Maton Shukor

In a spectacular celebration of innovation and young minds, Goodday Milk proudly concluded Malaysia’s largest kidpreneur programme, Goodday KidSTART 2.0. Supported by the Ministry of Education and Alliance Bank, this groundbreaking initiative saw over 4,000 young participants from across the nation, each vying for their chance to bring home a piece of the RM60,000 prize fund. Empowering Future Entrepreneurs Goodday KidSTART 2.0 aims to empower Malaysia’s next generation with essential financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills. This year’s top winner, nine-year-old Lee Yumi, captivated judges and audiences with her innovative ‘OnBoard: School Bus System’ project, securing RM20,000 to bring her idea to life. The event also celebrated numerous other young talents, highlighting the creativity and potential of Malaysia’s youth. A Platform for Practical Skills Insights from Amy Gan, VP of Etika Marketing Amy Gan, VP of Etika Marketing, emphasised the importance of events like Goodday KidSTART 2.0 in shaping the future of youth entrepreneurship in Malaysia. In an exclusive interview with Motherhood, she shared her insights: Motherhood: How do you feel about the role of events like these in shaping the future of youth entrepreneurship in Malaysia? Amy Gan: Events like Goodday KidSTART 2.0 provide children with essential financial and entrepreneurial skills, laying a foundation for future entrepreneurs. Support from key stakeholders like the Ministry of Education enhances credibility and reach, promoting financial literacy effectively across Malaysia. Encouraging more support from corporate companies would further amplify these efforts. Additionally, substantial prizes and recognition motivate young participants, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship from an early age. Financial Literacy Over Physical Activities Addressing the focus on financial literacy over other activities, Amy explained: Motherhood: Why is financial literacy (which is a niche market) being considered instead of sports or other physical activities? Amy Gan: Recognising the critical need for improved financial literacy among Malaysian youth, Goodday KidSTART aims to equip children with the essential knowledge to develop strong money habits early. In simple terms, future-proofing our children now is a good start. While sports are important, financial literacy addresses another crucial aspect of development. Goodday Milk aims to enhance the community's wellbeing by promoting financial soundness and developing leaders for the next generation. For sports, our Goodday Charge champions nutrition and fitness, encouraging all to begin their day with physical exercises, adopting sports as a hobby (even e-sports) complemented with proper nutrition support too. The initiative also aims to raise awareness and promote better financial literacy, empowering children with entrepreneurial skills and setting them on a path towards a financially sound future. Insights from Dr Hartini Zainuddin Dr Hartini Zainuddin from Yayasan Chow Kit also shared her thoughts on the impact of Goodday KidSTART on financial literacy and entrepreneurship among children: Motherhood: How do you think events like Goodday KidSTART contribute to the development of financial literacy and entrepreneurship among children? Dr Hartini Zainuddin: Well, I think, of course, because you have such a diverse topic and you have diverse implementations and ideas that these children display, it's just wonderful to be able to, for these children, and an opportunity for these children to demonstrate their innovative capabilities. But also, using, implementing imagination with realistic solutions to everyday problems, right? It's something that I think more people should sit up and take notice of. I think what's happening here is definitely a very important tool and platform to be able to encourage more children and more students and more adults to listen and to observe. I wish the Ministry of Education were present at the event because they would be as blown away as I am and they should actually sit up and take notice because these kids have a lot to say and they have a lot of important things to say and how to do it. Dr Aaron Sum, Alliance Bank's Group Chief Strategy, Marketing, & Business Development Officer, and a member of the judging panel shared his thoughts: "Today, entrepreneurship has become a key and popular life path among our youths and this programme provides a great platform to nurture, develop and prepare the next generation in becoming savvy business leaders. This is very much aligned with our strategy of helping aspiring businesses, SMEs and MSMEs thrive and succeed by providing a combination of financial and non-financial resources.” Celebrating Young Innovators The Goodday KidSTART 2.0 campaign not only focused on financial education but also celebrated the innovative ideas presented by the young participants. Twelve-year-old Muhammad Basyeer Bin Mohamed Ackiel Mohamed secured second place with his ‘The Academy of Future: Peer to Peer Learning Coding & Robotics’ project, and nine-year-old Lim Zhi Fung took third with his MindACT: ACTor Program idea. Special awards were also given for the Most Innovative Idea, Most Sustainable Idea, and Best Presenters, recognising the diverse talents of these budding entrepreneurs. The esteemed panel of judges for the event included Dato' Dr Hartini Zainuddin from Yayasan Chow Kit, Dr Aaron Sum from Alliance Bank, Shahmeez Reza, Senior Manager of Etika Trade Marketing and Marketing Services, and Chen Chow Yeoh, Angel Investor. Their combined expertise and diverse backgrounds provided invaluable insights and guidance to the participants, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of each innovative idea presented. Looking Forward Reflecting on the success of the programme, Amy Gan expressed her excitement and gratitude: “When we launched KidSTART 1.0, our goal was to provide the future generation with a platform to showcase their ingenuity and take a significant step in their journey as young entrepreneurs. For Goodday KidSTART 2.0, we wanted it bigger and better. With the help of the Ministry of Education, we were able to expand our search, bringing KidSTART 2.0 to more children via visits to schools nationwide as well as online webinars. This year, breaking last year’s record with over 4,000 participants taking part is truly a proud moment for me.” She added, “My heartiest congratulations to our winners and top 20 finalists. Once again, I am blown away by the depth of creativity and intelligence of our future generation. Goodday Milk is committed to providing goodness beyond nutrition and enhancing the wellbeing of our community. We look forward to welcoming more partners to join us in inspiring and future-proofing the next generation." A Bright Future Ahead Goodday KidSTART 2.0 is more than a competition; it's a movement towards nurturing financially savvy and innovative leaders of tomorrow. By instilling financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills in young minds, Goodday Milk is not only promoting the wellbeing of the community but also ensuring a brighter, more innovative future for Malaysia. For more inspiring stories and updates, follow them on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Let's continue to support and celebrate the young minds that will shape our future! For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

Family Planning by

Family Fun By Sunway Malls

Motherhood Panel of Experts

Inspiring the Next Generation: Goodday KidSTART 2.0 Champions Youth Entrepreneurship in Malaysia