OUR PROGRAMMES

Shaping Digital Futures

Designed to prepare Malaysian youth for the digital economy, #SeKODlah TecHive entered its third year of empowering young talent, bringing together 35 participants for a 26-day bootcamp covering programming, cybersecurity, data analytics, data visualisation, generative AI, soft skills, and financial literacy.

Participants also visited CIMB for industry sharing sessions with colleagues from Group Technology and Group Data & AI, as well as CIMB Foundation CEO, En. Shahriman Mohd Shariff. The programme concluded with the #SeKODlah TecHive Hackathon, where participants applied their knowledge to solve real-world challenges and pitch innovative solutions.

With the completion of its third cohort, #SeKODlah TecHive has empowered 94 young Malaysians with future-ready digital skills, strengthening the pipeline of digital talent for Malaysia's evolving economy.

Crafting Brighter Futures Through Pottery and Craft

Pottery Apprenticeship is a three-month, full-time apprenticeship programme that equips participants with pottery, design, and business skills to create and market pottery products. Through employment pathways, retail partnerships, and microbusiness opportunities, the programme empowers participants to build sustainable livelihoods. A total of nine students successfully completed the programme.

Empowering Micro and Nano-Entrepreneurs

CIMB MicroBiz Ready Entrepreneurship Programme, which began in 2020, is a specialized entrepreneurship initiative centered on digitalisation skills enhancement and financial access education to facilitate the growth and development growth of micro and nano-entrepreneurs. This year, a total of 120 micro and nano-entrepreneurs of low income backgrounds from Klang Valley, Perlis and Johor will receive various support to foster their business development and sustainability.

Supporting Women To Create and Grow Home-Based Businesses.

In collaboration with Komuniti Tukang Jahit, a community-based network of local tailors, the Upskill Sewing Programme empowered women from underserved and low-income communities in the Klang Valley with advanced sewing skills, exposure to design innovation and opportunities for a new income stream.

The programme onboarded 34 participants, of whom 22 completed the training. Among the graduates, 18 continued to take sewing orders, with an average monthly earning of RM494, nearly double the initial target. The majority of graduates can now produce commercial-grade products and a few are ready to expand into home-based enterprises.

Inclusive Growth for 10 Special Needs Youths

Our collaboration with Infinite Minds Academy empowers 10 special needs youths from B40 backgrounds with essential digital skills in graphic design, animation, and more, to enable them to gain employment opportunities and financial independence.

Strengthening Skills Through Real-World Tech Learning

In partnership with the Forest Interactive Foundation, CIMB supported the #seKODlah TecHive Digital Technology Upskilling Programme to develop Malaysia’s talent pool for the technology and innovation sectors. This initiative included workshops and activities such as TechBoot Camp and Hackathons, combining coding, data analytics and problem-solving with exposure to real industry practices.

In 2025, the programme benefitted 34 participants, providing them with technical and soft skills for the digital economy, with participants reporting greater motivation and a sense of purpose after applying their new skills to real-world projects. Following the programme, 23 out of 34 participants received job offers and half are now employed in the digital sector.

Empowering Senior Citizens Through Financial Knowledge and Confidence

Supporting seniors with the knowledge and tools to navigate everyday financial matters, the Financial Literacy for Senior Citizens programme was conducted at PAWE Paya Jaras, PAWE Setia Alam, and PAWE Lembah Pantai, benefiting a total of 90 senior citizens across the three centres.

Through interactive learning sessions, participants gained practical guidance on budgeting, scam awareness and prevention, financial well-being, supplementary income opportunities, and navigating family financial discussions. The programme aims to strengthen financial confidence, independence, and security among seniors as they manage their everyday finances.

Empowering Future-Ready Students Through Digital Access

The Sekolah Angkat MADANI initiative reflects CIMB Foundation's commitment to bridging the digital divide and creating better learning opportunities for students.

Through the provision of laptops and television sets to adopted schools, CIMB Foundation supports more interactive learning experiences and ensures that students have greater access to the digital tools needed for their education.

Together, these efforts advance digital inclusion and equip the next generation with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to thrive in a digital future.

Equipping Primary Students Nationwide Through Financial Literacy and Social Entrepreneurship

FINCO Good SENS Student Training empowered 200 primary students across Malaysia with essential financial literacy and social entrepreneurship skills through interactive learning experiences. Participants explored responsible money management, developed innovative solutions to social challenges, and strengthened their confidence, collaboration, and entrepreneurial mindset. By combining financial education with entrepreneurial thinking, the programme equips young people with the knowledge and skills needed to drive positive change in their communities.

Expanding Access To Higher Education for Underserved Youth

Developed in partnership with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Closing The Gap (CTG) programme supports Malaysia’s goal of equitable access to higher education. The initiative focuses on enabling high-potential youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to overcome systemic barriers and pursue ambitious academic pathways. Through structured mentoring, guidance and experiential learning, CTG equips students with the confidence, skills and resources to navigate their post-SPM journey (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, Malaysia’s national secondary school examination) — transforming aspirations into attainable goals.

In 2025, 65 scholars participated in the University Residential Camp at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. The immersive five-day programme exposed students to eight academic streams and offered 32 tutorial sessions that simulated real university classes. Participants also engaged in practical workshops covering résumé writing, scholarship interviews and presentation skills. By the end of the camp, 92% of students reported feeling better prepared to navigate their post-SPM pathways.

Beyond academic exposure, the camp also focused on strengthening essential life skills, helping students to develop critical thinking, teamwork and stress-management skills and equipping them with the confidence and resilience needed to thrive in higher education and their future careers.

Shaping Future Malaysian Leaders Across Universities in Malaysia

Launched in Malaysia in 2016, Be$MART is our flagship financial literacy initiative designed for university and college students, equipping them with essential financial planning skills. Delivered as a just-in-time programme, it engages youth at a pivotal transition point as they prepare to enter the workforce. Through engaging, interactive workshops, the programme equips participants with practical skills in budgeting, saving, investing, debt management, financial protection and fraud awareness.

Over the years, the programme has reached more than 23,000 students, including over 2,000 individuals across seven cohorts in 2025.

Be$MART was also replicated in Indonesia as a dedicated financial literacy programme for CIMB Niaga’s local university scholarship awardees. 41 awardees from 22 universities participated in the Be$MART Advance Level programme, which introduced investment concepts and money-laundering awareness, with support from the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center. Meanwhile, 42 awardees from 21 universities joined the Be$MART Basic Level programme, focusing on future financial planning and an introduction to the financial services industry.

Empowering Consumers and Fostering Meaningful Financial Inclusion

JagaDuit aims to promote financial health and inclusion to vulnerable group of customers by raising awareness of the importance of financial literacy.

Strengthening Financial Literacy for Youth Development

Through FINCO’s Good Sens, CIMB Foundation has adopted four schools to empower upper primary students with essential financial literacy skills, a crucial foundation for their transition to adulthood.

The CIMB ASEAN Scholarship is our commitment to fostering the next generation of ASEAN change-makers. The scholarship is open to ASEAN students and provides them with the opportunity to pursue tertiary education at top-tier institutions of their choice.

The Chevening Scholarship Programme is a UK government flagship global scholarship initiative administered by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and which UK government fully / jointly funds selected individuals to pursue a master’s degree in the UK. The UK government also partners with some corporates which fully / jointly fund the selected individuals to study for a UK master’s degree, often in specific areas that align with the organisational objectives and providing an opportunity to form long-lasting, positive relationships with emerging talent and influencers in the industry.

To date, CIMB has funded 32 scholars under the CIMB-Chevening programme. 

Remediating Learning: Empowering 65 Teachers, Inspiring 39,000 Students

In partnership with Teach for Malaysia, the Novice Teacher Programme i.e. a 3-year leadership development program, recruits 65 novice teachers to bring innovative education to high-need government schools. Targeting rural locations in Perak and Selangor, this initiative aims to inspire 39,000 students, fostering leadership and transforming educational experiences.

Meanwhile, the Program Komuniti Perkasa is a continuation effort since 2021 aiming to motivate students and engage parents in supporting children’s learning and leadership skills at 4 PPRs.

Empowering 30 Orang Asli Students for Success

This 3-month coaching and mentoring program supported 30 Orang Asli students in Form 4 from Banting, Selangor, with relevant personal development skills for educational attainment. This included boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem, fostering a growth mindset to encourage enjoyment of learning, increasing school attendance, reducing dropouts and helping these students pursue their passions and goals with greater purpose and meaning.

Group Technology (GT) Kebun Komuniti: Growing Food, Nurturing Communities

What started as a simple volunteer effort in 2024 has blossomed into a thriving community garden, where CIMB Group Technology staff come together to cultivate fresh, healthy produce while creating a meaningful impact.

In collaboration with Kebun Komuniti Hartamas (KKH), GT Kebun Komuniti has produced hundreds of kilograms of vegetables and fruits, including spinach, chilies, okra, brinjal, bananas, and papayas. These harvests are donated to charity homes, helping to strengthen food security and support communities in need.

Beyond growing food, the initiative nurtures connections, encourages sustainable living, and provides a fulfilling avenue for employees to volunteer, learn, and give back. More than just a garden, GT Kebun Komuniti demonstrates how collective action and shared purpose can cultivate lasting positive change, one harvest at a time.

Supporting Coral Reef Restoration Through Partnership and Environmental Action at Pulau Perhentian

Bringing together environmental education, conservation and collective action, the ERL ESG Coral Restoration Project at Pulau Perhentian provided participants with an opportunity to contribute directly to the protection and restoration of Malaysia's marine ecosystems. 

Conducted in collaboration with Express Rail Link (ERL) and Alunan Resort, the three-day programme combined hands-on coral restoration activities, reef observation exercises and a beach clean-up initiative, fostering a deeper understanding of the vital role coral reefs play in sustaining marine biodiversity and supporting healthy coastal environments. 

Through meaningful partnerships and active participation, the initiative highlights how collective stewardship can help strengthen ecosystem resilience, promote environmental awareness and contribute towards the long-term preservation of Malaysia's natural heritage.

Empowering Local Communities as Future Marine Conservation Leaders

The Building Marine Conservation Leaders program aims to empower local communities and increase their involvement in marine resource management by training future conservation leaders. This initiative promotes shared responsibility for sustainably managing marine resources.

Thinking Big with Management of Elephants and Grasses

CIMB Foundation supported the expansion of managed grasslands and mineral sources at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, aiming to encourage the presence of Bornean elephants within the reserve and reduce elephant-human conflicts. This effort was undertaken in partnership with the Borneo Rhino Alliance Bhd (BORA).  We are encouraged by the increased presence of elephant herds in the area proving the success of this active and targeted management of natural habitats for wildlife conservation.

Mangrove Conservation Initiative

The CIMB-UKM Mangrove Conservation initiative includes the restoration and rehabilitation of mangroves through planting and nursing of 7,000 mangroves to protect the marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as the coastline. The initiative involves three-pronged areas which are education and awareness on mangroves, mangrove habitat restoration and enhanced research and development dedicated to the protection of mangroves.