Kuala Lumpur (31 May 2016) — Microsoft Malaysia has launched “Tech4Good” – an initiative aimed at providing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the technology, knowledge, community and resources they need to fulfil their missions. Tech4Good provides a platform for NGOs to have access to world-class solutions and technology that support their efforts in serving their communities, including youth, women, undocumented children and persons with disabilities.
Activities under the initiative were held during Tech4Good Day at Microsoft Malaysia, which showcased best practices, tech tips and tricks, and case studies on leveraging Microsoft technologies to more than 100 NGOs. Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Yang Berhormat Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun launched Tech4Good and commended Microsoft for its efforts in supporting NGOs with 21st century technology and resources for their digital transformation.
“Empowering NGOs is in tandem with the Government’s ambition to accelerate Malaysia towards being a high income nation through innovation and transformation. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development recognizes the contribution of NGOs in driving developmental activities which has brought sustainable change for various communities. We believe that by leveraging technology, NGOs can scale up operations; be more efficient; increase reach; deliver effective results; and hence realize the goals they are meant to. Microsoft has put in place sustainable programs that invests in communities and I am encouraged that programs like Tech4Good take on a 360 degrees approach through its private-public-people collaborations.”
Md. Ghani Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Salam Malaysia, echoed the sentiment, “Technology has changed the world and the way we communicate, and being at the forefront of this evolution will help modernize the way our volunteers work to bring about change. We are proud and very happy to partner Microsoft and benefit from its technologies, which will break down borders for our volunteers serving at home and overseas to help people and communities in need.”
Yayasan Salam Malaysia, which is Microsoft Malaysia’s Capacity Building Partner for Tech4Good 2016, will have an ongoing partnership with the tech giant beyond today’s event as the organization seeks to inculcate 21st century technology and initiatives, which include Office365 workshops and webinars, to benefit not only those within the organization, but also the communities it serves.
Tech4Good is part of Microsoft Malaysia’s Philanthropy Week, the wider campaign that runs from 28 May to 12 June. The campaign includes collaborations with private and nonprofit entities, such as Kidzania, PS The Children, Gorgeous Geeks, Yayasan Generasi Gemilang, Taylor’s University, and Yayasan Salam Malaysia, with the aim of empowering and enabling NGOs as well as youth, and embracing diversity.
“At Microsoft, we invest our greatest assets in digital inclusion programs and partnerships to help deliver the benefits of technology to every person and every organization on the planet, and this includes non-profit entities. That is the idea behind Microsoft Philanthropies, a new organization within Microsoft that will bring to life our expanded ambition and commitment to corporate philanthropy,” said K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia. “We are bringing the same ideal to Malaysia through the Philanthropy Week campaign – connecting the benefits of technology to those who need them most.”
Empowering Modern NGOs to partner Malaysia
Local NGO Yayasan Generasi Gemilang was another recipient of Microsoft’s technology donations. Established in 2010, their mission is focused on four main pillars – community development, youth development, counselling and care, and strategic alliances, all of which serve to build human capital for a better tomorrow. Generasi Gemilang is committed to investing in the lives of future generations and strengthening families, and have since impacted tens of thousands of Malaysian lives. At the heart of all this, technology is crucial to the operation and execution of their mission. The technology donations from Microsoft were exactly what the NGO needed to take its cause to the next level – achieving operational efficiency as well as mitigating impacts from manpower and financial resource constraints.
Yet another NGO which leveraged Microsoft’s technology donations was international charitable organization, The Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (“Tzu Chi”). Tzu Chi, which literally means “Compassionate Relief”, opened its first branch in Malaysia in 1993 and is now one of Malaysia’s largest NGO – delivering a wide range of humanitarian, medical, educational and welfare programs. In early 2013, Tzu Chi leveraged a special licensing arrangement with Microsoft and standardized its entire infrastructure on an up-to-date Microsoft stack, which included Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Active Directory and Windows Server.
Raman was delighted that more NGOs like Yayasan Salam Malaysia, Yayasan Generasi Gemilang and Tzu Chi are benefiting from Microsoft’s technology donations to advance their mission, saying, “We have donated more than US$922 million in software and services to more than 120,000 NGOs and nonprofits globally, including more than 1 million new Office 365 licenses for nonprofit workers and their strategic volunteers, and surpassing the US$1 billion in total company annual giving for the second year in a row. That is what Microsoft has been doing in Malaysia as well for more than 20 years – working together with the government, the corporate sector and NGOs to create real impact and open up opportunities for the next generation of Malaysians through inclusiveness and diversity.”
To find out more about how Microsoft Philanthropies reinvents productivity for NGOs through programs, initiatives and technology donations, get started at here.
