Community Development

Empowering communities to be resilient

Farmers from the Dusun tribe sharing their experience and motivation under a makeshift shelter located in their ginger farm.

Overview

In ensuring every Malaysian is given equal chance for a better life, we support a range of social and economic empowerment programmes that work to:

  • Reduce poverty
  • Enhance the availability and quality of social services to vulnerable communities
  • Prevent and alleviate human suffering as a result of natural and man-made disasters and conflicts
  • Advocate for policy change

Our Priorities

Poverty Alleviation

To understand the multi-dimensional challenges faced by communities, we support their needs through the community-based approach (CBA), which is geared towards empowering economic, social, and environmental resilience.

Together with Yayasan Sejahtera, our backbone partner in implementing the CBA model, we work with supporting organisations such as Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Smart Parents Network, and SOLS Health to more holistically assess and address the needs of the nation’s B40 communities.

As of 2019, we have established the CBA model in seven communities, working to empower marginalised and underserved individuals. By building trust, teaching technical skills, and strengthening family ties, we help them increase their income, improve education experiences, and develop leadership capabilities.

Students listening attentively to their English teacher.

Women Empowerment

We believe that with the right support and access to proper resources, disadvantaged women can transform their lives and become financially independent. Through an interest-free micro-credit financing programme, Women of Will (WOW) aims to support women from B40 communities in setting up their own business ventures. To ensure success and sustainability of these businesses, WOW also provides free skills training, entrepreneurship development support, and business coaching.

From Sabah’s farmers to Kuala Lumpur’s low-cost housing residents, most of the women we have reached out to are single mothers, widows, and survivors of domestic violence. Our hope is for them to feel empowered to improve their everyday lives and achieve financial stability, ensuring a better future for them and their children.

Child Welfare and Protection

Every child deserves to grow up in a loving home. As our core partner in advocating and raising awareness for the deinstitutionalisation of children, OrphanCare Foundation works closely with the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development as well as the Department of Social Welfare. Together, our aim is to give institutionalised children and unplanned, at-risk newborns the love, care, and security of a family.

Beyond providing baby hatches, temporary shelter homes, and counselling to mothers with unplanned pregnancies, OrphanCare also facilitates the adoption journey with advice and follow-up support for potential adoptive parents.

Our Community Partners

Community Development Stories