The 2024 Team Awards Day in Malaysia
On August 6th, the 2024 Team Awards Day in Malaysia brought together young people, partners, and distinguished guests to celebrate remarkable achievements and inspiring stories. The event highlighted the impact of the Team Programme, facilitated by Selangor Youth Community (SAY), and honoured Amirul, with the 2024 King’s Trust Sustainability Award for Asia.
A Prestigious Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by His Highness Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, who presented the award to Amirul. The event also saw the presence of Her Excellency Ailsa Terry, the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Anindita Roy, International Programme Manager at The King’s Trust International, and Juan Aranols, CEO of Nestlé Products SDN BHD. Their attendance underscored the international recognition and collaboration that underpin this inspiring initiative.
The award ceremony recognised Amirul’s significant personal development on the TEAM programme, overcoming shyness to become a confident leader, guiding his team towards an innovative green community initiative. The event also celebrated other award winners including Mr Syafiq Affizuddin who won the Perseverance Award.
Amirul’s Inspiring Journey
The King’s Trust Sustainability Award for Asia recognizes young people who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to building a greener world.
Amirul’s journey is a real testament to resilience and dedication. Facing unemployment during the global pandemic, Amirul joined the Team Programme to build his real-life teamwork and workplace skills. His two-week work experience placement with the Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre allowed him to “unearth [his] hidden potential.” The programme also helped him network and break into Malaysia’s green industry, which he describes as “a small and closed industry.” Now, as a Project Executive in Restoration, Amirul is not only fuelling his personal growth but also contributing to the well-being of his community and the environment.
Reflecting on his experience, Amirul said:
“My life after the Team programme is more organised and structured. I’m capable of planning my next steps for two to 10 years in the future without any doubt or fear that I will fail, because I am confident with the knowledge and experience I gained in the programme.”
The TEAM Programme
The Team Programme is a transformative nine-week journey focusing on personal development. Participants build core skills and confidence through hands-on activities, culminating in a two-week community project where they hone their communication, teamwork, and leadership abilities. The next stage involves a two-week work experience placement, allowing young people to further develop skills such as customer service and problem-solving. The final weeks are dedicated to job-seeking skills, including writing CVs and preparing for interviews.
Siti Nurainin Nabillah Mohd Azman, the TEAM Programme Manager, emphasized the programme’s dual focus on the environment and local community, as well as targeting “young people who are looking for a direction in choosing a career that is in demand.”
Building a Greener Future Through Collaboration
In conjunction with the award, Nestlé Malaysia and SAY signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend their collaboration. This partnership aims to foster environmental awareness and sustainable practices among local youth through comprehensive workshops and educational programmes. For the Team programme these initiatives include hands-on activities such as cleaning up the Klang River and visits to recycling facilities, providing participants with practical knowledge on environmental stewardship.
Juan Aranols, CEO of Nestlé Malaysia, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, saying, “Our collaboration with SAY proves how efforts to achieve common goals can spark meaningful change by achieving more young people instilling the noble values needed for a more sustainable future.”
Amirul’s success story, the collaborative efforts with Nestlé Malaysia, and the dedication of the Selangor Youth Community all contribute to a brighter, more sustainable future. The Team Awards Day not only recognized individual accomplishments but also showcased the power of community and international collaboration in fostering growth and development among young people.