Teaching youths to be society’s mosaic

Camp teaches kids inter-ethnic appreciation

JOHOR BARU: The three-week CIMB Mozek camp organised by the CIMB Foundation is set to benefit 453 students by teaching them cooperative learning and inter-ethnic appreciation.

The holiday camp, which began on Sunday and ends on Dec 14, is organised in collaboration with Teach For Malaysia and promotes integration and unity among students.

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak said the camp is a platform for primary and secondary students to benefit from a specially-curated syllabus designed to instil respect and better inter-ethnic understanding among them.

“The word ‘Mozek’ was chosen because it represents a beautiful combination of mosaic pieces of various shapes, sizes and colours.

“This reflects how each of us carries our own piece of a mosaic, defined by our ethnicity, culture, race and language,” he said at the launch of the pilot programme.

Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah officiated the event at SMK Taman Scientex yesterday.

Nazir, who is also a trustee of the CIMB Foundation, said the group is committed to nurturing diversity through CIMB Mozek.

“Youths are a special target group in the foundation’s three key pillars – sports, education and community development – where under the education pillar, the foundation continues to develop youths through impactful programmes.

“Some of the programmes include CIMB Mozek as well as Be$MART, our flagship financial literacy programme for students at institutions of higher learning,” he said.

He added that earlier this month, CIMB Group pledged 1% of its profit before tax for its foundation-led corporate social responsibility initiatives for the period 2018-2020 across Asean.

Nazir said the funds would be channelled towards organising more CIMB Mozek and Be$MART sessions, as well as enhancing and replicating other successful projects from the foundation’s three core pillars, with the aim of empowering more communities and changing even more lives across the region.

In her speech, Raja Zarith said it is important for people to respect one another regardless of religion or race.

“Education is not only about passing examinations, but also about instilling great moral values in oneself,” she said.