This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 19, 2015.

Eco World Development Group Bhd

For Eco World Development Group Bhd, charity is more than just a means to an end.

With an emphasis on education, Eco World Development prides itself on its staff’s volunteer initiatives through its EcoWorld Foundation to help children from lower-income households make concrete strides in life.

“We believe that everybody deserves an equal opportunity,” Eco World executive director Datuk Voon Tin Yow told The Edge in a recent interview.

“If you don’t have the proper education, you will be perpetually disadvantaged,” he adds.

However, Voon said EcoWorld holds the principle that it is more than just funds that make a difference in a child’s education.

EcoWorld does this by getting its 360 employees who volunteer for the foundation to hold activities for underprivileged children, monitor their progress and also motivate them to do better in school.

 “A lot of organisations give out scholarships to underprivileged children for tertiary education but many do not even have the chance to get there,” he said.

“It is just not just purely raising funds and then giving them out, but also a commitment to make a difference in the results, to make a change.

 “We also visit the families, see what their needs are and look at how we can provide school provisions. We conduct school and motivational camps too,” he says.

Eco World Foundation is now supporting some 3,000 students at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels every year.

But EcoWorld goes beyond conducting corporate responsibility (CR) through its foundation.

This year, Voon will be running in the CEO category alongside Eco World chief operating officer S Sundarajoo in The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race. 

He has been an ardent supporter of the race since its inception, and has been taking part in it every year.

He said participation is a boon to the company as well as on a personal level.

“On a personal level, you need a lot of discipline to join every year because you need to maintain a minimum level of fitness in order to be able to run,” he said.

“As a company, it is an opportunity for us to contribute [to society] by supporting The Edge for charity. I think we share a similar philosophy to give back to society, to take time to do our part for society other than just focusing on business.’

This year, EcoWorld has two teams in the open category while another four teams will be running in the mixed category. 

Feruni Ceramiche Sdn Bhd

Feruni Ceramiche managing director C C Ngei has been running in The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race for a number of years now and sees it as part of his responsibility.

“What drives me to keep participating is knowing that I can help to raise funds and bring awareness to charitable causes,” he says.

“At the moment, CR efforts in the country are still not very significant and I hope we will be able to change that.”

Ngei, who will be running in the CEO Race, says the event is a good concept as employees will want to emulate those at the management level participating in it.

“They will be inspired to follow suit. It really helps to set a good example in the company,” he says.

Feruni has made significant headway in its CR efforts, contributing to the education sector via sponsorships for Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) and building schools as well as amenities in various neighbourhoods.

This year, Feruni is a gold sponsor for the race and will send three teams for the mixed category.