KUALA LUMPUR: Forest Interactive Foundation, in partnership with CIMB Foundation, launches #seKODlah for Malaysians who are interested to jump start their career in the tech industry.

#seKODlah is a flagship programme of Forest Interactive Foundation that aims to nurture future innovators, with particular focus on improving their skills in new technologies and employability.

‍Applications are now open for those who have completed their final-year study in university, are fresh university graduates, or are currently unemployed aged between 20-25 years old. A total of 40 applicants will be shortlisted to undergo a four-month-long series of structured training and mentoring programmes, before applying their acquired skills and knowledge through a capstone project (app/programme/platform-building) and internship placements at partner companies such as Forest Interactive, CIMB, and more.

Johary Mustapha, Founder & CEO of Forest Interactive, said: “Despite the rapid national digitalization initiatives, Malaysia is still facing challenges in cultivating digital talents. The current digital workforce in the country is largely dominated by foreign talents. There are also over 200,000 unemployed graduates, most of whom have experienced the gap between their university curriculum and the expectations of the tech ecosystem today. As a result, we still see a huge gap in skills, knowledge, and technology awareness among local talents.”

“We’ve come together with CIMB Foundation to establish #seKODlah, chiefly to address the issue of industry supply shortage for local tech talents. The framework of this programme will enable future Malaysian tech talents to explore and develop in-demand skills through e-learning and mentorship from a team of trainers, as well as incentive-based projects and challenges. We hope to see graduates from the #seKODlah programme pursuing future-forward careers and leading innovation in this country,” continued Johary.

‍Rafe Haneef, CEO of CIMB Foundation, said: “The need to nurture digital talent has heightened over the last few years. This has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with an intense call for enhanced productivity, innovation, and efficiency. It is therefore crucial that students are exposed to relevant tech areas and careers from a young age in order to future-proof the generation of tomorrow while shaping Malaysia’s workforce to achieve the country’s goal of being the ASEAN digital hub.”

“Education is one of CIMB Foundation’s pillars, and this programme is aligned with our commitment towards improving access to quality education and learning, as well as enhancing the successful transition of youth into the workforce and society. CIMB Foundation also champions economic empowerment, and we are pleased to support a collaboration such as this, which is key in grooming future professionals, especially those from the B40 community, with the intention of increasing their economic and social mobilities. We hope #seKODlah will be the launching pad of inculcating an interest in tech in today’s youth to eventually bridge the gap between talent supply and demand in the ever-changing needs of the economy,” added Rafe.    

Capstone Project

The capstone project will be the grand finale of the #seKODlah programme, where participants are encouraged to apply their knowledge and skills acquired during the training and mentoring sessions in real-life situations and to build a product that will benefit society, based on the specific needs of local communities in Malaysia.

In addition, this project will provide participants an edge over their peers when pursuing entry-level positions within the digital workforce by showcasing their industry skills. Forest Interactive Foundation, sponsored by CIMB Foundation, will also award cash prizes for the following categories: 3 Best Capstone Projects

• First place: RM 5,000
• Second place: RM 2,500
• Third place: RM 2,500

2 Most Entrepreneurial Projects

• RM 2,500 each  

The programme timeline is divided into two stages:

Interested individuals may submit their applications at forestcares.org/sekodlah-CIMB.html or scan the QR code to register.

About Forest Interactive Foundation

Founded in 2021, Forest Interactive Foundation aims to nurture and develop talents through sustainable initiatives and programs, establishing empowered communities and upholding sustainable environments for our own people and the world’s future innovators in tech. As the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Forest Interactive and a UN Global Compact member, we are committed to accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the following areas:

• Future Innovators 

With the goal of developing future innovators in a fast-changing world, we shape initiatives that can help students prepare for a future where they can thrive with technology, one of it being the #seKODlah program.

• People 

We strive to bring our company’s culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the broader community. By harnessing our strengths for social good, we are able to empower marginalized communities in our increasingly connected world.

• Community and Environment 

We are committed to sustainable actions and best practices:

1. Demonstrate empathy and sensitivity to the needs of others.
2. Aim for responsible material inputs that are renewable, recyclable, or reusable. 
3. Bridge public and private partnerships in support of SDG 17. 
4. Be a part of the climate accelerator program by implementing SBTi in line with the 1.5°C pathway. 

Prior to its establishment, Forest Interactive Foundation, through Forest Interactive, has empowered more than 3500 students and 2,000 people in the communities through more than 38 initiatives. Visit forestcares.org to learn more.

About CIMB Foundation

CIMB Foundation is a non-profit organisation set up to implement CIMB Group’s corporate social responsibility and philanthropic initiatives. Established in November 2007, CIMB Foundation is tasked with strategizing and implementing corporate responsibility initiatives, disbursing millions to various programmes related to community development, sports and education.

The Foundation believes in long-term sustainable growth and giving back to society. Its initiatives are aimed at empowering communities in a transparent, measurable and accountable way to enable them to be independent and enhance development.

The Foundation focuses on three specific areas: Community Development, Sports and Education.  In the past 10 years, CIMB Foundation has disbursed over RM162 million through more than 1,100 projects benefiting over 750,000 people in the communities served by CIMB Group, making CIMB Foundation one of ASEAN's leading CSR champions.