SINGAPORE- Media OutReach - 7 October 2020 - A total of 81 projects and business leaders across Asia were selected asrecipients of the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2020 (AREA),which was an increase of 27% from last year. Widely regarded as the goldstandard for CSR and sustainability practice, this year's award ceremony wasorganized virtually due to the unprecedented global healthcare crisis. Adiversity of industries and leading organizations from all over the regionreceived the AREA, demonstrating a continued dedication to responsible businesspractices despite the pandemic.

Organized byEnterprise Asia, the leading non-governmental organization for responsibleentrepreneurship in Asia, the AREA aims to recognize and honor Asian businessesand leaders for championing sustainable and socially responsible businesspractices. The award categories are Social Empowerment, Investment in People,Health Promotion, Green Leadership, Corporate Governance, Circular EconomyLeadership and Responsible Business Leadership. Through the award ceremony,this unique opportunity has provided over 600 attendees to interconnect andcelebrate virtually.

CompanyIntroduction

RimbunCapital Sdn. Bhd. is a boutique corporate advisory firm providing comprehensiveservices which are customised to their clients' needs. The Company's core focusareas are, liquidation, receivership and corporate restructuring,rehabilitation of distress projects, conveyancing, and fraud risk managementand forensic investigation.

Rimbun EducationProgram

Rimbun Education Program was launched in August 2015 as a CorporateSocial Responsibility (CSR) initiative by the Company, with a goal to recognizethe importance of education for the development of the nation and in line withthe aspirations of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013 - 2025. The vision ofRimbun Foundation is to foster a holistic development of pupils with the focuson enhancing their soft skills in order for them to achieve life-long personalgrowth. The mission of the Foundation is to create potential human capitalthrough education, in line with the Company's slogan "Holistic approach tovalue creation". The Program was initially administered by a committee formedby the Company's staffs but in 2017, the Company collaborated with theInstitute of Teachers Education International Language Campus ("IPGKBA"), toenrich the Program through the involvement of teacher trainees as facilitators.With this collaboration, a teaching module was developed, incorporating 21^stcentury interactive methodologies.

A Program that GrowsCommunities

The Program was tailored for primary school pupils, especially those inYear 5 from the national type schools as approved by the Malaysian Ministry ofEducation. 25 pupils from each schools were selected to develop on their softskills while improving their understanding of English, Malay and Mathematicsthrough fun learning activities developed by academic experts. There will be atotal of 20 sessions per year, along with a drama competition as the grandfinale to gauge the effectiveness of the Program. Additionally, field tripswere organized to provide hands on learning opportunities. The Company providessolutions to clients' needs and incorporates fun learning as a key developmentalgoal for their associates. This strategy of developing individuals through funlearning is incorporated in the Education Program.

Achievements and Impact

The Program aims to ensure that academicallychallenged pupils are not neglected and are continually empowered to learn.Apart from fun learning, the concept of the Mentor-Mentee program wasintroduced to increase the number of touch points between mentor and theircharge. Active class participation, analytical and creative thinking skills of thepupils' have gradually increased and this was well displayed during their finalperformance. The advantages of the Program is that pupils' are given a platformto share their thoughts and provide suggestions and this evident from thestoryline developed during their script play. A research was conducted by apool of independent researchers from the Teacher Training Institute. Thepurpose was to assess the effectiveness of the program. Positive outcome wasreported based on the research.

Future Direction

Spurred by the success of the Program, it is the Foundation's aim toexpand this program to schools that are located in rural areas. The Foundationis cognizant that the teaching modules are critical to the Program and willcontinue working with subject matter experts to improve the existing modules.The Foundation, in collaboration with IPGKBA, will be developing Train theTrainer Program to impart fun learning techniques to teachers who will carryout this programme for rural schools. Additionally, the module developed underthe Program is an open source and can be utilized by any other organization. Itis the Foundation's hope that with this, other organizations can leverage onthese modules by adopting a learning approach that is fun and beneficial totheir own program.

About Enterprise Asia

EnterpriseAsia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that isrich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressiveeconomic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its twopillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship.Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promotecompetitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economicstatus of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation andcourage for the future generation. For further information, visit www.enterpriseasia.org.

About Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards

The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards program recognizes and honorsAsian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurshipin the categories of Green Leadership, Investment in People, Health Promotion,Social Empowerment, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership andResponsible Business Leadership. For more information, visit: https://enterpriseasia.org/area/.