Kuala Lumpur, 3 December 2024: In response to the pressing issue of their school friends contracting dengue, the Buzz of Blenders team from SJKT Batu Caves, Selangor, started a social enterprise selling pani puri to fund the development of a mosquito-repellent garden in their school. Their ingenuity and commitment to community health wowed the judges of the Good SENS National Dragons’ Den 2024, earning the team of young entrepreneurs the coveted title of Best Overall Social Enterprise 2024 for their innovative solution.

The Good SENS (Social Enterprise Network for Schools) programme, a financial literacy initiative by the Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO), saw participation from over 60 primary school teams nationwide. Only 11 outstanding teams were selected to pitch their ideas live in Kuala Lumpur, vying for further investment as they showcased their creative social enterprises to an esteemed panel of financial industry judges, made up of Lee Yo-Hunn, Public Investment Bank CEO; Vikram Singh, Citibank Malaysia CEO; and and Shazman Shahid, AmBank Group Head of Group Corporate Communications & Marketing.

“The Good SENS programme is more than just a platform for young students to showcase their ideas—it’s a transformative journey that equips them with the skills, confidence, and empathy to tackle real-world challenges. In addition to improving their financial literacy and learning how to run a business, they also learn how to create meaningful change in their communities,” said Clare Walker, FINCO CEO.

This spirit of harnessing creativity and collaboration to transform real issues into opportunities for lasting change can also be seen in the runner-up team, TH4 from SJK(C) Tong Hua, Sarawak, who impressed judges with a circular economy initiative. They sourced food from low-income families, resold it to their peers, and used the proceeds to support an orphanage’s daily needs. Their practical and sustainable business model demonstrated the potential of social enterprises to drive both economic and social change.

In a surprise announcement, the Dragons’ Den judges selected Cravings & Candles from SK Taman Bukit Indah, Selangor, to receive a Special Dragons’ Award, sponsored by Public Investment Bank. This team impressed judges with their innovative recycling  idea of turning used cooking oil into eco-friendly scented candles.

Other notable winners included:

• Outstanding Impact on Environment and Sustainability Award: Serantau EcoCreators from SK Rantau Panjang, Selangor, for their initiative to turn waste into valuable products, including teaching materials and medals. The team collected over 40kg of waste weekly, earning more than RM 9,000 in profit.
• People’s Choice Award: Kampung Jero-Jero from SK LKTP Maokil 2, Johor, who received the most votes on social media for their pitch video, shared the idea of selling preloved items to reduce waste disposal and open burning.

Additionally, the programme recognised individual achievements:

• Outstanding Leader Award: Muhammad Harif Danial Bin Addiesuria from SK Peradong (Negeri Sembilan) for his exceptional leadership.
• Most Effective Communicator Award: Iris Shakeelah Binti Muhammad Sharifuddin from SK Sultanah Asma (Kedah) for her persuasive communication skills.
• Best Teacher Award: Nurkusnita Bt Che Kamaruddin, a teacher from SK Parit Raja (Johor) for her outstanding coaching and support.
• Best Mentor Award: Mad Rizal bin Abu Bakar, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad, for his dedication and guidance to the students.

In 2024, the Good SENS programme engaged 380 primary school students, aged 10 to 12, from 37 schools nationwide, with support from more than 60 financial industry mentors. These students had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in financial literacy by managing and operating their own social enterprises.

The programme is made possible by the collective funding and commitment of Malaysia’s financial industry, with 23 schools receiving support through FINCO, while AmBank Group and CIMB Bank sponsored an additional 14 schools.

“The financial industry has a responsibility to empower the next generation with the tools and knowledge to build a sustainable and inclusive future. By supporting these budding social entrepreneurs through mentoring as well as financial sponsorship, financial institutions contribute to fostering a culture of innovation, resilience, and social impact that aligns with the values of our industry,” said Tan Sri Azman Hashim, FINCO Chairman.

Good SENS is a collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Education’s Bahagian Pengurusan Sekolah Harian (BPSH) division. The programme’s implementation partners include the Social Enterprise Academy (SEA) from Scotland and Retrospective Discovery in Malaysia.