Microsoft Malaysia has recently awarded a substantial amount of cash and software to three local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to directly benefit their causes and communities across the country. Valued at RM 1.7 million, the recipients of Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential(UP) Grant are Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and Yayasan Salam Malaysia (YSM), while MERCY Malaysia was awarded theLarge Software Grant (LSG).

The UP Grant aimed to assist YWCA and YSM efforts in providing basic computing and technology skills learning to undeserved women and youths, together with young women in order to improve their employability and encouraging entrepreneurship. As for Mercy Malaysia, the LSG award from Microsoft is targeted to help the organization improve and streamline its relief efforts through the use of ICT. In addition to the grants, Microsoft Malaysia has also made a contribution to Save Education Centre, a charity organization for Somali refugee children based in Kuala Lumpur.

“The combination of technology and education is a proven and powerful way to stimulate workforce development and create social and economic opportunity. As a leader in the IT industry, Microsoft has the opportunity to combine access to our technology with social investments to get training and skills into the hands of those who need it most. While technology is creating pathways to success, far too many people are detoured because large gaps exist between them and technology resources and training.” -Jasmine Begum, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, Microsoft Malaysia.

For more information on Microsoft's philanthropy efforts in Malaysia, head on to http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia/giving/.

Source: Lowyat.net