From Struggle To Success: Hazellina’s Story

Hazellina is no stranger to hardship. In the early months following her divorce, stress and fear trailed her like a shadow, constantly reminding her of her financial fragility. As a partially deaf single mother, she worked long hours as a masseuse to support her 5 children. In 2017, Hazellina took the jump and ventured into a mobile spa business to make ends meet. The pay wasn’t much, but it was enough to get by and take care of the living expenses.

Hazellina was already living paycheck to paycheck when COVID-19 struck. The government imposed Movement Control Order (MCO) made finding customers and entering their homes impossible, forcing her to close her business for months. Jobless and without a stable income, all those fears years earlier came rushing back. The thought of having to choose between paying rent or buying her children food kept her awake on most nights.

The switch to selling baked goods during the pandemic barely made a difference as she lacked sales skills and was clueless about social media. As a result, Hazellina’s home-based business struggled to survive amid competition and a tepid economy. Living off a measly RM100 a month was not sustainable in the long run and soon, she fell behind on her bills.

When Hazellina heard about the R.I.S.E. programme, she was excited about the prospect of a promising future for her and her family. Hazellina enjoyed the training, not only for the entrepreneurial skills she was learning, but also because it helped her to further conceptualise her business ideas.

Mastering the art of social media engagement was a learning curve for Hazellina, who said she has been paying more attention to her captions and what she posts on platforms. Following the advice of her mentor to “think from a customer’s perspective”, Hazellina’s Facebook page and WhatsApp started to flood with orders from customers. With the guidance of her mentor, she got onto various e-commerce platforms such as Sama-Sama Lokal to further promote her fledgling business.

Life has drastically improved since then, sales of her baked goods are steadily increasing and as the country slowly transitions into the new normal, Hazellina is excited about the idea of restarting her mobile spa. To Hazellina, the R.I.S.E. programme was much more than an entrepreneurship programme. It has given her the boost that she needed and the skills necessary to start a brand new chapter of life.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have questions about partnering with Maybank Foundation for BSAS 2027? Find out more about the programme, application requirements and selection process below.

A. About BSAS 2027

  1. What is the Balai Seni Art Series (BSAS)?
    The Balai Seni Art Series (BSAS) is a Maybank Foundation initiative that supports the development and appreciation of arts and culture through programmes that nurture artistic talent, preserve cultural heritage and create meaningful opportunities for arts and cultural practitioners and communities.

  1. What programmes are open for applications under BSAS 2027?
    Organisations may apply to partner with Maybank Foundation under any of the following programmes:

        • MyTIGER Values Art Competition (MTVAC)
        • Cultural Art Showcase and Bazaar (CASB)
        • Maybank Foundation Artist Fellowship Programme (MFAFP)
        • New Arts & Culture Programme – an open-concept programme for proposed arts and culture initiatives. 

  1. Can an organisation apply for more than one programme?
    Yes. Organisations may apply for one, multiple or all four programmes. A separate proposal, including the proposed approach, implementation plan and budget, must be submitted for each programme applied for.

B. Eligibility and Requirements

  1. Who is eligible to apply?
    Registered organisations with relevant experience and capabilities in arts, culture or creative programme delivery across ASEAN are invited to apply. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to develop, manage and deliver programmes aligned with the objectives of the selected BSAS programme.

  2. Can organisations based outside Malaysia apply?
    Yes. Eligible organisations from ASEAN Member States may apply. Organisations outside Malaysia should submit the equivalent legal registration or establishment documents recognised in their respective countries.

  3. Can an organisation apply if it has not previously partnered with Maybank Foundation?
    Yes. Organisations that have not previously worked with Maybank Foundation may apply, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and can demonstrate relevant experience, capabilities and a suitable approach to delivering the proposed programme.

  1. What should be included in the proposal deck?
    Each proposal deck should be tailored to the selected programme and include the following:

    1. Programme Overview: Proposed concept, objectives and alignment with the selected BSAS programme.
    2. Approach and Value Proposition: Programme design, delivery approach and the needs or opportunities addressed.
    3. Target Beneficiaries and Intended Impact: Target audience, expected reach, key outcomes and measurable impact.
    4. Scope of Work and Deliverables: Key activities, implementation plan, timeline, milestones and expected outputs.
    5. Partnership and Delivery Capability: Proposed team, relevant experience, key partners and resources required.
    6. Budget and Funding Request: Itemised budget, funding requested and any co-funding or other resources, where applicable.
    7. Sustainability and Scalability: Plans to sustain outcomes, extend impact or scale the programme beyond the implementation period.
    8. Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposed indicators and methods to track progress, measure results and report impact.

  1. What supporting documents must be submitted?
    Applicants should provide the required organisational information, relevant legal registration or establishment documents, and a proposal deck for each programme selected. Additional information or supporting documents may be requested during the assessment and due diligence processes.

C. How to Apply

  1. How can an organisation submit an application?
    Interested organisations should complete the BSAS 2027 Partner Application Form through the application link provided on Maybank Foundation’s website. Applicants must select their preferred programme(s) and upload the corresponding proposal deck for each programme.

  1. What is the application deadline?
    The application deadline is 8 November 2026, 11:59 PM MYT (UTC+8). Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications and supporting documents before the deadline to allow sufficient time for review.

  1. What happens after an application is submitted?
    Applications will undergo an evaluation process to assess their suitability for the selected programme. Shortlisted organisations may be contacted for further information, clarification or supporting documents and may be required to undergo Maybank Foundation’s due diligence, compliance checks and procurement processes.

  1. What happens if an application is incomplete or additional information is required?
    Maybank Foundation may request clarification, additional information or supporting documents where necessary. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their submissions are complete and that the information provided is accurate.

D. Evaluation and Selection

  1. How will applications be evaluated?
    Applications will be assessed based on their alignment with the objectives of the selected BSAS programme, the strength and relevance of the proposed concept, expected outcomes and impact, implementation approach, organisational capability, budget and overall feasibility.

  1. Does submitting an application guarantee selection or appointment as a programme partner?
    No. Submission of an application does not guarantee selection or appointment as a BSAS 2027 programme partner. All applications are subject to evaluation and the relevant approval, due diligence and procurement processes.

  1. When will successful applicants be notified?
    Applications will be evaluated from 9 November to 15 December 2026, with the selection outcomes scheduled for consideration by the Maybank Foundation Board. Further information on the announcement of successful applicants will be communicated when available.

E. General Enquiries

  1. Who can I contact if I have further questions?
    For enquiries regarding the BSAS 2027 Partner Application, please contact Maybank Foundation through the general enquiry in the “Who We Are” section provided on the website.