KUCHING, June 30: Shell Malaysia recently awarded financial grants to three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and one social enterprise which will be undertaking sustainable development projects that will benefit communities across Malaysia for the 11th time.
Two of the recipients are from Sarawak.
The Shell Malaysia Sustainable Development Grants ceremony was officiated at by Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Deputy Speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala on Friday. He commended Shell Malaysia for its continued effort in promoting the sustainable development agenda in the country.
During the ceremony, he said Shell has contributed much to the development of the oil and gas industry in Malaysia.
This has never stopped the organisation from finding other ways to contribute to the communities in the country, he added.
“I applaud Shell for its commitment in helping Malaysia develop, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“I’m especially pleased to see grants being awarded for the benefit of the Sarawakian communities by Shell Malaysia. At the DUN, community projects like these bring to surface issues that help in our discussions surrounding Sarawak’s policies,” said Gerawat.
According to Shell Malaysia Upstream Vice President Simon Durkin, the Shell Sustainable Development Grants programme was introduced in 2008 and since then, it has disbursed more than RM4.2 million to 100 different projects across Malaysia.
This comprises a total of 60 unique organisations inclusive of academia, community-based organisations, and environmental conservation societies.
“Through the Shell Sustainable Development Grants programme, Shell is working to engage further with the local communities around us to exchange knowledge, impart skills and create new partnerships.
“Thus, helping to develop community and enterprise skills, with the aim of improving environmental conservation, enabling sustainable livelihoods and preserving important local community traditions.
“This year, we have partnered with a local organisation called Incitement to help us select, through an impartial evaluation process, the projects that are receiving grants today,” added Durkin.
This year’s recipients that will undertake projects in selected locations in the state are Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre and D’Athirah Enterprise.
These projects will revolve around empowering communities for sustainable livelihoods and furthering research into the elasmobranch species of fish in Sarawak waters.
In Sabah, Shell is partnering with Cheshire Home Kota Kinabalu to engage their tenants with meaningful employment. For Kuala Lumpur, Shell will work together with EcoKnights to coordinate urban communities in repurposing their used cooking oil to protect their waterways. — DayakDaily
