Cambodia as the fifth country participating in Maybank’s R.I.S.E programme, targets to uplift more than 1,000 individuals in 2025
Maybank, via its social impact arm Maybank Foundation, recently announced the official launch of its award-winning Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship (R.I.S.E.) programme in Cambodia. The event held at the Lively Plaza in AEON Mall, Phnom Penh, celebrated the achievements of three participants from the programme’s first batch, who demonstrated remarkable progress in increasing their income through this initiative.
Officiating the occasion was Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation and H.E. Dr Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, joined by H.E. Ung Sambath, Secretary General of Disability Action Council, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation. Also present at the event were H.E. Dr Shaharuddin Onn, Ambassador of Malaysia to Cambodia, Shariffuddin Khalid, Chairman of Maybank Cambodia, Rath Sophoan, CEO & Country Head of Maybank Cambodia, Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Maybank and Izlyn Ramli, CEO of Maybank Foundation.
Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani in his opening remarks highlighted that, “The expansion of the R.I.S.E. programme in Cambodia is timely, aligning with the development of the Group’s regional operations and one of its sustainability goals which is to improve the lives of 2 million households across ASEAN in 2025. Anchored by the successes that we have achieved across the ASEAN region, our programme has demonstrated a tangible impact—fostering entrepreneurship, economic independence, and greater inclusion for the disadvantaged community.”
The event hosted a prize-giving ceremony to honour the top three participants that has shown exceptional growth in their businesses and income. Each recipient was awarded a certificate and a commemorative plaque as a testament to their dedication and success. The venue also featured a marketplace displaying booths set up by R.I.S.E. participants, who showcased and sold products such as textiles, handicrafts, and food items, allowing them to earn supplementary incomes.
Keo Rachana, a beneficiary from Siem Reap and one of the honourees, said “R.I.S.E. has helped lay a strong foundation for future success by providing the necessary tools and skills for my business to thrive in a competitive market. With the increase in income, I’m now able to provide a more comfortable life for my family. In addition, through this success, I’ve also managed to pay it forward by providing job opportunities to other disabled and marginalised people in the community.”
To date, the R.I.S.E. programme has empowered 1,252 individuals in Cambodia, with the top 40% of those trained achieving an average monthly income increase of 331.39% from USD 5.01 to USD 21.61, having transformed into self-reliant entrepreneurs. In 2023, Maybank Foundation signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) and Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), separately, to further enhance income opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and disadvantaged communities in the country.
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 where they will develop their 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.
Rath Sophoan, CEO & Country Head of Maybank Cambodia emphasised that the R.I.S.E. programme’s benefits extends beyond the beneficiary.
“Often, the increase in household income leads to improvements, not just in the lives of the participants but will also create a ripple effect on their families and the communities. R.I.S.E. offers a platform where participants are able to thrive and not let financial struggles be a deterrence to achieving their dreams.” said Rath Sophoan.
“As we embark on this new chapter in Cambodia, our hope is that this programme will foster more success stories, cultivate a culture of inclusion, and empower individuals to see their ability where others may see it as a limitation. We are excited about the possibilities that this programme will bring and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community for years to come.” added Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani.
Since 2014, the R.I.S.E. programme has transformed the lives of more than 41,000 participants across six countries in the ASEAN region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore. Building upon these achievements, Maybank Foundation aims to uplift more than 1,000 individuals in 2025, by targeting new provinces in Cambodia, and more in the following years.
Maybank Foundation has established itself to be 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 540,000 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.
