R.I.S.E transforms over 49,000 lives across six countries in the ASEAN region
In conjunction with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Maybank, via its social impact arm Maybank Foundation, commemorated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) with an event highlighting Maybank’s long-standing commitment to advancing inclusion across ASEAN namely its award-winning Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship (R.I.S.E.) programme.
The celebration, themed “Empowering Lives, Expanding Horizons,” featured the official launch of the R.I.S.E. book titled, “Breaking Barriers & Building Futures: A R.I.S.E. journey of empowering PWDs to Reach Independence through Sustainable Entrepreneurship”. The richly illustrated volume chronicles R.I.S.E.’s humble beginnings, its steady growth across ASEAN, and the milestones that have shaped its progress.
Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation, in his speech said the book goes beyond just being a record of the programme’s achievements, that “at the heart of it are the stories of our R.I.S.E. participants. Narratives that reflect unwavering determination, courage in the face of adversity, and the remarkable resilience that defines their journeys”.
Adding further significance to the publication, YB Dato‘ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, has also contributed a special foreword. Her message underscores the importance of inclusion, the value of cross sector collaboration and the potential of programmes like R.I.S.E. to support national aspirations for a more equitable society.
The momentous occasion was officiated by Dato‘ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation, and was joined by Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh, President & Group CEO of Maybank. Also present were Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Edward Vkric, Resident Representative, UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Maybank’s Board of Directors and Senior Management, members of the Maybank Foundation Board of Trustees, Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Maybank and Izlyn Ramli, Head of Group Corporate Affairs and CEO of Maybank Foundation.
Speaking at the event, YB Dato‘ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri said “Inclusion is not charity — it is nation-building. When we open doors for persons with disabilities, we strengthen Malaysia’s future.”
In a moving panel discussion, several alumni of the R.I.S.E. programme from across the region, shared their personal journeys with the audience, detailing life before R.I.S.E. to where they are today. Participants spoke candidly about the barriers they once faced whether in the form of societal stigma or financial insecurity and how the training, mentoring, and peer support offered by R.I.S.E. helped them chart a new path.
“Before R.I.S.E., I struggled to find employment due to my disability,” confessed Mohd Firdaus. “But thanks to the programme, I was able to turn my passion into a self-sustaining and income generating business.”
Meanwhile, Khaek Khamsombath described how R.I.S.E. changed the way she viewed herself, not as someone limited by circumstances, but as someone capable of shaping her own future and lifting others alongside her. “R.I.S.E. gave me the confidence to rebuild my life. Today, I can support myself and in doing so, I can also encourage others like me to believe in their own potential,” said Khaek.
In May this year, Maybank had the honour of welcoming YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the R.I.S.E. programme. The event was marked by a prize-giving ceremony recognising the top five participants from across the ASEAN region who demonstrated exceptional growth in their businesses and income.
The R.I.S.E. programme is designed to support disadvantaged communities, particularly disabled individuals, by helping them grow their income and become financially independent. Throughout the programme’s duration, participants attend a three-day entrepreneurship training session covering topics such as customer analysis and business profiling, followed by a six-month mentoring period, during which they acquire entrepreneurial skills in areas such as sales strategies and operations planning, to help them achieve higher income levels and improve their overall standard of living.
Originally piloted in Malaysia in 2014, the R.I.S.E. programme, together with its programme partner People Systems Consultancy (PSC), has transformed the lives of more than 49,000 participants across six countries in the ASEAN region, including Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore. To date, the top 40% of those trained have achieved an average monthly income increase of 329.50% from USD74.80 to USD321.25, having transformed into self-reliant entrepreneurs. The independent validation exercise of the R.I.S.E. programme is carried out by the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
“As we celebrate a decade of impact, we also renew our possibilities to scale deeper, innovate further, and reach the most vulnerable groups in our society, ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for inclusive social development,” added Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa.
Maybank Foundation has established itself as a regional social impact organisation, actively supporting Maybank’s mission of Humanising Financial Services. In ensuring to be a force for good, while positively impacting the communities it serves, Maybank Foundation has touched more than 600,000 lives since 2013. This has led to it being accorded ASEAN accreditation status, underscoring Maybank’s dedication to creating meaningful, measurable, and long-term sustainable impact across the region.
The momentous occasion was officiated by Dato‘ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation, and was joined by Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh, President & Group CEO of Maybank. Also present were Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Edward Vkric, Resident Representative, UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Maybank’s Board of Directors and Senior Management, members of the Maybank Foundation Board of Trustees, Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Maybank and Izlyn Ramli, Head of Group Corporate Affairs and CEO of Maybank Foundation.
Speaking at the event, YB Dato‘ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri said “Inclusion is not charity — it is nation-building. When we open doors for persons with disabilities, we strengthen Malaysia’s future.”
In a moving panel discussion, several alumni of the R.I.S.E. programme from across the region, shared their personal journeys with the audience, detailing life before R.I.S.E. to where they are today. Participants spoke candidly about the barriers they once faced whether in the form of societal stigma or financial insecurity and how the training, mentoring, and peer support offered by R.I.S.E. helped them chart a new path.
“Before R.I.S.E., I struggled to find employment due to my disability,” confessed Mohd Firdaus. “But thanks to the programme, I was able to turn my passion into a self-sustaining and income generating business.”
Meanwhile, Khaek Khamsombath described how R.I.S.E. changed the way she viewed herself, not as someone limited by circumstances, but as someone capable of shaping her own future and lifting others alongside her. “R.I.S.E. gave me the confidence to rebuild my life. Today, I can support myself and in doing so, I can also encourage others like me to believe in their own potential,” said Khaek.
In May this year, Maybank had the honour of welcoming YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the R.I.S.E. programme. The event was marked by a prize-giving ceremony recognising the top five participants from across the ASEAN region who demonstrated exceptional growth in their businesses and income.
The R.I.S.E. programme is designed to support disadvantaged communities, particularly disabled individuals, by helping them grow their income and become financially independent. Throughout the programme’s duration, participants attend a three-day entrepreneurship training session covering topics such as customer analysis and business profiling, followed by a six-month mentoring period, during which they acquire entrepreneurial skills in areas such as sales strategies and operations planning, to help them achieve higher income levels and improve their overall standard of living.
Originally piloted in Malaysia in 2014, the R.I.S.E. programme, together with its programme partner People Systems Consultancy (PSC), has transformed the lives of more than 49,000 participants across six countries in the ASEAN region, including Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore. To date, the top 40% of those trained have achieved an average monthly income increase of 329.50% from USD74.80 to USD321.25, having transformed into self-reliant entrepreneurs. The independent validation exercise of the R.I.S.E. programme is carried out by the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
“As we celebrate a decade of impact, we also renew our possibilities to scale deeper, innovate further, and reach the most vulnerable groups in our society, ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for inclusive social development,” added Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa.
Maybank Foundation has established itself as a regional social impact organisation, actively supporting Maybank’s mission of Humanising Financial Services. In ensuring to be a force for good, while positively impacting the communities it serves, Maybank Foundation has touched more than 600,000 lives since 2013. This has led to it being accorded ASEAN accreditation status, underscoring Maybank’s dedication to creating meaningful, measurable, and long-term sustainable impact across the region.