SIME Darby Volunteers Programme (SDVP), which was launched in April 2011, was inspired by the company’s employees.

“Sime Darby believes that one of its greatest assets is its employees. If not for our employees, we wouldn’t have the business that is running today,” said Nadiah Hanim Abdul Latif, 33, head of corporate social responsibility in Sime Darby Bhd.

“SDVP serves as an outlet for the employees to express themselves through noble causes. We hope our employees will use it to channel their energy to various causes that they are interested in.”

To date, SDVP has clocked in 10,000 volunteer hours from its 60 projects. Close to 1,600 employees have signed up as volunteers.

Nadiah said the secret to maintaining a volunteer programme is through its employees.

“A lot of volunteers have been asking ‘what’s next?’, ‘what’s in store?’ We tell our volunteers that they can own the programme and take the initiative to keep their chosen cause going.”

Under SDVP, employees are also encouraged to pitch in their own ideas for a project of their choice.

“With Pitch Your Own Project (PYOP), we want to support the ideas of our volunteers. We provide infrastructure support, management support and funding. We work on the idea together and then it becomes a project that is supported by the company.

“PYOP is based on a simple premise: Sime Darby wants to support its employees’ interest as individuals,” said Nadiah.

Besides PYOP, there is ROAR (Reach Out and Read) – an initiative under SDVP’s Reach Out Series in which employees get to spend time with young patients at a hospital.

ROAR programmes are carried out at the Paediatric Institute at Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Each volunteering session is limited to 20 participants.

“The Reach Out Series focuses on community engagement with children and enables volunteers to experience what it is like to care for young patients,” said Nadiah.

According to Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan, employees can benefit from their company’s volunteer programmes.

“Employee volunteer programmes (EVP) help instil discipline and encourage participants to put their self-interest aside. Such programmes also develop solidarity and team spirit among the staff,” said Shamsuddin. “For an EVP to work, it should be mutually beneficial to employer and employee.”

He added that employers can start by addressing the needs of nearby communities. – Angelin Yeoh

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