KOTA KINABALU: A young baking and pastry student has been using her vocational skills to help women generate income.
With the help of teachers, Nurul Nazieha Jasnie, 19, from Keningau Vocational College, led her peers to start a baking class for single mothers and women from low-income backgrounds in rural areas in 2021.
The women learn how to bake cakes and other types of desserts by using affordable ingredients.
The goal was to help them generate income by starting their own businesses with the newly gained skills, she said.
Nurul, from Kampung Taun Gusi, Kota Belud, also joined several fundraising sales to raise money to finance her peers' participation in baking competitions in Sarawak and West Malaysia.
She led her team to take part in several competitions and conferences to boost their skills and help them gain some recognition.
Nurul has established herself as an entrepreneur with her cookie business, Tiaa Cookie.
Since Tiaa Cookie's launch three years ago, she has constantly improved her business strategy, allowing her to be financially self-sufficient and enabling her to rope in her classmates as business partners.
This led to her being shortlisted as one of the top 50 finalists for the Global Student Prize 2023. Another Malaysian student who has been shortlisted is Kenneth Chong.
The prestigious award is given annually to exceptional students who have made a huge impact on learning, their peers and society.
Last year, Alesyah Asa from the same college made it into the top 10 for the award, given by the Varkey Foundation and Chegg.org.
"I still can't believe I was shortlisted. Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), I'm so grateful for this achievement. I hope I can make it to the top 10 and win the Global Student Prize 2023.
"If I were to win the prize, insyaAllah (God willing), I would use the funds to expand my business and transform it into a social enterprise. I want to continue to perform more good deeds, helping others generate income.
"My goal is to create more jobs and help lower the unemployment rate," she told the New Straits Times enthusiastically.
Nurul said she was determined to become a successful person, adding that she would pursue a bachelor's degree.
Keningau Vocational College director Christine Stanislaus Kinsik said she was proud of Nurul's achievement.
She believed the shortlisting for the prestigious prize would bolster the employability of vocational college graduates.
The winner of the Global Student Prize is expected to be announced next month.