ONE-TWO-WASH – A CSR Initiative by Selangor Dredging Berhad
Selangor Dredging Berhad
“SDB is committed to creating greater awareness on the employment issues faced by the special needs individuals, especially on their need for independence, dignity and self-worth in society.”
INTRODUCTION
Special needs individuals with learning disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Autism, etc., have limited opportunities to make it on their own when they reach adulthood. Few companies are prepared to employ them and many of them lack the skills to start out on their own.However, Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) aims to support such individuals to become self-sufficient and self-reliant, and gain economic empowerment for independent living. To accomplish this, SDB has embarked on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that will create employment opportunities for such individuals. This will open doors for them to acquire skills and abilities that help to diversify and enhance their work and social skills, as well as to acquire new skills in areas unfamiliar to them. With these skills in hand, these individuals will one day be able to lead independent lives and fend for themselves. In turn, they gain confidence and motivation, making them feel a sense of belonging in society.
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
The Car Wash ProjectAfter the successful award-winning project, ONE-TWO-JUICE, which had won the AREA in 2012 and 2014, SDB decided to establish another CSR project, ONE-TWO-WASH.
Although the Car Wash idea has been ventured by other organisations, SDB wanted to engineer a Car Wash Project that enhances and improves the capabilities of the special needs individuals towards independent living. For this, the project has been designed to cater specially for such individuals. This includes specially designed processes and learning tools, which will help them to follow through, learn and remember better. Our dedicated Outreach Officer is entrusted as the full-time Job Coach for both projects, where the task is to train the special needs staff, until they can master the skills intuitively and work independently, without any more instructions or guidance.
ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
ONE-TWO-WASH was first set up in 2014 as a trial run to train the special needs staff to practise cleaning a certain number of vehicles a day. From 2016 to date, they are now able to clean 8 to 10 vehicles a day, including motorcycles, sedan cars, four-wheel drive vehicles and vans. Great efforts have been taken to devise the detailed and comprehensive job processes and learning tools, as well as the business operations, accounting templates, and staff performance evaluation. Moreover, all anticipated safety issues and “what if” scenarios have been meticulously thought through and given a resolution, and precautions have been taken in order to ensure that the project can sustain, not only the business expenses, but more importantly the comfort, safety and well-being of the special needs individuals.As for the business operations, the Car Wash Project will be self-sustainable for years to come, as ONE-TWO-WASH is open at Wisma Selangor Dredging at Jalan Ampang, which has 92 office tenants to cater for, as well as customers from neighbouring office buildings as well.
FUTURE DIRECTION
Other than the juice stall and car wash, SDB will continue to embark in other initiatives for special needs individuals, including efforts to support social enterprises that support the special needs and the less fortunate community. SDB is committed to create more awareness and educate the public on the serious employment issues faced by the special needs community, especially when they reach adulthood. Through the efforts of this project, it is the hope that sufficient public support and encouragement will help such individuals, especially on their need for independence and social inclusion in society.In line with SDB’s manifesto in developing a modern-age community, and pledge to give back through innovative CSR projects that support equality, diversity and the environment, SDB is committed to creating greater social impact by ensuring that all our corporate social responsibility efforts are relevant to society’s needs, and are efforts which are impactful and sustainable to the community involved.
Incorporated in 1962, and listed on Bursa Malaysia since 1964, Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) is a quality lifestyle company established in property development, property leasing, and hotel management. This award-winning developer has consistently been recognised as a prestigious brand name for niche developments & innovative designs.
