SABAH, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- ILTIZAM, a Corporate Responsibility initiative by Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (‘Ekuinas’) is collaborating with myHarapan to present the inaugural ILTIZAM Social Business Challenge 2019 (Sabah Chapter) (‘ILTIZAM SBC (Sabah Chapter)’ or the ‘Challenge’), offering youth from Sabah the opportunity to ideate innovative and viable solutions to improve social issues in their home state.
 
ILTIZAM SBC (Sabah Chapter) seeks to nurture and develop youths in Sabah into future social entrepreneurs through the fostering of their ideas on solutions in the face of increasing social challenges. The Challenge is aimed to encourage youth to formulate ideas designed to address and improve the socio-economic livelihoods of communities in Sabah.
 
Mr. Hizwani Hasan, Director of Stakeholders’ Interest, Ekuinas said, “We are pleased to be a partner in myHarapan’s ILTIZAM SBC initiative to create a social entrepreneurship culture amongst the youth in Malaysia, especially in Sabah. We see this partnership as a milestone for Ekuinas to create meaningful impact to beneficiaries and the broader community over the long-term. Through our own initiatives and collaboration with partners such as myHarapan, ILTIZAM will continue to be a platform to empower our local communities through various programmes under our three (3) pillars: Entrepreneurship, Education, and Community.”
 
Nurfarini Daing, Chief Executive Officer of myHarapan also commented, “We are delighted to welcome Ekuinas on board as a co-partner for the ILTIZAM Social Business Challenge, as we continue to grow and create a more improved and sustainable platform for youth to actively participate in addressing social issues or concerns through social entrepreneurship. The dynamic demography, community support and resource availability in Sabah are a great opportunity for us to help develop a strong social entrepreneur community here. We believe that the youth and local community will benefit positively from this initiative, and we hope to train local talents to become resilient and robust individuals that will contribute back to their people or communities.”
 
Since 2014, myHarapan’s Social Business Challenge (‘SBC’) has positively impacted more than 580 youths and 20 different communities through the implementation of the ideas and programmes. Over the years, myHarapan has received more than 315 social business ideas nationwide and facilitated more than 110 engagements with industry leaders. SBC has also become a springboard for Malaysian youth to build their foundation as well as fostered greater adoption and understanding of social entrepreneurship.
 
ILTIZAM Social Business Challenge 2019 (Sabah Chapter) is open to all Sabah residents aged 21 to 41 years old, and participants will be required to submit their social business ideas. Selected participants will be given the opportunity to take part in a 3D2N Bootcamp organised by myHarapan, where they are provided training and mentorship sessions by industry experts to further enhance their skills and ideas. Winners will also stand a chance to win a cash prize worth RM8, 000, as well as capacity building programmes offered by myHarapan and other partners.
 
The winning ideas will be given the opportunity to attend myHarapan’s Social Business Study Trip in Sri Lanka for an experiential learning tour, where winners are given the chance to learn from other social entrepreneurs from around the world. In previous years, winners had the opportunity to participate the Social Business Study Trip in cities with strong, growing social entrepreneurship ecosystems such as Dhaka, Bangladesh, Manila, Philippines and Taipei, Taiwan
 
Applications for ILTIZAM Social Business Challenge 2019 (Sabah Chapter) is now open for registration. To submit your social business ideas or for more information on the Challenge, please visit: http://bit.ly/IltizamSBCSabahChap
  
About ILTIZAM by Ekuinas
ILTIZAM was inspired by the will and determination to work towards realising one’s potential. As implied by the name, ILTIZAM communicates the spirit of this programme in delivering life-changing and inspiring transformation for those involved. The objective of this programme is to empower the Bumiputera community and help realise their full potential. ILTIZAM focuses on three main pillars which are Entrepreneurship, Education and Community.
 
For information on ILTIZAM, log on to www.ekuinas.com.my/iltizam
 
About Youth Trust Foundation – myHarapan
The Youth Trust Foundation (also known as myHarapan) is an independent and not-for-profit organisation dedicated towards empowering young Malaysians by supporting youth projects and initiatives that contribute to current nation-building efforts. We achieve this through providing various platforms and opportunities that help them scale, sustain, expand and multiply their impact. For more information on myHarapan, visit:
www.myHarapan.org  
www.facebook.com/myHarapan   
www.twitter.com/myHarapan http://myharapan.org    

SOURCE:  The Youth Trust Foundation (myHarapan​)

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Shaarane Jaykumar 
Tel: +6016-680 7528
Email: shaarane@myharapan.org  

--BERNAMA