KUALA LUMPUR: Biji-biji Initiative (BBI) has launched the pilot phase of its NextGen Sellers programme, a workforce development initiative aimed at helping young Malaysians from B40 households secure paid careers in sales.
Supported by the Citi Foundation, the programme will place participants aged between 18 and 24 into six-month sales roles while providing structured training, mentorship and financial support.
The inaugural cohort was launched during a stakeholder convening at Mereka Space in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together more than 30 representatives from government agencies, employers, funders and learning institutions.
BBI said the pilot involves an investment of about RM15,000 per participant and is intended to test the model before expanding to 80 participants across three cohorts.
Participants will receive a monthly allowance of RM1,800 for six months, a laptop, transportation support and social security coverage through PERKESO.
They will also undergo training covering sales skills, workplace English, financial management, artificial intelligence tools and professional mentorship.
“What we are building is not a training course. It is an ecosystem,” said Ambika Sangaran, partner at Biji-biji Initiative and chief operating officer of Mereka.
“No single programme, employer, or funder can solve the structural barriers these young people face alone. Today showed us what coordination looks like when it is working,” she said in a statement.
The Citi Foundation is supporting the programme through its Global Innovation Challenge, which backs community organisations developing solutions to social and economic challenges faced by low-income communities.
Shuang-Shuang Keng, vice president of international community relations at Citi, said philanthropic funding can play an important role in helping organisations test and scale innovative solutions.
Meanwhile, Citi country officer and banking head for Malaysia, Vikram Singh, said initiatives such as NextGen Sellers Ecosystem help equip young Malaysians from underserved communities with practical and job-ready skills.
“In line with the national aspiration to raise both the floor and the ceiling, ensuring no one is left behind while enabling more Malaysians to reach their full potential, programmes like this play a critical role.
“Through the Citi Foundation, we are proud to support efforts that bring together cross-sector partnerships to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, empowering the next generation to secure sustainable employment and contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s growth,” he added.
FutureLab.my chief executive officer and co-founder Brian Tan said many B40 youths already possess entrepreneurial skills through informal activities such as online selling and small business operations, but these capabilities are often not recognised in conventional hiring processes.
Among the first participants is 19-year-old Aida from Kuala Lumpur, who previously worked as a nursery assistant, barista and retail assistant.
She said the programme offers an opportunity to develop professional sales and communication skills while building confidence to pursue a corporate career.
Employer partners involved in the initiative include Voltek Energy, Kidocode Malaysia and Telecontinent, while learning partners comprise UiTM Akademi Pengajian Bahasa and FINCO.
Government-linked organisations participating in the ecosystem include PERKESO, FELDA, MyFutureJobs and AAPGM-SDG.
Applications for the second cohort are now open.
The fully funded programme is available to Malaysian youth aged 18 to 24 from B40 households who hold SPM, SKM or equivalent qualifications and are not enrolled in full-time higher education.
