Successful Dreamers on the path towards realising their dreams Web Master Honda Malaysia announced the final 20 successful young people and they received their offer letters on April 25, 2007 at Holiday Inn Glenmarie, Shah Alam. It was a very exciting programme with Honda MD and CEO Mr Atsushi Fujimoto together with Dr Richard Leete, UNDP Resident Representative.
The final 20 were short listed by a team of Advisory Panel members and officials from Honda and UNDP. A total of 623 applications were received and from these 100 were short listed based on the dream write up and review of the background criteria. Significant to note that of the 623, Indians were 267 or 42.8%, Chinese 172 or 27.6%, Malays 157 or 25.2 and 27 others.
From the 100, the Advisory Panel short listed 60 people and the young people attended the leadership programme from April 13 to 15, 2007. At the leadership programme the youths were further short listed 30 to undergo the indepth interviews. At the interviews the final 20 were short listed and the list was handed over to Honda and UNDP.
Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria who was Chairperson of the Advisory Panel said it was very tough to short list the final 20 as each has a good dream, needy background and a real desire to come up in life. However, we had to come to a final decision and these were officially announced by Honda.
One of the most touching stories said Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria was that of Aizan Sofea Binti Amin who fought cancer herself. However, her leg was amputated. Here dream is to complete a Masters degree in counseling and to work at the Cancer Foundation.
Subash Loganathan lost his father eight years ago and his family is totally dependent of his father’s SOSCO money. His dream is to be a manager and therefore secured sponsorship to do a management course.
Aizan and Subash are two among twenty who were successful. Among those who won awards are to be doctors, lawyers, pilots, engineers, graphic designers, economists, biotechnologists, animation film maker. Of the 20 who were successful, 10 are males and 10 females. 25% or 5 are Malays, 45% or 9 are Indians, 25% or 5 are Chinese and 1 others. Honda has indicated that they have allocated RM1 million per year for these sponsorships.
“I am really impressed with Honda,” said Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, “this is a clear commitment on the part of Honda to fulfill its corporate social responsibility. Emulating the principles of the company founder, this company is really making a difference in empowering young people to realize their dream”.
Look out for the next round of announcements to enlist more young people who dare to dream.
(Submitted on 25th April 2007) Source: YSS website
Archive for April, 2007
20 youths receive honda awards – www.yss98.com
April 27th, 2007
Background of 9 Indian Recipients of the Honda award
April 27th, 2007Nine Young Malaysian Indian Dreamers Web Master Nine Indians were successful in securing the Honda Dreams Fund Award. This constitutes 45 percent of the total award recipients. As someone recently indicated that Indian youths are among the most needy group in Malaysia, as they have less access to other types of funding.
The Honda awards are generous as they would provide for the total fees and living expenditure for the course of their choice, which is closely linked to their dream. Honda does not have requirements to pay back after the period of study as the individual is free to pursue once own dream.
Honda on April 25, 2007 released the details of all the recipients to the press. YSS webmaster is providing this information to inspire other young people to do likewise especially look for the next opportunity for the Honda Dream Fund.
Subash Loganathan is 20 years old from Selangor and has completed his Form 6. His dream is to be in the forefronts of planning, management and administration. His father passed away eight years ago and his family is dependent on the SOSCO funds. He is a young person with excellent leadership potential.
Anusheya Suppiah is 19 years old and she has completed her SPM. She is also from Selangor. Her dream is to become a Software programmer/engineer. Both her parents who are disabled. She started working in a clinic to save for her studies.
Jaswant Singh is also from Selangor, originally from Kampong Ghandi in PJ and he too is 19. His dream is to be a pilot. His father passed away when he was 14 years old and his mother who works in a factory supports the family now. He had secured a place in the flying academy but had to postpone it due to insufficient funds.
Arun Kumar Ramasamy has got the dream of becoming an inventor. He developed this interest since an early age when he used to play LEGO. He too is from Selangor but 20 years old. Has completed his STPM has the dream of undertaking a mechatronic engineering course.
Jasmir Singh Sandhu has the dream of becoming an economist. He is 20 and is from Kuala Lumpur. His parents were separated when he was only nine months old and his mother has been very ill for a long while. “It’s my dream, to acquire an economics and management degree so that I may enhance my capabilities to make a difference”, he said.
Kaviarasu Ponggavanom is from Perak and he is 22 years of age. His father passed away when he was only one year old and it is his mum who works at Bethany home raised him up. His dream is to be a biotechnologist. He was inspired by the PM and the emphasis in the Ninth Malaysia Plan for future scope and the potential of biotechnology.
Kavitha Krishnamurti has a childhood dream of being a doctor. She is from Negeri Sembilan and is 20 years old. She has been working at a clinic in Sermeban while waiting for her Form 6 results. Her father is a security guard and mum a housewife. While she is soft spoken she is very determined with her dream of becoming a doctor.
Shantakumar is also from Negeri Sembilian and is also 20 years old. Originally from an estate and from childhood has a dream of becoming a lawyer to fight for justice. He is from a poor family and his teachers advised him to study hard and this he did reaching Form 6. While waiting for his Form 6 results he worked in a sawmill.
Pavithra Ravesangar’s childhood passion and dream is to be a doctor but her dream were shattered when her dad passed away. She is from Kedah and is 20 years old. She did well at SPM scoring 9As and enrolled for STPM. She worked to pay her fees and currently works in a supermarket.
Because of Honda these nine young people together with 11 others will be able to realize their dreams. Receiving the needed funding is only an enabling factor. But each one of them will have to really work hard to fully realize their dream. But thanks to Honda that they are able to make a head way.
(Submitted on 26th April 2007) Source: YSS website
20 get scholarships from Honda fund
April 27th, 2007
20 get scholarships from Honda fund
NINE Indians were among 20 students who received scholarships from the Honda Dreams Fund, said Malaysia Nanban.
Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd announced the starting of the fund in January with an initial sum of RM1mil to help less fortunate students pursue higher education.
Honda Malaysia managing director Atsushi Fujimoto said the recipients were chosen after a three-day workshop for 60 youths picked from 623 applicants.
He said the youths were selected based on their academic achievements, family background and their dreams of higher education.
They were also required to write an article in English.
To ensure an unbiased disbursement of the fund, Honda partnered with the United Nations Development Programme where the latter and an independent advisory panel comprising members of non-governmental organisations selected the recipients.
He said the fund would offer non-binding scholarships.
The fund provides for the studentsÂ’ tertiary education fees and allowances to meet living expenses for the duration of their courses.
NEWS:Option to buy houses for estate workers
April 27th, 2007
Option to buy houses for estate workers
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/27/nation/17558640&sec=nation
IJOK: Workers of three estates belonging to Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) Bhd will be able to own single-storey terrace houses after KLK implements the housing schemes.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the company had already agreed to implement the scheme after obtaining the approval from the relevant authorities.
“The workers in Tuan Mee, Caledonia and Coalfield estates will be the main beneficiaries,” he told voters at a community centre.
Tuan MeeÂ’s senior manager Chuan Chong Meng, National Union of Plantation Workers general secretary Datuk G. Sankaran, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel and other MIC leaders were present.
Samy Vellu said the estate workers had put forward a proposal for the houses two days ago.
“This is how the Barisan Nasional Government works. We discuss and got the approvals within a short time for the benefit of the estate people,” he said.
Samy Vellu said estate workers who wanted to upgrade their houses or even own bungalows could do so after discussions with the company, which is constructing the houses.
He said that there would also be other infrastructure like schools, temples and a playing field that would help to upgrade the standard of living of the people.
Officials said the estate workers would be given priority to buy the houses at RM35,000 while others would have to pay RM42,000 for the two-room houses.
Book traces life of local Indians
April 25th, 2007Book traces life of local Indians By : R. Sittamparam
PASIR GUDANG: The author of a book documenting the contributions of Indians in Malaysia believes it will cure the social ills of backward sections of the community.
M. Janakey Raman, 58, took 15 years to complete his book, drawing on his long experience in social work with the Human Development and Research Centre.
“My main objective is for the book to reach the Indian youth, most of whom do not know the struggles of their forefathers in the country’s nation-building.
“Being deprived of proper knowledge about their roots has caused the youth to go astray from the path of righteousness, high morals, diligence and spirituality,” he said after the Johor launch of his book, The Malaysian Indian Dilemma. The book, written in Tamil, was launched by Arulmigu Sri Subramaniar Temple chairman Dr R.S. Maniam recently.
The author, who started life as a rubber tapper at the Jawa Selangor Estate in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, said: “The valuable lessons of the past outlined in my book are important to steer the community towards realising the objectives of Vision 2020.”
Janakey Raman said his book traced the history of Malaysian Indians since 1860, when they were brought here to fulfil the manpower needs of the British colony.
He said between 1860 and 1957, there were four million Indians, in particular Tamils, in Malaysia with 2.8 million later returning to India.
“Of those remaining, many died of disease and hardship, including about 90,000 who perished building the Death Railway to Burma during the Japanese Occupation.”
He said the British chose migrant labourers from south India as they were a hardworking and submissive lot with little ambition.
Janakey Raman is now working on an English translation of his book.