Malaysia and Japan unite for autism
Yayasan Gamuda’s Enabling Academy hosted today Japan’s Vice Minister in charge of Health, Labour and Welfare Akira Miyakawa for an official visit of the training centre.
The Enabling Academy is an Employment Transition Centre (ETC) that trains and places young adults with autism into companies.
Miyakawa, who is in Malaysia to attend the ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, was impressed by what he saw and hoped his visit would strengthen cooperation between Japan and Malaysia in the support of differently-abled people.
“I had the pleasure of visiting Yayasan Gamuda’s Enabling Academy today and sincerely respect its efforts,” Miyakawa said.
“It is our great pleasure that Japan has contributed to the improvement of support for differently-abled persons in Malaysia and I would like to continue this close partnership with Malaysia.”
The Japan International Cooperation Agency and Malaysia’s Department of Social Welfare, backed by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, have joined forces to implement projects in aid of differently-abled persons, especially supported employment.
Yayasan Gamuda’s Enabling Academy has been at the forefront of this mission, producing 30 people with autism to be employed by various partner companies since May 2017, with that number set to increase in the next year.
Deputy Minister of Family, Women and Community Development Hannah Yeoh launched the Enabling Academy on 4 October 2018 and said Yayasan Gamuda’s commitment fell in line with the government’s call for greater public-private initiatives to set up more ETCs for differently-abled persons.
Listen to Hannah Yeoh and Gamuda Group Managing Director Dato’ Lin Yun Ling speak at the Enabling Academy launch:
Enabling Academy evolved from Gamuda’s 2013 initiative Project Differently-Abled.
It trains individuals on the autism spectrum with skills that will enable them to integrate seamlessly into white-collar jobs in other corporate companies.
The three-month programme includes training on work environment simulations to develop proper work ethics, technical and communication skills.
Enabling Academy also prepares partner companies by conducting awareness seminars and job coaching workshops to assist them in developing a strong team to support their differently-abled employees and ensure they sustain in their roles.
Find out more about Yayasan Gamuda
Find out more about Enabling Academy