Team spirit: Thashidaran (far left) coaching youth playing football.
Entrepreneur uplifts youth through skills training, sports
PETALING JAYA: When T. Thashidaran found himself stranded on the expressway in the rain over a decade ago, he did not expect the kindness of strangers to shape the course of his life.
He did not know how to change a burst tyre, so he stood helpless by the roadside until two strangers – a Chinese motorist and a Malay motorcyclist – pulled over to lend a hand.
“That experience changed my outlook on life.
“The camaraderie is one of the small things that happen daily in Malaysia and is something we often take for granted,” he said in an interview.
It was this seemingly ordinary moment that cemented his desire to help others.
Today, Thashidaran, 31, is a full-time youth volunteer and entrepreneur, who has spent years trying to uplift youths at risk of being left behind.
Inspired by his parents, who are also active volunteers since he was a child, Thashidaran works closely with marginalised youths, offering vocational training and guiding them into social enterprises, especially in the service sector.
“My social enterprise initiative has trained over 50 young people in barbering, entrepreneurship and small business management, equipping them not just with skills but an opportunity to be independent.
“I regularly visit schools across the Klang Valley with fellow volunteers to raise awareness about education and provide opportunities for those from low-income families.
“Many of them don’t realise the government has many incentives to support youths,” he added.
A firm believer that sports can unite communities, Thashidaran also coaches football for free to over 150 students from various schools.
Recalling an incident close to his heart, Thashidaran said several years ago, he met a 12-year-old orphan who was struggling to read.
“With just three months to his UPSR, my team and I gave him intensive tuition.
“He made it through the Year Six exam, completed his secondary education and is now studying medicine at a university.
“We meet up once in a while. I am proud of him as he has come a long way. He is even tutoring other students,” he added.
Thashidaran’s other volunteer work include helping to install solar panels in Orang Asli villages and arranging free transport for students at risk of dropping out.
His volunteering spirit has taken him beyond borders as he has volunteered in eight countries including Japan, India, Nepal and Laos over the years.
In one particularly memorable mission, he spent weeks helping install water pipes in a remote Nepali village to provide clean water to 300 residents.
“We completed the project just before the Covid-19 pandemic and had to race against time to return to Malaysia before the lockdown.
“It took us about 22 hours to travel from the remote village to Kathmandu to catch the last flight back to Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
For his commitment to youth empowerment and social unity, Thashidaran was recently honoured with the National Youth Award by the Youth and Sports Ministry – beating more than 230 other candidates from other states.
“The recognition motivates me to do more in the future. I am already planning to provide legal aid for at-risk youths,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Star Golden Hearts Awards (SGHA) returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others.
With McDonald’s Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide.
This year also marks the debut of the McDonald’s Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways.
Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.
