In conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) this year, Yayasan TM (YTM), the foundation arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) in collaboration with Nak Seni and We&I presented the second edition of Seni Ekspresi Autisma (SESAMA) exhibition at Muzium Telekom taking place from 2nd until 30th of April 2022, showcasing the creative talents in visual arts as well as performing arts of gifted autistic artists. This exhibition is held to help nurture a more autism-friendly world through the arts; demonstrating a genuine expression of love, compassion and empathy for children and individuals on the spectrum, as they face their everyday challenges.
SESAMA was officially launched on 2nd of April, last Saturday by the Honourable Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, President of OKU Sentral together with Izlyn Ramli, Director of YTM.
Speaking at the launch event, Senator Datuk Ras Adiba said, “These children and individuals on the spectrum need our love and support. We need to have greater understanding and compassion towards them or else, we would have done them a great injustice. It isn't easy to look after persons with disabilities, but it's a beautiful and challenging journey, hence the reason we are here today, showcasing their incredible talents via an art exhibition, to empower them.”
Meanwhile, YTM’s Izlyn said, “No one should ever be left behind, especially in the times we live in, where we’re enabled by so many wonderful life-changing technologies. YTM is delighted to celebrate WAAD and these amazing artistic talents who have come together to showcase their creative artwork.
“Through the exhibition, we hope that audiences will look beyond their preconditions and see them for who they really are – beautiful souls and artists in their own right, deserving equal opportunities, standing shoulder to shoulder with their peers.”
The exhibition launch event included the unveiling of “Rhythm Interactive Special Enabler” (RISE); an instructional book on the practical use of percussion for therapeutic benefits. This book, authored by Dr. Tan Swee Chuan and Edwin Nathaniel, is dedicated towards developing the musical talent of gifted children, providing insights into teaching students with different types and varying levels of learning challenges. The book launch was supported by Musicians for Musicians (MFM).
Apart from the exhibition, YTM is also introducing its “Ramadan Buffet at Muzium Telekom” by Nomad Market, offering many local and international varieties to delight any food lover. The Ramadan Buffet is set to begin daily from 11th of April 2022 every day and on weekends; complete with a Ramadan Nite Bazaar with stalls selling goodies from local artists and entrepreneurs!
YTM and its partners invite all to come and experience the free-admission SESAMA exhibition, from 2nd – 30th April 2022 (12.00PM – 6.00PM, Tuesday to Sunday) showcasing the journey of five gifted artists. Come and join us for Iftar and be inspired by the amazing artwork during this holy month of Ramadan.
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YAYASAN TM’s ‘PROGRAM CAHAYA RAMADAN’ CONTINUES TO BRING JOY TO THE LESS FORTUNATE COMMUNITIES
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 March 2024 – TM, through its social foundation arm, Yayasan TM (YTM), announces the continuation of its ‘Program Cahaya Ramadan’. This year, the programme allocates RM320,000 to aid approximately 3,000 beneficiaries across Malaysia, including asnaf, orphans, B40 families, single mothers, Persons with Disabilities (PWD), tahfiz students, and the Orang Asli community. The initiative, mobilised through our state offices nationwide, focuses on distributing food baskets and raya essential items such as baju raya and duit raya (cash) to the identified beneficiaries during Ramadan. Ainol Shaharina Sahar, Director of Yayasan TM said, “It is our honour to once again initiate the ‘Program Cahaya Ramadan’, extending our hand in solidarity to those in need during this reflective and benevolent time of year. Our goal is to alleviate the hardships of our beneficiaries, ensuring they too can share in the joy and togetherness that Ramadan brings. We aim to foster a sense of community and hope, particularly among children, as they observe the sacred month and look forward to Eid ul-Fitr celebrations.” In addition to these efforts, YTM is launching the ‘Dana Kasih Yayasan TM’ fundraising campaign, aiming to raise RM30,000 to specifically assist Orang Asli families in Pos Kuala Mu, Sungai Siput, Perak. This campaign focuses on gathering funds to provide these families with essential food supplies for Ramadan, aiming to ensure they have the resources needed for a fulfilling festive period. The public is encouraged to support this noble cause by making donations through YTM’s bank account at 14180010000426 (Bank Islam). For further details, please visit YTM’s social media channels. In 2023, YTM’s ‘Program Cahaya Ramadan’ has benefitted more than 3,000 beneficiaries through over 20 programmes across the country. YTM collaborated with Pejabat Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai to organise the programme which was attended by its Member of Parliament, YB Fahmi Fadzil. As the programme continues to grow and reach more communities, YTM remains dedicated to nurturing hope, fostering solidarity, and creating lasting impacts in the lives of the underserved, reinforcing its goal of a more inclusive and supportive society.
Nurturing future digital leaders through YTM Future Skills Champion Schools
Enhances its adopted schools programme to be more holistic by embedding digital technology and leadership skills TM, through Yayasan TM (YTM), recognises the need to equip the next generation with the digital and technology skills required for Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0). In view of this, in 2014, YTM began its Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) oriented programmes, such as robotics, 3D modelling, coding, and big data analytics, to promote those subjects amongst students and education communities at schools nationwide. In 2020, the modules were conslidated into TM Future Skills (TMFS) programme, with the aim of making it more comprehensive and beneficial to the intended participants. The programme was tailored to the syllabus outlined by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and covered the nine (9) pillars of the IR4.0. It has been receiving positive feedback from the teachers and students involved and more schools have requested to be part of the programme. Supporting MOE’s aspiration for digital education transformation, YTM continues to spread the positive impact of TMFS in a more structured approach. Towards this end, the foundation has embarked on TM Future Skills Champion School (TMFS School) initiative, as a continuation of the TM School Adoption Programme with enhanced contents. TMFS Schools foster future digital skills by embracing digital technology in its classroom activities where leadership, design thinking and cognitive abilities were emphasised to prepare the students for future employment. SMK Gunung Semanggol (SMKGS) in Perak, with more than 90% of its students from B40 families, was selected as the first TMFS School, aligned with YTM’s aspiration to assist B40 students in rural areas. To further facilitate the initiative, YTM is establishing TMFS Digital Hub at TMFS Schools where the schools will be equipped with a PocketLab, robotics set, 3D printer, smart TV, desktop, and digital learning content to gain more interest from its students as well as the neighbouring schools. "SMK Gunung Semanggol was identified based on its active involvement in various STEM initiatives, including previous TMFS programmes. The school also has passionate and dedicated teachers, where they adopt integrated and innovative approach for more in-depth understanding of the modules among the students. With such exposure and capabilities, we are confident that SMK Gunung Semanggol is able to play the role as a hub to spread the digital technology knowledge to more students and teachers including at the five (5) neighbouring schools, and approximately over 20 secondary schools in the Kerian district," said Izlyn Ramli, Director of YTM, during the launching ceremony of TMFS School in November 2022. Throughout this three-year programme, YTM, together with its strategic partner, Creative Minds, will work with Multimedia University (MMU), Yayasan Universiti Multimedia (YUM), TM Perak, and other YTM's partners to design and deliver engaging programmes providing the tools and support for students in rural schools to flourish. "We are also happy to see that SMK Gunung Semanggol promotes the development of other skills, such as urban farming and entrepreneurship, to empower the local communities sustainably. So as we continue to identify more potential schools in more states of Malaysia, we hope this programme will unearth more talented students towards building a competitive and sustainable community in the future," she added. Salmah Iman, the Principal of SMK Gunung Semanggol, expressed her enthusiasm, "We feel honoured and privileged to be chosen as the first TMFS School in the Northern Zone and Malaysia. We are excited and look forward to share the positive impact of this programme with the nearby schools. As we are committed to ensuring that this programme achieves its goals, we are also confident that YTM's support and assistance will help these students be prepared for future employment and enhance their standard of living." At the event, Bakri Arsad, Chief Assistant Director of Mathematics and Science, Learning Sector, Perak State Education Department, said, "We welcome such initiatives through collaboration with the private sector, especially for rural schools that need exposure to digital technology. These programmes will inspire students to explore their potential beyond academics and increase the number of students choosing STEM-related fields." During the launch, guests had the opportunity to visit the Pusat Sumber Sekolah Pendeta Za'aba and experience content and materials created by the students based on specific themes including unique handicrafts and martial arts performances. Guests toured the school's urban farm, where they sampled delicious cuisine prepared by students from the special education class using produce from the farm. SMK Gunung Semanggol provided a wonderful ambience of positive vibes that attract students' engagement and boosted their creativity. To date, STEM-related programmes by YTM, including TMFS, have benefited over 15,000 students and teachers from over 500 schools across the country. With the support and assistance of various interested partners, we hope this initiative will spark students' interest in pursuing their tertiary studies in technology and digital fields and equip the young generation with future-proof skills relevant to the future workforce.
Empowering Malaysia’s Youth: Yayasan Telekom Malaysia Expands TM Future Skills Programme
BATU PAHAT, 12 September 2023 – TM, through its corporate responsibility arm, Yayasan TM (YTM), collaborates with two more secondary schools in Peninsula Malaysia to expand its TM Future Skills (TMFS) programme. The programme aims at enhancing digital skills among students from B40 or low-income families by integrating digital technologies into their learning experiences. The newly included schools – SMK Dengkil in Selangor and SMK Tunku Putra in Johor join the programme after the successful launch of the first TMFS school, SMK Gunung Semanggol in Perak last November. These schools were selected because they have the highest percentage of B40 students in their districts and are actively engaged in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities. “At TM, we hold a firm belief in the pivotal role of Malaysian youth in propelling the nation’s growth and societal advancement. As an organisation that has been instrumental in the establishment of Digital Malaysia, we remain unwavering in our commitment to nurturing the next generation as drivers of our digital economy and the ongoing Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0). The TMFS programme fulfils this commitment by equipping students with digital skills, while emphasising on leadership, design thinking, and cognitive abilities,” said Ainol Shaharina Sahar, Director of YTM during the TMFS launching ceremony at SMK Tunku Putra recently. “In addition, we are optimistic that the partner schools will evolve into educational hubs, effectively disseminating the knowledge and skills acquired to neighbouring schools and students. We hope that through this approach, it will ignite the students’ interest in pursuing tertiary education in technology and digital fields, thus empowering them with skills vital for Malaysia’s future workforce,” added Ainol. To enhance the immersive learning experience, YTM is establishing TMFS Digital Hubs at these partner schools. These hubs are equipped with resources such as PocketLab, robotics kits, 3D printers, smart TVs, desktop computers, and digital learning content. This hands-on setup aims to spark students’ interest in digital exploration. Highlighting the comprehensive approach of the TMFS programme, Ainol expressed, “We are delighted to witness the holistic growth within all TMFS Schools, which encompasses the development of diverse skills ranging from urban farming and vocational training to entrepreneurship. As we continue our journey to identify more potential schools nationwide, we envision unearthing more remarkable talents that will contribute to the nation’s growth while aligning Malaysia with the forefront of digital innovation.” The event was also graced by Azman Mashuri, Deputy Director of School Planning & Management Sector 2, Ministry of Education Malaysia, who expressed enthusiasm for such collaborations between the private sector and educational institutions. Azman emphasised the importance of providing exposure to digital technologies in rural schools and predicted that initiatives like TMFS will stimulate students to explore their capabilities beyond conventional academics, subsequently driving an increased interest in STEM-related fields. YTM has remained steadfast in its commitment to promoting STEM-oriented programmes since 2014, encompassing disciplines such as robotics, 3D modelling, coding, and big data analytics. In 2020, these modules coalesced into the comprehensive TMFS programme, meticulously designed to align with the Ministry of Education’s syllabus and the IR4.0. To date, YTM’s STEM-related endeavours, including the TMFS programme, have benefited over 15,000 students and educators across more than 500 schools throughout the nation. This remarkable endeavour is not just nurturing individual futures, but also cementing Malaysia’s position as a digital frontrunner on the global stage.