MaGIC SE Amplify Awards gives $300k to 9 Social Entrepreneurs

The Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre Social Entrepreneurship (MaGIC SE) has announced nine recipients of the Amplify Awards, recognising social enterprises that address pressing challenges in Malaysia.

The award, which comes with a grant of up to RM 150,000 each, also acts as a platform for the selected social entrepreneurs to scale up their enterprises. In total, MaGIC is awarding RM 1.3 million to the selected social entrepreneurs.

The nine recipients are a good representation of social enterprises focusing on socio-economic activities, agriculture, women empowerment, development of underserved groups, up-cycling and preservation of natural resources and, physically handicapped groups, MaGIC SE said.

The recipients were The Truly Loving Company (TLC) Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Ms Julia Chong Chooi Fong, Lembah Bujang Ecopark Director Encik Fathee Aizat, TBB Batik Boutique Founder Ms Kylin Kwan, Heart Treasures Sdn Bhd Founder and Managing Director Mr Kiew Boon Siew, Tanoti Sdn Bhd Director Ms Jacqueline Fong Yean Yee, Dialogue in the Dark Sdn Bhd Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mr Steven Chan Kum Fai, MangoChilli Chief Happiness Officer Mr Ronald Khoo Swee Keat, ANB Agro Trainer/ Founder Mr Gugen Navamani, and Biji Design Sdn Bhd Founder and Creative Director Encik Syaril Azam.

Nearly 31 enterprises submitted their applications for the awards grant.

In 2014, MaGIC SE made a commitment of RM 500,000 to five social enterprises to help them grow and scale up.

MaGIC SE Executive Director Mr Ehon Chan, an Australian University Alumnus said that MaGIC SE’s mandate is to empower a movement for social entrepreneurship to be a key national agenda and champion the growth of social enterprises in the country. “In Malaysia, it is estimated that there are now 150 social enterprises operating mostly in the areas of education, poverty, rural development and environmental sustainability, employment for the marginalised, and at-risk youth,” he said.

The MAAC President, Ms Pat PW Yeoh was invited as a VIP guest to the 2015 Amplify Awards Ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Kuala Lumpur on 17th December 2015.