RM7.2mil donation to give at-risk youths a second chance

For businessman and philanthropist R Rajendran, helping disadvantaged youths is more than providing financial assistance. It is about giving those who have fallen through the cracks of the education system a chance to rebuild their lives.

That is the aim of the RM7.2 million contribution to MySkills Foundation from Amalan Setar (M) Sdn Bhd, where Rajendran serves as managing director. The foundation provides vocational training and personal development programmes for school dropouts and at-risk youths.

“Many charities provide financial assistance to students in need, but MySkills is different. It removes school dropouts from the negative environment they are in and gives them the opportunity to flourish in a new environment. That is what makes this organisation special,” he said at Amalan Setar’s annual dinner.

Rajendran has previously donated RM400,000 to MySkills for the construction of its male hostel, named Bala’s Hall of Residence after his brother.

MySkills, established in 2010, initially operated out of a rented shoplot in Puchong before moving to Port Klang and eventually establishing its permanent campus in Kalumpang in 2018.

The latest contribution will bring the foundation’s endowment fund to RM15 million, RM5 million short of its RM20 million target for next year.

MySkills Foundation CEO G Devasharma said the endowment fund was crucial to ensuring the organisation could continue supporting vulnerable youths without relying entirely on donations and grants.

The foundation, which has operated for 16 years, spends nearly RM4 million annually, while a RM20 million endowment fund is expected to generate between RM1 million and RM1.5 million in yearly investment income.

Devasharma said the foundation would continue seeking contributions even after reaching its initial fundraising target, as investment returns alone would not cover its annual expenditure.

He said a stronger endowment fund would also support plans to establish centres in other parts of the country, including Johor, Penang and the East Coast.

At its Kalumpang campus, MySkills trains 150 students annually, with the capacity to accommodate up to 250 to 300 students.

Devasharma said expanding beyond Selangor was necessary to reach more school dropouts and at-risk youths who might otherwise remain outside existing intervention programmes.

He said the foundation’s approach went beyond providing vocational qualifications, with an emphasis on character development, life skills and preparing students for long-term employment.

He added that while employers were often willing to provide technical training, retaining workers was a challenge due to their attitude towards employment.

Devasharma stressed the importance of corporate participation in creating employment pathways for disadvantaged youths, saying this could help reduce reliance on migrant workers while steering vulnerable young people away from crime.

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.