KUALA LUMPUR, 29 Apr 2024: The Hasanah Report (THR) 2023 celebrates trailblazers and stereotype-breakers, welcomes more innovative solutions that challenge the norm
Today, Yayasan Hasanah (“Hasanah”), the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, launched its tenth edition of The Hasanah Report (THR) 2023, announcing its impact of 2.9 million people reached in Malaysia across all layers of society, with RM223 million disbursed in 2023 bringing the total funds disbursed since 2015 at RM 1.6 billion to date across core areas of Education, Community Development, Arts, Heritage, and Culture (AHC), Environment, and Knowledge which forms the vital pillars to nation-building.
THR 2023 marks a decade of Yayasan Hasanah as the leading foundation in Malaysia’s philanthropic sector, going beyond traditional philanthropy solely defined by charity, but anchored in the concept of social justice for the rakyat. For the year 2023, the foundation saw significant progress in organisational growth, programmatic impact, partnerships, and collective leadership.
“As we looked back at the milestones achieved by our partners from all corners of Malaysia, a unifying theme emerged: the inspiring stories of trailblazers, stereotype-breakers, and courageous dreamers. These are the people who are forging new possibilities and shaping our collective future narrative. And that’s what inspired the theme of our report this year: “Reinventing our Future: Harapan Tanpa Sempadan“, shared Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Trustee and Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah.
From left: Caroline Christine Russell, Trustee of Yayasan Hasanah, Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Trustee & Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof, Chairman of Yayasan Hasanah, and Tunku Alizakri Raja Muhammad Alias, Trustee of Yayasan Hasanah
Innovative solutions, addressing issues at the grassroots
Reflecting on the accomplishments in 2023, Hasanah spotlights the power of innovative solutions that challenge the norm, breaking the constraints of limiting narratives in the realisation of individual potential.
In one of the many livelihood programmes nationwide supported by Hasanah and the Ministry of Finance, the Blind Planters Programme in Terengganu offers training for visually impaired individuals to become planters, cultivating Terengganu Sweet Melons to generate income, successfully harvesting a collective total of 387 kg of the fruit to date. This initiative not only challenges the stigma surrounding blindness but also broadens the horizons of career options for the visually impaired, as well as inspiring new perspectives in empowering other vulnerable communities especially the B40 in the country.
In collaboration with various partners in the ecosystem, this innovative spirit carries through the foundation’s work in its other focus areas of impact.
“Our journey has been marked by the pursuit of impactful social innovations that view solutions as part of a larger puzzle, rather than isolated pieces. In 2023, this approach is exemplified by initiatives such as the Hasanah Gold Threads Awards (HGTA), a prize philanthropy mechanism which not only honor local textile artisans but also integrate them into mainstream industries, providing a pathway for the commercial potential of their craft – a key part of arts, heritage, and culture preservation. In its debut, HGTA 2023 received 168 submissions across various textile art forms throughout the country. Similarly, our efforts in mental health within schools have fostered various intervention models, empowering students, educators, and parents to address the hidden epidemic and challenge mental health stigmas.”
Nurturing leaders within the community for sustainable impact
The foundation also recognised the exponential growth of numerous community leaders in the year, who have emerged through programmes supported by Hasanah, such as the Temiar Orang Asli community in Perak, that with the leadership of the Tok Batin, have transformed their village into an ecotourism destination, creating sustainable income opportunities – generating close to RM 40,000 in revenue within seven months from its launch.
In the quest to drive innovative solutions towards sustainability for both nature and people, Hasanah believes in the comprehensive approach involving all sectors of society; rallying together government bodies, corporations, and people. Within the environmental sector, Hasanah has been steadfastly supporting Roots & Shoots Malaysia since 2019. What began with a handful of dedicated youth volunteers has grown into a movement empowering 317 young individuals. These volunteers are afforded the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse array of NGOs, amplifying their impact and contribution to environmental causes. Alumni include Khazanah scholar Max Han Kai Ding, the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship by the University of Oxford.
Emphasising the power of Public-Private-Philanthropy partnership model, Shahira added, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Finance, Hasanah’s Board of Trustees, civil society organisations, government agencies, peer foundations and the private sector; and last but not least, the Hasanah Squad for their invaluable contributions.”
“We’re excited to see the involvement of youth across various impact areas—from education to community development—underscoring their potential to shape Malaysia’s future. Together, we invite for collaborators in this space, especially the emerging youths, to continue forging new possibilities for a progressive, hopeful Malaysia.” concluded Shahira enthusiastically.
Watch The Hasanah Report (THR) 2023 inspiring stories themed “Reinvent our Future: Harapan Tanpa Sempadan” on Yayasan Hasanah’s official channel on YouTube.
To explore The Hasanah Report, visit https://thr2023.online/.