Maybank extends RISE to benefit 1,000 nationwide

After an initial 255 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and from the marginalized community were trained by Maybank Foundation for its pilot RISE (Reach Independence and Sustainable Entrepreneurship) program in the Philippines, 1,000 more are being targeted to benefit as the program goes nationwide, covering Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in addition to Metro Manila.

Maybank Foundation has extended its RISE program in the Philippines to impact beneficiaries nationwide, including the Visayas, where it targets to build capabilities of 250 PWDs through a structured training and mentoring in key cities. This follows the huge success of the pilot program conducted last year which saw 255 participants successfully go through a similar training.

First stop for the RISE Visayas trainings was Iloilo City, which saw around 50 selected PWDs coming together for a three day entrepreneurship and financial training session. This will be followed by a six-month mentoring period where the participants will be trained, coached and mentored to develop their entrepreneurial skills in order to help them achieve higher income levels and improve their overall standard of living.

The program which was launched at the JubiDiamond lee Hall, Iloilo City saw Maybank Foundation CEO Shahril Azuar Jimin and Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III welcoming the participants.

“When RISE was first launched in Malaysia in 2014, we saw 280 participants succeed in their businesses in which each participant achieved a remarkable 411.7 percent average income increase. In Phase 2, 1,866 participants who were trained across Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines achieved an average income increase of 356.4 percent, 351.8 percent and 565 percent in those countries respectively,” Shahril said.

“Given the huge success of the program, we are now in Phase 3 which will now reach out to 4,000 people in four countries namely Malaysia - 800, Indonesia – 2,000, Philippines – 1,000 and Laos – 200 as pilot, of which 70 percent will comprise PWDs.”

On Sept. 7-9, the second training in Davao City will be held at the Sunny Point Hotel.