ARA DAMANSARA (May 25): Sime Darby Property Bhd has completed its first Economic Empowerment Programme (EEP) — a six-month programme in collaboration with People Systems Consultancy (PSC) — to support bottom 40% income group (B40) communities within its townships. Close to 80% of 49 participants have since seen higher income during the first phase of the programme that began last October.

At the virtual closing ceremony of the programme’s first phase today, Sime Darby Property group managing director Datuk Azmir Merican noted that the EEP is the company’s commitment towards building sustainable communities through equitable growth for all stakeholders within its townships.

“We will continue to support national economic recovery efforts through impactful programmes to benefit all our stakeholders, focusing more on B40 communities within our townships. The EEP’s commendable results give us the confidence to extend the programme at our other townships to benefit more communities,” he said in a press release. 

“The programme has equipped participants with social media marketing knowledge, as well as enhance their e-commerce business acumen, to create a sustainable income stream which will benefit them in the long term.”

PSC is a multinational social enterprise dedicated to eradicating poverty, with its focus on several goals under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the programme.

Under the EEP, participants were coached individually on a variety of topics, including financial management, business innovation and data analysis. They also went for five half-day online training courses, followed by a structured three months of mentoring via telephone conversations and online mentoring classes.

Meanwhile, PSC executive director Raymond Gabriel believes in the sustainability of the EEP to be implemented further at other Sime Darby Property townships. 

“The tangible results from this programme are good examples for other organisations to learn more on how they could help small business enterprises and the B40 community with valuable skills and knowledge,” he said.

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