Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the exclusive distributor for Ford in Malaysia, has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Orang Asli communities through a second collaboration with Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Malaysia. This partnership focuses on supporting GPF’s OA-Eco Farm program in four Orang Asli Villages in Kuala Rompin, Pahang.
The OA-Eco Farm program is a food farming initiative aimed at fostering self-sufficiency and sustainable income among Orang Asli families. It provides hands-on training, coaching, and subsidies for tools and seedlings.
With a generous contribution of US$10,000 (RM45,745) from Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, 22 staff volunteers from SDAC joined forces with the GPF team to visit the villages on March 9th. They brought donations of seedlings, farming equipment, kitchen tools, and enthusiasm.
Volunteers collaborated closely with the Orang Asli community, assisting in installing solar-powered equipment for fencing systems and cultivating the land by preparing soil, cutting grass, and planting biomass crop seedlings.
The OA-Eco Farm program addresses these challenges by providing training in sustainable farming techniques, adopting the holistic Syntropic Farming method, and creating an online marketplace called Kebun Amai. This marketplace, hosted on GPF’s website, enables Orang Asli farmers to sell fresh produce and artisanal products, thereby enhancing their livelihoods and promoting environmental conservation.
Through the perseverance of SDAC and collaboration with GPF, efforts are made to empower communities and contribute to their sustainable development. For more information or to contribute to the Orang Asli community, visit https://globalpeace.org.my/.