They helped found the scholarship crowdfunding platform Skolafund, which has successfully sponsored the education of many deserving Malaysians.
Now, Skolafund also intends to help young Singaporeans pursue internships and exchange programmes overseas, Syamil, 25, told Today Online news portal.
Syamil’s hard work on Skolafund has not gone unnoticed.
He was selected by Forbes publication for its inaugural 30 Under 30 Asia programme, which features 300 promising people under the age of 30 from 10 sectors.
Forbes has invited him to its Under 30 Summit Asia in Singapore.
The list was chosen by industry leaders based on qualities such as creativity, use of technology and adaptability.
Syamil, a Singaporean, was chosen under the social entrepreneurs category and is one of 24 on Forbes’ list based in Singapore.
This is not the first recogniton Skolafund has received.
Soon after launching the website in April last year, the friends were selected for an accelerator programme in Singapore, which provided mentorship and funding of S$24,500 to financial technology start-ups.
“Once we got into the programme, suddenly a lot of people were interested in us and welcomed us to their offices. We got to meet directly with the CEOs,” he told Today.
Syamil said he came up with the idea after seeing a Facebook post from a fellow undergraduate at the International Islamic University Malaysia seeking financial aid and subsequent offers of help.
He said over the past one year, Skolafund launched 42 campaigns – 25 of which were successful.
Among them was Razlan Ibrahim Mukhtar, 22, who lost his eyesight at age 10. About RM6,000 was raised for his studies from the public before Maxis, offered him a RM300,000 scholarship to study at the University of South Australia in June last year.
Skolafund is now processing 20 more funding requests from students and parents here.
Syamil says the recognition given by Forbes was not only a morale booster but also enhanced the Skolafund team’s credibility.
“Somewhere down the line, investors will take us more seriously and support us to help others.”
The team also includes two others Wildan Zulfikar, 21, and Faruq Rasid, 25. All four members of the team are still studying. Syamil, who is studying business administration, says he intends to focus on Skolafund full-time after he graduates next year and spread wings to Indonesia.