KUALA LUMPUR: Forest Interactive Foundation is proud to announce its recognition as the second runner-up in the Community Engagement & Partnerships category at the national level of the UN Women Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards 2024. This achievement marks the Foundation’s first award win, highlighting its commitment to gender equality and community development through its various initiatives.
The Women’s Empowerment Principles are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They are the result of a collaboration between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact and are adapted from the Calvert Women’s Principles®. The development of the Women’s Empowerment Principles included an international multi-stakeholder consultation process, which began in March 2009 and culminated in their launch on International Women’s Day in March 2010.
The submission that led to this accolade focused on the #seKODlah program, a partnership with CIMB Foundation, designed to promote coding and digital literacy among underserved communities. The program has been instrumental in empowering young girls and women through technology, aligning with the core values of the WEPs.
“We are honored to be recognized by UN Women Malaysia for our work in community engagement,” said Johary Mustapha, CEO of Forest Interactive Foundation. “This award reinforces our belief that collaboration and strategic partnerships, like the one we have with CIMB Foundation, are crucial in creating meaningful impact in the communities we serve.”The UN Women Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards recognize exemplary businesses and organizations promoting gender equality through impactful community initiatives. Forest Interactive Foundation’s third-place finish demonstrates its growing influence in fostering gender empowerment and digital literacy across Malaysia.
About Forest Interactive Foundation
Founded in 2021 as an extension of Forest Interactive’s sustainability initiatives, Forest Interactive Foundation is a tech-powered non-profit organization with a long-term mission to nurture and develop talents for the digital economy, empower our society, and preserve the environment through sustainable initiatives and programs. The Foundation’s three core pillars are Future Innovators, Empowered Communities, and Sustainable Environment.
Since 2006, Forest Interactive has showcased its commitment to those three pillars. Today, Forest Interactive Foundation works with corporate sponsors and government partners such as CIMB Foundation, Axiata Foundation, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), by developing and facilitating flagship programs, demonstrating its commitment and collective effort towards achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Visit www.forestcares.org to learn more.
About LeadWomen
Founded in 2011, LeadWomen Sdn Bhd is committed to increasing women’s representation in senior leadership and on corporate boards in Malaysia. Through advocacy, training, and board placements, we drive gender diversity forward. Recognising the need for sustained progress, we focus on workplace inclusion strategies to ensure women’s retention and advancement.
As a thought leader in DEI, LeadWomen fosters commitment through courageous conversations and impactful content. Aligning with UN SDGs, particularly Goals 5, 8, 10, 16, and 17, we break down DEI concepts and establish sustainable action plans. Our mission is to embed DEI into organisational culture, emphasising its role in human and social capital development.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. For information on UN Women Asia and the Pacific, visit https://asiapacific.unwomen.org or follow @unwomenasia on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.
