Brother’s ESG effort for special needs schools
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| Brother teams up with award-winning social enterprise to champion community sustainable farming, presenting the donation by (4th from right) Mr Jordon Hoong (熊正权), Deputy General Manager of Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd to Dr Billy Tang Chee Seng (邓志成), CEO & Founder of PWD Smartfarmability. |
Brother International Malaysia, a leading provider of innovative printing, labelling, and sewing solutions, announces a partnership with Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Smart FarmAbility, a multi-award-winning social enterprise, to address food insecurity and empower communities through regenerative agriculture.
Brother Malaysia goes beyond products, and takes its commitment to social responsibility seriously. As part of Brother CSR initiatives, it is sponsoring 40 units of organic regenerative vegetable terrariums, known as HOPE Boxes, to four special needs schools in the Klang Valley region. HOPE Boxes are part of its effort through regenerative agriculture, which is a way of farming that restores soil health for better nutrition to the school children.
Regenerative Agriculture avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides or any harmful chemicals, promoting better health for stunted, malnutrition children and non-communicable diseases consumers. This initiative aims to make nutritious food and food-growing skills more accessible to vulnerable communities such as the schools that Brother is supporting.
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| Committed to support the cause, (4th from right, back row) Mr Jordon Hoong (熊正权), Deputy General Manager of Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, (on wheelchair) Dr Billy Tang Chee Seng (邓志成), CEO & Founder of PWD Smartfarmability, together with the teachers and students of SMK Telok Gadong as well as from other three recipient schools of this program. |
The four special needs schools, namely, SMK Telok Gadong, SK Telok Gadong, SK Taman Gembira and SMK Dato Hamzah, will be equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, training and long-term monitoring to ensure they have continued a supply of fresh, nutrient-rich organic vegetables for consumption, reducing their financial burden given the rising food prices.
The PWD Smart FarmAbility team conducted a workshop for the teachers and students from the schools, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to empower participants with practical skills in regenerative soil management. This will foster self-sufficiency and contribute to healthier communities and healthier planet.
“This collaboration underscores our belief in the power of innovation and collaboration to drive positive change. By supporting regenerative agriculture, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for all,” says Mr Tsutomu Takaki, Managing Director of Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
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| Harvest season Teachers and students harvesting the vegetables grown by the students under the Brother Malaysia’s program for the schools. |
According to Dr Billy Tang, Paraplegic Farmer, Founder and CEO of PWD Smart FarmAbility, “We are thrilled to work with Brother Malaysia, a company renowned for its innovation and social responsibility. This partnership propels our programs to reach out further and empower more communities to experience the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.”
This HOPE Boxes initiative addresses key sustainability concerns such as combating food insecurity, promoting regenerative practices that improve soil health, mitigate climate change, and contribute to carbon sequestration, reducing malnutrition and minimising soil exhaustion, water wastage, agriculture runoff, and harm to biodiversity.
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| Harvesting the vegetable from the terrarium box, (left) Mr Lee Kern Sheng (李根深), Head of Marketing of Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Mr Jordon Hoong (熊正权), Deputy General Manager of Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, and Dr Billy Tang Chee Seng (邓志成), CEO & Founder of PWD Smartfarmability. |
“We believe that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the communities they serve. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to making a positive impact in Malaysia.” adds Mr Tsutomu Takaki.
