Social:Biji-biji Initiative

Short description: Malaysian environmental organization

Biji-Biji Initiative

Biji-biji Initiative logo
Product type	Impact Accelerators, Social Innovation Programmes, Circular economy solutions
Owner	Rashvin Pal Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Zoe Victoria
Country	Malaysia
Tagline	Driving Sustainable Development through Technology and Education
Website	http://www.biji-biji.com/

The Biji-biji Initiative is an environmentally focused organization founded in June 2013 by a group of eco-conscious individuals. Dedicated to promoting sustainable development through increased access to technology and knowledge, the organization has experienced significant growth over the years. Central to its mission is the cultivation of changemakers through social and environmental impact accelerator programs. By facilitating access to education and innovative solutions, Biji-biji seeks to reinforce the larger sustainability ecosystem.

In addition to its focus on education and innovation, the Biji-biji Initiative also addresses the circular economy by supporting communities in need through the establishment of micro recycling facilities. By encouraging businesses and individuals to adopt sustainable, collaborative, and constructive practices, the organization aims to inspire positive change throughout society.

Background

Founded in December 2012, Biji-biji Initiative initially focused on addressing environmental challenges by upcycling and transforming waste into unique gifts and products. In 2013, they established their first Open Workshop in Jalan Sungkai, off Jalan Ipoh, where woodworking and metalworking were the primary activities. In 2015, a second Open Workshop opened its doors at Jalan Nangka, off Jalan Ipoh, with a focus on electronics, stitching, and tailoring. Biji-biji is also an advocate for open-source ideas, fostering idea and information sharing within the community. As of May 2017, Biji-Biji Initiative has relocated its operations to a more public-friendly maker-space in Publika, Kuala Lumpur.

Sustainable Development

Biji-biji Initiatives's primary objective is to drive sustainable development through accessible technology and education through:

1. Impact Accelarator
2. Circular Economy
3. Social Innovation Programs

Programs

• Environmental NGO Accelerator

Malaysia’s first environmental NGO Accelerator Programme, building a pool of highly effective, influential and synergetic environmental NGOs that will help to create transformative environmental change.

It is a structured 1-year accelerator to enhance the skills and organisational capacity of environmental NGOs based in Perak, specifically to:

1. Instill relevant skills and competencies of NGOs;
2. Growing organisational
3. management skills;
4. Build digital capabilities;
5. Enhance technical expertise and communication strategies.

• TEGAS Social Impact Accelerator

The Social Impact Accelerator is a programme tailor made for Sarawakians looking to bring their entrepreneurial projects and dreams into a reality.

Through exposure to digital skills, tools, resources, and mentors, this programme is designed to support startups and business ideas while maintaining themes of sustainability, outreach, and social impact.

Five Sarawakian impact businesses were trained and mentored in:

1. civic engagement
2. sustainable initiatives
3. design thinking

• CIMB Entrepreneurship Development Programme

The purpose was to build entrepreneurial mindsets empowering NGOs to solve their own challenges through the following methods:

1. Gained guidance from business management tools through the Entrepreneurship Development Programme For NGOs.
2. Had access to incubators &
3. Had access to funding programmes

For participants to adopt a mindset shift through the creation of social enterprise models and business opportunity canvasses.

• Digital Skills Malaysia

In partnerships with CIMB Foundation, Yayasan Petronas and Microsoft. Microsoft Digital Skills for Communities Jobs & Livelihood Opportunities is a program designed to provide access to digital upskilling content, and access to certification and employment opportunities to marginalized communities across Malaysia. To build a digitally-skilled workforce and create an inclusive digital society.

1. To develop digital skills and digital literacy.
2. Gain Trainer-on-Trainer training for NGOs to utilize the available modules and develop their communities.

• Digital Skills Indonesia

Accelerating skilling to ensure an inclusive economic opportunity post-COVID-19 and beyond. Skills for Jobs Indonesia aims to support job seekers with digital skills and livelihood opportunities through a public-private partnership model and online/offline learning platforms. Learning Outcomes

1. Strategic alignment on core digital skills needed in Indonesia, and the respective job pathways that can be supported through Microsoft Content through consultation and coordination with CMEA
2. Train-the-trainer module via a hybrid model in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower, Education & ICT for 500 Indonesian trainers.
3. Nationwide series of webinars, talks and events to drive users to signup for Microsoft content on the Learning platform. They will be utilizing the different avenues on such as LinkedIn, Biji-biji, Kartuprakerja, and other impact partners to gain a total of 1,000,000 Indonesian upskilled.
4. Strategic partnerships with Jobs.id and the Ministry of Human Resource to support learners towards pathways for employability. Target 50,000 gaining employment through gig work or full time employment.

• Beyond Bins

Beyond Bins aims to provide a circulative supply and demand chain between the community, industry players and corporate bodies, ultimately closing the loop in plastic waste production and creating a circular economy.

The Beyond Bins project set out with a mission to achieve a behavioural change and a mindset shift towards sustainability, tackling the plastic waste issue as its first challenge. Beyond Bins has a greater goal, which is to tackle sustainability challenges, making the project applicable across different fields.

Collaborations

1. Biji-biji x Ecoworld Property developer Eco World Development Group Berhad (Ecoworld) collaborated with Biji-biji Initiative to organise Ecofestival at Ecoworld’s Eco Sky project site in Jalan Ipoh to spread awareness on “upcycling” through various art installations in the hope to shed light on upcycling as a way to create a positive difference for the environment.

2. Biji-biji x C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd

C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd signed a MoU with Biji-biji Initiative and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers’ (MACEOS) to recycle waste produced from the 16th International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition (ARCHIDEX 2015) into durable trendy bags.

3. Biji-biji x Urbanscapes

iM4U with the help of Biji-biji Initiative and Do Something Good kickstarted the iM4U Green Team at Urbanscapes 2013, MAEPS Serdang. Biji-biji Initiative collaborated with other international and local artists to produce art installation at Urbanscapes 2014.

4. Biji-biji x Publika

Biji-biji Initiative and other local artists collaborated for Publika Lantern Installation which uses recycled water cooler bottles controlled by electronics as to celebrate Chinese New Year in Publika Boulevard, Kuala Lumpur.

5. Biji-biji x Art for Grabs

Biji-biji took part in KL Art for Grabs Festival 2015 by showcasing their retail bags made from rejected seat belts.

6. Biji-biji x Ministry of Youth and Sports

Biji biji collaborated with Ministry of Youth and Sports in becoming one of the mentors under the newly-revamped Rakan Muda programme – a programme to develop the youths of Malaysia.

7. Biji-biji x Pernod Ricard

Biji-biji collaborated with Pernod Ricard Malaysia in producing Brightboxes to be donated to Yayasan Nanyang for the Nepal earthquake victims.

8. Biji-biji x Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia collaborated with various parties including Biji-biji in creating a platform called ‘Donate Your Idea’

Awards

1. Biji-biji along with 5 other Malaysia social enterprises received funding from the AGP-British Council “Entrepreneurs for Good” Wave 1 programme.
2. Biji-biji received RM58,000 grants awarded by SHELL Malaysia.
3. Biji-biji won the coveted Tan Sri Entrepreneurship Award of RM250,000 at the Alliance Bank BizSmart Academy SME Innovation Challenge 2014 Grand Finale Awards Ceremony.
4. Biji-biji became the recipient of the Technology Innovation Award for 2015 Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Awards.