1.4 – Community anti-poverty programmes

1.4.2 – Local Start-Up Financial Assistance

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) actively provides financial assistance to local communities, particularly in supporting the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses. Through various programs, UKM offers funding, mentorship and training opportunities, empowering entrepreneurs to establish ventures that are both economically viable and socially responsible. These initiatives are designed to create long-term sustainability while addressing the community’s needs, ensuring businesses can thrive and contribute to local socio-economic development.

1. Special Khidmat Budi Fund (Tabung Khas Khidmat Budi)

The Special Khidmat Budi Fund is a platform developed to enhance funding and volunteer activities aimed at supporting the community and society. The objective of establishing the Special Khidmat Budi Fund is to assist various communities, including students, indigenous people, single mothers, the elderly, orphans, and individuals with disabilities, as well as other communities that will be considered from time to time. As of 2024, the total amount collected in this fund was RM 578,669.48.

2. The Grow Green Guys: Solar Power Catalyst for Sustainable Urban Farming

On 8th June 2024, UKM Graduate School of Business through MBA Sustainability Symposium organized The Grow Green Guys: Solar Power Catalyst for Sustainable Urban Farming project. This program aims to assist the local community in developing financially and socially sustainable businesses. The program successfully raised RM20,000, which was then channeled to the community at Kebun Komuniti KRT PPR Beringin through the installation of a solar power system in the area. The RM20,000 solar installation significantly reduced the community’s electricity expenses for irrigation and farming operations, allowing the savings to be reinvested into expanding crop production and marketing activities. The energy cost savings directly improved the community’s profit margins, while the collaborative management of the solar-powered urban farm strengthened social cohesion, collective responsibility, and shared economic benefits among participants. Through the installation, the initiative promotes renewable energy adoption while reducing operational costs for community-based urban farming. Supported by industry sponsors such as UMW Corporation and TRD Energy, the project not only raises awareness about clean energy but also equips participants with the knowledge to apply solar solutions in agriculture. By integrating sustainability education with practical implementation, it empowers residents to generate stable income through eco-friendly farming practices, enhances community self-reliance, and fosters long-term economic and environmental resilience.

3. Community Empowerment Programme

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through the Community Empowerment Programme of the Ministry of Finance – Public Universities (Komuniti@UniMADANI), has played a significant role in supporting the establishment of financially and socially sustainable community businesses. In 2024, a total of five UKM-led projects received approval and funding from the Ministry of Finance amounting to RM499,990.00. These projects focus on empowering various community groups through innovative, income-generating, and sustainable initiatives. The programmes are:

1. “3D Printed Denture Project for Urban Poor Communities” by the Faculty of Dentistry, which provides affordable dental solutions while developing community-based dental enterprises;  
2. “Black Soldier Fly Larvae Farming Project” by the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, which promotes waste reduction and sustainable livestock feed production;  
3. “Empowerdeaf – Entrepreneurship and Food Technology Training” project by the Faculty of Health Sciences, which equips the deaf community with entrepreneurial and technical skills to start small businesses; 
4. “Addressing Obesity – Intervention and Use of Wearables Towards a Healthy, Prosperous, and Madani Community” project by UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute which aimed to provide understanding of the importance and benefits of practicing a healthy lifestyle and to raise awareness about obesity among the community;
5. “Strengthening the supply of fresh vegetables and income sources for urban communities” project by Faculty of Science and Technology which aims to improve community health while creating new livelihood opportunities;.

Through these initiatives, UKM strengthens community self-reliance, nurtures local entrepreneurship, and supports inclusive economic growth, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty).

UKM continues to demonstrate strong leadership in empowering local communities through financial assistance and sustainable entrepreneurship initiatives. Through programs such as the Special Khidmat Budi Fund, Grow Green Guys: Solar Power Catalyst for Sustainable Urban Farming, and the Community Empowerment Programme (Komuniti@UniMADANI), UKM provides financial aid, training, and technical guidance to help communities build self-sustaining, socially responsible enterprises. In 2024, the Special Khidmat Budi Fund raised RM578,669.48 to support marginalized groups including single mothers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Meanwhile, the Grow Green Guys project invested RM20,000 in solar-powered urban farming to promote clean energy and income generation. Additionally, five UKM-led Komuniti@UniMADANI projects received RM499,990.00 from the Ministry of Finance to empower communities through innovative ventures such as 3D dental printing, black soldier fly larvae farming, and entrepreneurship training for the deaf. Collectively, these initiatives enhance financial independence, environmental sustainability, and social well-being, directly advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty).