Many young people grow up facing daunting challenges that threaten to derail them from their dreams before they take shape.
Without access to proper guidance, resources and opportunities, they risk slipping through the cracks of society.
With proper support and timely help, their stories can change – from struggle to strength.
Selangor Youth Community (SAY Community), under the patronage of the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and supported by The King’s Trust International (KTI, previously called Prince’s Trust International), has been working to provide the much needed support.
SAY Community is a non-political, non-governmental organisation that empowers youths through community-based initiatives.
Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah presenting Nurul Naqibah with the KTI Regional Sustainability Award for Asia at Sunway Resort Hotel in Subang Jaya.
Success stories from its nine-week Team Programme, launched during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, have shown that when society invests in its youth, even those from the most challenging backgrounds can rise, thrive and give back to the community.
SAY Community chief executive officer Aiman Nazri said the programme was aimed at supporting youths aged 15 to 30, by equipping them with skills, mentorship and hope to break them free from cycles of hardship.
“The goal is to help participants transition into education, training or employment by giving them skills, confidence and work exposure, among others.
“We are now at cohort 21 and have worked with a total of 450 youths,” he said.
“SAY started by helping undergraduates equip themselves for the workforce.
“Later, we expanded and reached out to the marginalised or from underprivileged back- grounds,” he added.
Set on the right path
Mohd Syafiq (standing), a former beneficiary of Team Programme, is giving back by working as a facilitator for the same programme.
Two youths from drug rehabilitation centres have found renewed purpose through the programme.
One of them Muhammad Syafie Husnul Yakin, 22, from Puchong, Selangor, was admitted to a drug rehabilitation centre from October 2022 to December 2023.
Also struggling with mental health issues, he said his main goal was to recover and stop using drugs.
“Just as I was recovering from my mental health problem, the Team Programme was collaborating with the centre and offered a barbering course.
“I signed up for it without much thought as I was touched that there were organisations willing to help people like me.
“I followed through with the programme and learnt how to cut hair,” he said.
Last year, his sister bought him barbering equipment so he could put his new skills to use and start a small business.
Since then, Muhammad Syafie has been offering haircuts from home and doorstep services for a small fee.
“Although I still live with and depend on my parents, being able to earn money gives me confidence and helps cover my expenses.
“I also want to make it in life and live independently someday,” he said.
Muhammad Syafie earning an income giving haircuts from his home in Puchong.
The other participant is Mohd Syafiq Affizuddin Zulkifli, 35, from Batu Pahat, Johor, who was admitted to a drug rehabilitation centre for the fourth time since 2013.
“It has been a very difficult journey for me to break free from drug addiction,” he said.
“During my last stay in 2022, I participated in the Team Programme course.
“The facilitators said they noticed my leadership skills.”
Upon his release in 2024, he was hired as a gardener at the drug rehabilitation centre, after showing a knack for landscaping – a skill he picked up during his time there.
While working as a gardener, he said SAY Community approached him with a job offer to become its Team Programme facilitator.
“I was excited about the opportunity,” said Mohd Syafiq.
“People coming out of rehabilitation often face social stigma and are seen as unreliable in the workforce, so I was very surprised and grateful.
“I saw it as a chance to redeem myself and prove to my family and community that I can change.
“I am proud to say that I have been an assistant team leader for over a year and have been drug-free for more than three years now,” he stated.
Mohd Syafiq said he had never held a job for over a year before this, and now looked forward to upskilling himself in management.
“On the job, I have learnt management and social skills, as well as how to write emails and official letters.
“My role involves engaging with youths, including those affected by drug use, and sharing my experiences in overcoming addiction.
“Sometimes, we just need others to believe in us,” he said.
Doors to new careers
Other youths are also turning to Team Programme to upskill themselves and look for employment opportunities.
Hairul Abdullah recording data on seedlines at Royal Belum in Perak.
Among them is Hairul Abdullah, 28, from Gombak, Selangor.
Hairul was retrenched from his job as a technician in an oil and gas company in 2020 and he struggled to find work.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company I worked for used the ‘last-in, first-out’ principle to cope with the critical phase,” he said.
“I studied engineering and was very interested in forestry, marine and renewable energy, something I discovered during my active years in Rover Scouts.
“So, when I was laid off, I hoped to find a job in one of these fields.
“I then joined the Team Programme and became an intern at the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC), where I learnt about tree care and planting.”
Upon completing the programme, Hairul said he was offered an extension at TRCRC and later a permanent position.
“After four years of learning on the job and holding various positions, I am now a biodiversity field coordinator,” he said.
Based in Gerik, Perak, Hairul’s job involves monitoring wildlife in the jungle, among other duties.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity given through the programme,” he said.
“I am able to pursue a job that I am passionate about, something that would not have been possible on my own as I did not have the formal qualifications,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nurul Naqibah Mohd Kamal from Subang Jaya, Selangor, joined the Team Programme last year after finding it challenging to secure a job aligned with her qualifications.
Nurul Naqibah getting her hands dirty planting trees and making new friends in Gerik, Perak, while interning with Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre.
“I have a degree in Science for Liberal Studies and was looking for a position in human resources, but found it tough.
“Being an introvert I did not have a wide network, so I signed up for the Team Programme hoping to gain more employable skills,” she said.
Nurul Naqibah said the programme included training in resume writing and soft skills development, which she found especially beneficial.
She also got a short stint in industrial training at TRCRC.
The public speaking training helped her overcome her fear of addressing an audience, while hands-on work experience with the forestry conservation centre allowed her to turn theory into action.
“One of the highlights of my training was having to deliver a speech during the graduation ceremony in front of hundreds of people, something I never thought I could do,” she said.
“After the speech, I felt very confident about my capabilities,” she added.
Beyond the training, Nurul Naqibah said she had also formed valuable friendships, one of which led to a job opportunity.
“I finally secured a position as a human resources officer at a company in Kuala Lumpur,” she said.
Hairul and Nurul Naqibah are two of four Malaysians who have won the KTI Regional Sustainability Award for Asia.
It recognises outstanding individuals and organisations for their significant contributions to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Hairul was the winner in 2022 for his efforts in forest conservation, while Nurul Naqibah won for her voluntary service in making an impact in the lives of the Orang Asli community.
