MySkills Foundation is a Malaysian NGO dedicated to giving challenged Malaysian youth a second chance at life. It was conceptualised and co-founded by four visionaries – Mr. Pasupathi, Dr. Sanmugasiva, Ms. Selvamalar, and Mr. Devasharma. Today, the organisation is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, led by Mr. Pasupathi and Dr. Sanmugasiva. Its exemplary service to society has earned it significant recognition – the Malaysian Government has granted it tax-exempt status, and it is also acknowledged as a public charity in the United States. This international standing has enabled partnerships with global institutions such as JP Morgan, HSBC, and Credit Suisse. I have written about this organization in the past (ref. 1,2,3). At its Kalumpang Campus, eligible children are provided free food and lodging, taught discipline, provided moral guidance and training in areas of their choice to learn blue collar skills. These include culinary sciences, air condition maintenance and training to become an electrician. To date MySkills has trained about 2000 youths and there are many heartwarming success stories – children who could have been misled to become lawbreakers have become model citizens being able to care not just for themselves and their families but to contribute to society.
Two individuals play a leading role in this organisation. They come from humble backgrounds themselves and have used their experiences of the challenges that they faced to come up in life, to help others do the same. Each of their own lifestories is an inspiration in itself. As already mentioned, one of the founders of MySkills Foundation is Mr Pasupathy. Mr Pasupathy is a lawyer who runs his own firm but still allocates a big portion of his waking hours to direct, guide and build the foundation passionately. I guess it is due to the demands that he makes on the staff to ensure that the organization is held to high standards, that Mr Pasuspathy is nicknamed “The Lion”. I have written about Mr Pasupathy’s inspiring rise in life, the lessons that he learnt along the way, the people who helped him and motivated him in turn, to give back to society (Ref. 3). Pasupathy knew that for MySkills foundation to succeed he would need the help of others who shared his dream, passion and drive. He appointed Devasharma Gangadaran (Deva) as CEO of MySkills Foundation in 2011.
About a month ago I invited Deva to my home to discuss means by which we could promote the sales of the last 300 or so copies of “Joys, Challenges and Hope”. All proceeds of sales of this book have been donated to the Foundation. Talking with Deva, my wife Anjalai and I felt very happy that he shared Mr. Pasupathy’s passion and energy and that he would lead MySkills to greater heights. Deva comes from a humble background but he was lucky that his parents realized the value of a good education, to rid one of the shackles of poverty. Despite their limitations they encouraged his studies. Deva worked hard. He disciplined himself to focus on the future and avoided temptations that would derail him. He had witnessed intelligent friends, who were not academically inclined, getting waylaid and fall on the wrong side of the law destroying their lives. Deva got straight A’s for his UPSR exams which won him a place in a premier secondary school. And then in 2008 he won the Vice Chancellor’s Award at University Putra Malaysia. As a secondary school student, Deva received a small monthly stipend from an NGO—a reward for his excellent UPSR results. Grateful for this support, he felt a deep sense of indebtedness to his benefactor. After graduating, he began giving motivational talks and guidance to underprivileged students, hoping to inspire others facing the same challenges he once did. Having successfully navigated the difficult path they were now on, Deva became a powerful role model—someone uniquely positioned to guide and encourage them. This sense of purpose led him to his life’s calling: he now heads an organization that, for over a decade, has transformed the lives of countless children from underprivileged backgrounds. During our conversation, Deva shared the inspiring story of one such child—whose remarkable journey perfectly encapsulates the mission and spirit of the MySkills Foundation.
Kumuthan lost his father to a stroke at the age of 8 and his mother to cancer at the age of 11. An aunt took on the burden of caring for Kumuthan and his 3 siblings. He joined MySkills Foundation in January 2019, at the age of 13. Initially introverted he quickly adapted to his new surroundings and the nurturing environment of the Foundation, which helped develop his confidence and build his skills. By 2020 he developed an interest in agriculture and landscaping, managing projects which included vegetable farming and rainforest tree planting. His leadership skills shone through as he successfully led farming and packaging projects, handling the packaging of 1,000 fertilizer bags per week. He achieved a significant milestone in his educational journey by completing his SKM Level 2 Electrical course. While awaiting legal employment age, he decided to gain practical experience by interning with the MySkills Maintenance Team, where he developed an interest in electric vehicles (EVs) and decided to pursue a career in this field. Soon after, he completed his training he landed a job in a company specializing in electric vehicle charging services. His new employer was so impressed with his hard work ethics, dedication and reliability that he gave him a significant pay rise within 1 year of employment. To further supplement his income Kumuthan decided to work part time as a Grab driver, using the motorbicycle that he had bought with savings made during his internship. Relying on his income from his gig work for his daily expenses, Kumuthan saved almost his entire monthly salary for future needs. His self discipline extends beyond this. Determined to advance in the electrical industry, he continues to train, passing exams to become a certified chargeman. What further sets Kumuthan apart from his peers, is not just his personal growth but also his desire to give back. He regularly returns to MySkills Foundation to share his journey, inspiring current students with his story of perseverance, smart financial choices, and continuous self-improvement.
Kumuthan’s journey is a powerful testament to the vision of the founding fathers of MySkills Foundation: give a child from a disadvantaged background a second chance at life. Surround him with love, discipline, education, and a nurturing environment — and watch him transform into a responsible and exemplary citizen.
Donations to MySkills are eligible for tax exemption:
Account Name : MYSKILLS FOUNDATION
Account Number : 8008274058
Bank : CIMB Bank
References :
- Given a Fair Chance The STAR KPasamanickam 2oth September 2019
- A Malaysian venture to UpLift Society Newswav KPasamanickam 13the November 2020
- Joys, Challenges and Hope. Kannan Pasamanickam. Firdaus Press 2022
Dr. Kannan Pasam (kannan.pasam@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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