M.Krishnamoorthy
A media coach, adjunct professor and author
MySkills Foundation stands as a beacon of hope for many Gen Z dropouts in Malaysia. Founded in 2011, this transformative initiative has been redefining the futures of underperforming students, offering them not just vocational training but a nurturing environment to thrive.
A Safe Haven for Youth
Nestled in the serene landscapes of Kalumpang, Selangor, MySkills operates on a sprawling 34-acre campus designed to foster personal and professional growth. The foundation caters to youths aged 13 to 19 who have faced significant challenges, often stemming from unstable home environments, poverty, and exposure to negative influences. Pasupathi Sithamparam, a director at MySkills, told Newswav the importance of addressing the unique circumstances of these students, many of whom come from dysfunctional families or have fallen into the traps of substance abuse.
“Our holistic transformation skills training program focuses on character re-engineering alongside vocational skills, ensuring sustainable human development,” Pasupathi explained. This approach not only equips students with technical skills in fields like electrical work, plumbing, and culinary arts but also instills a sense of self-worth and resilience.
The Cost of Change
However, running such an impactful program comes at a steep price. MySkills requires an average of RM250,000 monthly to sustain its operations, which include staff salaries, training facilities, food, and accommodation for around 200 students. MySkills CEO Deva Sharma highlights the foundation's commitment to investing in its students, stating that over the past 14 years, they have poured RM25 million into developing the campus and its programs.
Despite financial challenges, MySkills has successfully transformed the lives of over 2,700 youths in the past decade, providing them with the tools they need to secure employment and break free from the cycles of poverty. “Our campus is an enabling environment where students can grow both personally and professionally,” Deva Sharma added, noting the foundation's resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw uninterrupted training and support for students.
Recognition and Future Aspirations
The impact of MySkills has not gone unnoticed. In 2015, the World Bank recommended the foundation's model for scaling up to the Malaysian government, recognizing its potential to address youth unemployment and underperformance on a national level. This endorsement has bolstered MySkills' reputation, leading to its recognition as one of the top ten foundations in Malaysia for transparency.
As MySkills continues to evolve, it remains committed to its mission of transforming lives. With a focus on social enterprise and self-sustenance, the foundation is dedicated to creating a supportive ecosystem for at-risk youth, ensuring that they have the opportunity to rewrite their narratives and build brighter futures.
In a society that often overlooks the potential of dropouts, MySkills Foundation is a testament to the power of second chances, proving that with the right support and resources, even the most marginalized youth can rise to become skilled workers and contributing members of society.
Gen Z dropouts of school now have a school and home to develop their vocational skills at the MySkills Foundation. The organization survives on donations to train and make underperforming students find jobs after skills training in plumbing, air-conditioner, electrical, farming, and secretarial studies.
Founded in 2011, MySkills provides an alternate solution for students who struggled in school resulting in dropouts. After an initial study of the issues at hand and identifying the nature of the "crisis", MySkills put up a transformation plan.
Pasupathi Sithamparam, a director, at MySkills, said: “They have rejected Gen Z students (11 to 22 years) from various difficult circumstances. Many were from dysfunctional families, grew up with grandparents, and single mothers, exposed to gangsterism, lived in cramped, unsafe environments, and lived in poverty.
“Some of our youths were brought up in a loving and supportive environment but have fallen into the trapped influence of substance abuse and negativism. MySkills then developed a holistic transformation skills training program that focuses on character re-engineering with skills competency for sustainable human development.”
Pasupathi, a lawyer, since 1990, has been actively involved in various social organizations since; namely, being the Founder Member, and President of the Tamil Foundation.
Currently, MySkills operates in a rural setting of 34 acres sized Youth Transformation and Entrepreneurship Campus in Kalumpang, Selangor. Social enterprising and self-sustenance models are those evolving components at MySkills for continuously creating an enabling environment for at-risk youth in Malaysia.
More information on contributing donations to MySkills Foundation’s initiatives is available at.
The cost of operating a MySkills training centre for about 200 students costs are heavy. It includes teaching staff, training facilities, food and accommodation for students and maintenance of the 34-acre campus.
“In order to provide education, skills training and healthy meals for almost 200 students in our campus, it takes on average RM250,000 a month. To date, we have invested 25 million Ringgit for the construction and purchase of this land and it had been producing significant outcomes for the implementation of our Holistic Transformation Skills Training for under-served at risk youths,” said MySkills CEO Dev Sharma.
Over the past 14 years, MySkills Foundation has positively impacted the lives of over 2,700 youths through our holistic transformation skills training program.
“Our campus provides an enabling environment where students can grow both personally and professionally. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, our foundation continued to operate fully physical, ensuring uninterrupted training and support for our students,” said Dev.
In 2015, MySkills Foundation was case studied and recommended to be upscaled to Malaysian Government by the World Bank, Economy Planning Unit (EPU), and Khazanah Nasional in their Main Report on “Achieving a System of Competitive Cities in Malaysia” in which MySkills intervention model was recommended to be upscaled and replicated in other segments of critical of the youth population.
The Gen Z, MySkills Foundation was listed as top 10 Foundations in Malaysia having the highest transparency score among the 1,567 registered Foundations in Malaysia by WikiImpact in 2023.
MySkills Foundation relies on generous donors to assist in its daily operations with monthly donation commitments to passionately to carry the vision to assist under-served youths. Those interested in helping unemployed youths to be skillfully trained can click on this donation form
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, adjunct professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns.
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