said June Yeoh a boardmember at VOC.
"We were very thankful when Berjaya sponsored 30 girls last year. By empowering them, Berjaya has potentially enhanced the livelihood of 30 families," she added.
Montfort Boys Town in Shah Alam was the beneficiary of two 14-seater vans costing RM140,000 contributed to them in conjunction with Founder's Day 2013, and in 2012, sewing and embroidery machines costing RM50,000 was donated.
"Having the vans has made organising educational trips easier," said its general manager, Mindy Wong.
Meanwhile, Power Malaysia empowers underprivileged women who are often single mothers, victims of domestic abuse and many of them need moral support to help them build a life for themselves.
"Berjaya's RM200,000 was utilised to provide training in tailoring, beauty, flower arrangement and crystal beading. We have touched lives of almost 1,000 women, and Berjaya's contribution sponsored 50 women for three months," said Mohana Muniandy, the group's founder.