Paving the way for brighter future

Nur Mohd Razali (second from left) and Norzilawati after signing the MOU, as Mazlan (third from left) and Mohd Khairuddin (fourth from left) look on.

EFFORTS are being made to empower youths from shelter homes and orphanages at the Selangor Technical Skills and Development Centre (STDC).

To realise this vision, STDC and Darul Ehsan Islamic Foundation (Yide) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Bangunan SUK in Shah Alam, Selangor.

The collaboration between Selangor government, STDC and Yide aims to provide poor youths with training and skills besides job opportunities.

State human capital development, sports and youth generation development committee chairman Mohd Khairuddin Othman hoped the programmes would help ease the unemployment problem among youths.

The MOU was signed by Yide general manager Nur Mohd Razali Abdullah and STDC manager Norzilawati Md Said, with Mohd Khairuddin and Yide chairman and former deputy inspector-general of police Tan Sri Mazlan Mansor as witnesses.

Mohd Khairuddin said the training programmes were necessary as the state had received reports of some youths who had gone down the wrong path.

(Back row, fourth from left) Nur Mohd Razali (blue shirt), Mazlan and Mohd Khairuddin with the children from orphanages in Selangor who received back-to-school aid worth RM25,000.

“We are aware that orphans who moved out of shelter homes may find it difficult to be independent.

“I urge all youths from shelter homes and orphanages to consider taking up this programme to secure their future,” he said.

Some 30 former residents aged 18 and above from 25 orphanages under Yide were the first batch to join the STDC programmes in March.

Norzilawati said STDC was the Selangor government’s education institute focusing on technical, vocational education and training (TVET).

STDC, she said, emphasised three core areas – helping students secure jobs and further their studies as well as encouraging them to become entrepreneurs.

STDC offers courses on motorcycle and air-conditioner repairs aside from electrical, automotive and computer systems. Culinary skills are also taught.

Mohd Khairuddin said Smart Selangor Ikhtisas (Iktisass) would provide youths who were keen to join STDC’s programmes an allowance of RM300 per month.

“Iktisass will provide students with money for tuition and dormitory stays as well as pocket money,” he said.

He further said the state would collaborate with Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) sports department to reach out to orphans interested in sports so they could work towards getting a diploma in the field. “There are many orphanages and shelters in Selangor but only 25 are registered with Yide.

“If there are other shelters and orphanages keen to participate in the programme, I urge them to register with Yide as soon as possible.”

Mohd Khairuddin also gave out back-to-school aid worth RM25,000 to orphanages registered under Yide at the event.