28 Kim Lim

Providing a Solution

For Kim Lim, one of the most rewarding parts about running The Picha Project is seeing the lives of the refugee families changing for the better. A social enterprise that was established after the founders witnessed refugee students dropping out from learning centres due to financial and family reasons, The Picha Project aims to empower them through the sustainable business of catering and delivering traditional food from their homelands.

But The Picha Project is not the only endeavour Kim has ventured into; she is also the co-founder of E-lluminate, another initiative that also empowers the refugee community by placing quality teachers, providing vocational training and instilling entrepreneurship in refugee learning centres. “You have to understand the problem of the community before coming up with any solutions in order to maximise the potential of your solutions, resources and energy. Be gritty and grind hard,” advises Kim.

A winner of The Edge’s Inspiring Young Leader Awards in 2017, she was also a delegate of the International Leadership Program under The Prince’s Trust International. When asked about what keeps her going, she answers simply, “Seeing more and more kids getting quality education and having the power to change their lives.”

The Picha Project is looking forward to being part of this year’s Urbanscapes, Malaysia’s longest-running creative arts festival – a move that Kim says will change how they raise awareness about refugee issues in Malaysia.