Who would have thought from glasses salesman, he is now a corn businessman. It sounds pretty easy to run a business regardless of the type of sales or products. But what is necessary is self-sufficiency and also high-spirit motivation in the quest to build the empire to sustain life in the future.

 

Dery Suwanda Yondisman, 31, is one of the successful entrepreneurs of Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM) through a programme, Dare to Grow, Road to Global (D2G). Before venturing into business, he worked as a salesperson. However, his work required so much of his time until he decided to quit and start corn business.

 

“Previously I was a salesman at an optometry but after a while I resigned as I barely spent time with my family. Then, I tried joining a corn business. My brother introduced me this opportunity and I began as his assistant. So, I received a little wage as a salary.

 

“When I was working with my brother, the business can be considered new and we both diversified our products. From stewed corn, then we added corns in cup,” he said when met.

 

When asked about his involvement with IRM, Dery stated that the assistance was supposedly for his mother-in-law but then given to him as he is an entrepreneur.

 

“IRM started to knock my door, looking for my mother-in-law to help. But my mother-in-law suggested me as I manage corn business and at the same time IRM was looking for entrepreneurs. So, that’s the first touch with IRM,” he said.

 

Before participating the D2G program, the wages were quite small and Dery had to keep some savings in case of emergency. What’s more to say, Dery has a small baby who still needs disposable diapers and milk.

 

“Back then my salary was around RM70 to RM80 per day I sold a total of 110 corns. That’s my daily salary which I can say, including profit and loss. I also have a small baby at home, so the needs had to be divided. Besides the baby needs, I also covered my brother’s school expenses. He was about 12 years old.

 

“Before IRM came to help, my finances were not well managed. I’m working as usual, but the flow of money goes in and out of without having any records of cash flow. In fact, I’m still new in business world,” he said.

 

Normally, Dery will start working at 2 PM until 10 PM for eight hours. But in a case where the stocks run out, that’s the end of the day. Prior to owning a motorcycle, he ran his business at Solaris Dutamas but then transferred to Titiwangsa bus station, Jalan Pangkor.

 

When asked about customer’s response to its sales, Dery noted that the only challenge is high competition among corn sellers as it is popular. But according to him, he is among the young takers who run the business apart from the senior bussinessmen.

 

After assessment, IRM gave a three-wheel motorcycle to Dery to help facilitate the business. Not only that, through the D2G program, his life has changed a lot as much as he gained more business knowledge. As a result, Dery is now able to rent out motorcycles given by IRM to be brought for business purposes.

 

“I let my protégé use that motorcycle. It’s like an open opportunity to do business but on one condition that he should bring my brand and his daily earnings are his. What’s needed is, they should present my brand and pay royalty to me.

 

“Besides, I also have two men undergoing training with me. For example, if they were with me, I would have to add more corn stocks. Additional stock here means our income will increase so it can cover wages of my protege,” he explained in detail.

 

With the guidelines provided by IRM, Dery believes he is now more acquainted with the business world and sees it in a greater perspective. Previously, he had only two types of products: stewed corn and corn cups. After following the D2G program, he managed to produce frozen corn.

 

“My new product is ready-to-eat and does not require long process to cook. If you want to eat when it is hot, just boil it in hot water for about two to three minutes, and if you have a microwave, heat it for a minute.

 

“The plastic used as a wrapper is free of chemicals, so when it is heated, no chemicals will stick to the corn,” Dery added on its own product.

 

Dery is also positive about its product development and intends to expand its empire through the business, Nur Falah Sweet Corn. In the future, he intends to further diversify the corn products as he believes that corn has high potential to grow in the business.

 

In business, Dery will always bring the name of IRM as an honour because IRM has helped improve his standard of living. He wants the community to know that IRM has guided himself to become successful and is always ready to move forward and above the sky.

Sabrina, or Nur Sabrina Ahmad Fauzi is one of the beneficiaries of Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM). She is currently pursuing her studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in the field of Industrial Design (Diploma) and is in the final year of study. This story is about her journey after receiving contribution from IRM.

 

“Initially, I was one of the candidates for Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) student program in 2015. Several other friends including me were the first group selected by IRM to take join the course. I am very grateful for the help given as it covers educational assistance as I am only an average student at school.

 

“The teachers who are chosen to as instructors are also committed and supportive to help me succeed through the program. The topics taught are all the same as what I learned at school. So it is very helpful for me to better understand the subject taught at school.

 

She said since joining the class, her mindset has changed to be more positive as she believes that the contribution offered was more than enough.

 

“Since joining, I keep on working wholeheartedly and in the last semester, I received the Dean’s Award which also made my parents proud.

 

“IRM actually helps me a lot in strengthening my self-esteem and all the contribution received such as fees and learning equipment has eased the burden that my family needs to bear. Most importantly, the help put a lot of gratitude in me and I couldn’t be more thankful.

 

When asked about the challenges she faces, the answer is brief. Sabrina is quite concerned about the condition of her parents without her presence at home.

 

“Living alone in university makes me even tougher for whatever challenges to come, I am very far apart from my parents, and what’s more to say my father has not fully recovered from stroke. My father suffered the ailment when I was 17, still busy for SPM examination but at that point I did not know.

 

“Furthermore I am only their child so the worries had me thinking more and more. So to overcome this, I need to be mentally and physically strong.”

 

Just like any other students out there, Sabrina sets her ambition high to move forward and wishes to give back to community.

 

“My aspiration is to become a designer, and I want to further my studies in doctorate level to become a lecturer. To me, with the knowledge I have acquired, I want to give back or contribute it to future students.

 

“It is with the guide of IRM, I believe my new life begins and I will continue to be successful and will never waste the opportunity given. I want to keep rising and be more competitive.

Ayer Keroh, 21 Nov 2018 – 30 students from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Limbongan, Melaka received school necessities through a program, ‘Cheer to School’ (CTS) organised by Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM).

 

The annual programme run by IRM offers full preparations for the students to always feel energetic and motivated to gain more knowledge at school.

 

An English teacher at SK Limbongan, Norazia Abd Rahman was positive about the programme as it actually helps relieve the burden of parents to buy all school necessities.

 

“Such development programme should be further continued so as to share our rizqi, happiness, and also ensure the responsibilities instructed by Allah SWT are done aptly,” she said when being interviewed.

 

One of the beneficiaries, Nurjannah Kathal Maidin was also thankful for the aids given as they will ease her learning process at school.

 

“Today I received the aids from IRM and it will help me learn more comfortably,” said Nurjannah.

 

Among the school necessities given were a set of school uniform, hijab, a pair of shoes, school bag, socks, and stationeries.

Serdang, 15 Nov 2018 – Public community is encouraged to brush up their communication skill with the People with Disabilities (OKU) towards creating a friendlier environment in Malaysia.

 

Chief Executive Officer of Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM) Zairulshahfuddin Zainal Abidin said the community plays an important role to better integrate with the OKU through sign language learning with OKU.

 

“It was not their choice to be born as OKU but it is our opportunities for us to communicate with them through sign language learning. In addition, knowledge transfer and social entrepreneurship are also another aspects that bring us closer to them.

 

“I also believe in the term of empowerment to create successful OKU as they have different skills,” he said in his speech.

 

He said that at Inclusivity Programme with the Community, We Are Different We Are Extraordinary organised by the Faculty of Economy and Management, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). It aims to enable the OKU to brush up their talents and capabilities to live normally as human being.

 

Zairulshahfuddin also pointed out that as a humanitarian institution, we should not feel tired in assisting them because noble works should always forge ahead in awakening the public that the presence of OKU is still in sight.

 

Commenting further, IRM intends to work with UPM in an effort to empower the less fortunate people.