KUALA LUMPUR: Yayasan Hasanah (Hasanah), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Khazanah Nasional Bhd, has been setting an example in pioneering sustainable works in addressing community and social issues in the country.
Although it was officially established in 2015, the foundation was laid out from CSR activities that Khazanah had been doing for the past 10 years.
Four years on, Hasanah is now working with more than 54 partners, helping more than 350,000 beneficiaries in five areas: education, community development, environment, arts and public spaces, and knowledge (research).
Each focus area was designed and developed based on the needs of the nation.
Hasanah managing director Shahira Ahmed Bazari said it took a lot of unlearning and relearning for the foundation to become an independent entity in 2015.
“Khazanah had been doing CSR initiatives, and we just continued that legacy through the foundation.
“However, as a CSR unit in a corporate organisation, our mindset had to change. It meant that we needed to look at sustainability and be a responsible business.
“The way in which you do and tell the story is different in the non-profit sector. So, when we became a foundation, we had to unlearn and relearn, and continue that learning on how we are going to make ourselves sustainable,” she told the New Straits Times recently.
Shahira added that during the first part of Hasanah’s journey as an independent entity, it was all about remaining relevant in the work it had been doing before.
“This also meant shifting from a business mindset to one that is social-oriented. We had to rewire ourselves since the way we had been thinking was different.
“We had to set up a strong base for the foundation as we were the pioneering team. We set up the standard operating procedures and code of conduct for future leaders running the foundation.
“The foundation was set up to exist in perpetuity. With God’s blessings and a strong base, we believe it will remain relevant for many years to come.”
Shahira said 60 per cent of the grants given out by Hasanah went to education, as it believed that this was the key component in building a skilled nation.
“Through education, human capital development can be realised,” she said.
Among the organisations that Hasanah worked with were the Pintar Foundation, Teach for Malaysia, MySkills Foundation and Yayasan Amir.
She said projects supported by Hasanah also aimed to develop human capital for the nation, in line with sister company Khazanah’s legacy.
“We do it through different ways. We have the Trust School Programme, where we develop human capital or discover people’s potential in primary and secondary schools.
“At the tertiary level, we develop it through Yayasan Khazanah, a premier scholarship provider, where successful and bright students go through leadership development throughout their journey.
“On top of that, human capital development is conducted through on-the-job training in government-linked companies and companies under Khazanah.”
Hasanah contributed to 15 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through solutions that empowered communities, encouraged social inclusiveness, and improved the environment.
Based on the SDGs, the foundation was able to work on the right track, focusing on being impactful to the community and the nation.
Shahira said the foundation welcomed the launch of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, which she said was something that had been practised by entities in Khazanah.
“The philosophy on Shared Prosperity is about inclusive growth and development, leaving no one behind while providing equal opportunities for everyone.
“We are happy to say this is what we have advocated for, and have been doing all along. When Hasanah was set up, its focus was on value creation and distribution.
“In itself, it’s all about inclusiveness and responsible business.”
Shahira hoped the Shared Prosperity Vision would be supported by robust policies to ensure that nobody got left behind.
As an impact-based CSR foundation for Khazanah, Shahira advised companies to form a long-term view when it comes to social contributions.
“You can’t really make an impact in a year or two. Some of our projects are almost eight to 10 years old, and we are still at it. We can’t even say we’ve accomplished it. What companies can do is speak to their board members. If they want to see a bigger impact, it has to be over the long term.”
She advised companies not to be too ambitious, trying to do too many projects at a time.
“If you have limited resources, focus on one or two areas you want to be known for. For example, if you choose to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), then focus on education. Do not mix it with environment and everything else just so you can fulfil the criteria where CSR projects are conducted.
“By being focused, you can create a bigger impact with your CSR works, which in turn, will benefit the community and the nation.”