1.4 – Community anti-poverty programmes

1.4.2 – Local start-up financial assistance

UKM actively provides financial assistance to local communities, particularly in supporting the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses. Through various programs, UKM offers funding, mentorship, and training opportunities, empowering entrepreneurs to establish ventures that are both economically viable and socially responsible. These initiatives are designed to create long-term sustainability while addressing the community’s needs, ensuring businesses can thrive and contribute to local socio-economic development.

One of the initiatives undertaken to help the community is through the Special Khidmat Budi Fund aimed to support the community and society. Aside from the fund, various programs are organized by UKM students to help the community financially and socially.  For example, students from the UKM Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB) organized Creating Income Opportunities Program (C.I.N.T.A.) Program and The Integrated Community Garden Program: Vegetables for Your Family (S.U.K.A) Program.

1. Special Khidmat Budi Fund (Tabung Khas Khidmat Budi) 

The Special Khidmat Budi Fund is a platform developed to enhance funding and volunteer activities aimed at supporting the community and society. The objective of establishing the Special Khidmat Budi Fund is to assist various communities, including students, indigenous people, single mothers, the elderly, orphans, and individuals with disabilities, as well as other communities that will be considered from time to time. As of 2023, the total amount collected in this fund was USD 136,382.85.

Special Khidmat Budi Fund

Link: https://give2ukm.ukm.my/tabung-sumbangan/96 

2. Creating Income Opportunities (C.I.N.T.A) 

A group of students from the UKM Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, in collaboration with the Malaysian Prison Department, successfully garnered the support of at least nine companies to contribute to Kajang Women’s Prison under the Creating Income Opportunities Program (C.I.N.T.A.) in February 2023. The primary objective of Project CINTA UKM-GSB is to assist Kajang Women’s Prison in enhancing its facilities and upgrading equipment for the inmates’ skill development programs. With the replacement and addition of new equipment, funded by the contributions from this project, the production output by the inmates is expected to increase, leading to higher sales revenue. A total of USD 12,390.93 in donations was successfully raised for the execution of Project CINTA UKM-GSB, marking a significant step toward empowering the prison’s rehabilitation efforts. 

Donation Handover Ceremony for the “Creating Income Opportunities” (C.I.N.T.A) UKM-GSB Project to Kajang Women’s Prison 

3. The Integrated Community Garden Program: Vegetables for Your Family (Program Kebun Komuniti Integrasi: Sayur Untuk Keluarga Anda (SUKA)) 

Another remarkable project by a group of students from the UKM Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB) was successfully implemented in March 2023—The Integrated Community Garden Program, themed “Vegetables for Your Family”. Through this program, the students have developed a garden called the Community Garden, located at Kampung Merbau Sempak, Shah Alam, Selangor. This garden is easy to manage by the community, does not require a lot of space and minimal management. With cash sponsorships amounting to RM15,150.00 (USD 3,490.46) and goods worth RM8,000.00 (USD 1,843.15) from government agencies, private companies, and individuals, this initiative addressed the rising cost of living faced by urban and suburban communities. The project not only supported food sustainability but also alleviated financial burdens on families through community-driven agricultural efforts. 

Closing and Launching Ceremony of the Integrated Community Garden Program themed “Vegetables for Your Family”