On 12 December 2025, Yinson volunteers, together with SAGEMAKER ASIA PLT (“SAGEMAKER”), distributed hand-sewn school bags to 29 school children from Buku Jalanan Chow Kit (“BJCK”), a non-governmental organisation that caters to the educational needs of underprivileged children in the Chow Kit catchment area. The initiative was held under SAGEMAKER’s “Back to School” Campaign, benefitting Year 4 to Year 6 students supported by BJCK.
The bags were thoughtfully crafted using upcycled fabrics collected from Yinson employees, the SAGEMAKER team, and the wider community. In the lead-up to the distribution, Yinson had organised a fabric collection drive at its Kuala Lumpur office, encouraging employees across the organisation to donate their pre-loved clothings.
These contributions were transformed into functional school bags by SAGEMAKER’s women artisans, showcasing their creativity while providing a platform for creative expression. By giving new purpose to pre-loved materials, we get to reduce textile waste while promoting circularity. The distribution was made even more special with a craft session, where the children personalised their own school bags.
The collaboration with SAGEMAKER reflects Yinson’s ongoing commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through SDG 4: Quality Education, we aim to support underprivileged children with school essentials. At the same time, we support SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.
Dr Renard Siew, Yinson Head of Corporate Sustainability, commented, “Our collaboration with SAGEMAKER is a testament to how strategic partnerships can create meaningful and lasting impact. By transforming upcycled materials into school essentials, we are uplifting communities and reducing waste at the same time.”
Shafiqah Zainol, Co-Founder and Head of Impact at SAGEMAKER, shared, “Through this collaboration with Yinson, we are able to champion both environmental sustainability and women’s economic empowerment. Every upcycled bag represents the hard work of our artisans and the shared belief that communities thrive when we give waste new purpose.”
SAGEMAKER, a 2025 Y4Y grant recipient, is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering and equipping women from underserved communities with the tools and training to craft marketable handmade goods with the goal of ensuring economic resilience.
This marks the third collaboration between Yinson and SAGEMAKER, reinforcing our shared commitment to long-term partnership. Through initiatives like Back to School, Yinson continues to invest in meaningful partnerships that strengthen communities, champion circularity, and create long-lasting social impacts.
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