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| Source: Digi. Participants of the Pi1M Training Programme pose for a group shot. |
Digi Telecommunications recently held a training programme for the community members living around the Pusat Internet 1 Malaysia (Pi1M) centres managed by the company. This customised training programme is part of Digi’s ambition to inspire online entrepreneurship amongst its Pi1M community members. To date, Digi has 34 Pi1Ms in Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Melaka and Sarawak, and is committed to launch 70 more centres by end of this year.
According to Eugene Teh, Digi’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Digi has always wanted to empower societies and enable connected communities to bring about socioeconomic improvements. “Our priority has always been to ensure that Digi’s Pi1Ms are economically sustainable in the long run and to support the communities with easy access to connectivity as well as unlimited information and resources,” he said.
“This is just the first of many similar training programmes that are in the pipeline. It is our objective to ensure that all interested community members as well as our Pi1M managers get the opportunity to learn and benefit from the Internet. We firmly believe that these programmes will pave the way for them to enjoy equal opportunities for both social and economic empowerment."
The three-day pilot training programme saw the participation of 36 people from 11 Pi1Ms around Malaysia. The 36 participants were selected based on a profile evaluation and interviews as part of the process to understand their ambitions and keenness, and their business experience and potential. They were introduced to the power of the Internet and the exciting prospects of conducting business and earning income online by Digi and its strategic partners Google Business Group Malaysia, The Star, Pos Malaysia, MMSC Ventures and Zalora.
At the event, Google Malaysia and its premium partner Kasatria shared insights on Google Apps, while theStar introduced participants to iBilik, a homestay proposition; Pos Malaysia presented their online marketplace PostMe as well as their other service offerings, and Zalora shared its experience as an online business. MMSC Ventures also discussed online education and Internet-based income generation.
Mohd Hairulnizam Ismail, an F&B business owner from Lundu, Sarawak, said the workshop session had benefited him and his business in many ways. “As a consumer, I’ve experienced purchasing airplane tickets from Air Asia’s online portal, but I still needed the knowledge on how to bring my business onto the online platform. By attending this workshop, I’ve learned a lot on how to track my website’s popularity using Google tools. Besides that, I have also learned how to use domain tracking tools on my website through Google Webmaster,” he commented.
Maszni Abdul Aziz, owner of Sparkle Beads Enterprise in Melaka, said the workshop was an eye opener especially for people like her who are not fully exposed to the potential of the Internet.
“I have not been exposed very much to the internet, and I have never bought anything online before. My objective of coming to this workshop is to explore, and learn about what the internet has to offer," she shared. "After the session with Zalora, I’m very happy because I’ve learned a lot about the possibilities that the internet can offer for expanding my business. My dream is to bring my business up to a global scale, and with the Internet, I’m confident that I will be able to achieve that dream.”
Digi will work closely with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in coming up with similar workshops for its Pi1M communities with the aim of having them at least once a quarter. Each workshop session is designed to have a maximum of 35 participants including managers of the respective Pi1M centres to encourage interaction as well as to effectively address all topics.
