VERITAS Fund for Excellence in Design Education (VFE)
The VERITAS Fund for Excellence in Design Education (VFE) was founded in 2004 to further our core values of constant innovation, a commitment to design excellence and social responsibility towards the built environment. It is our hope that the Fund would encourage more design students and teachers to excel in various design fields and eventually contribute towards nation-building as architects, designers and educators.
The Fund will be channelled to assist students and teachers in local institutions through scholarships, awards, research grants, study stipends, community projects, study trips, design competitions, student seminars, student publications, etc. that will promote a culture of excellence and generally enhance public awareness and recognition of design.
Funding
The VERITAS Design Group has committed to set aside each year a percentage of our annual profit towards the Fund which is supplemented by contributions from some of VERITAS’ Clients and business associates.
CSR 2002
Malaysia Nature Society Pavillion - Lake gardens, Kuala Lumpur
The Malaysian Nature Society Pavillion at the Lake Garden is VFE’s contribution to the Malaysian Nature Society, in support of their continuing efforts conserve nature and educate the public about our natural heritage. The pavillion is used as a platform to brief visitors before they embark on the Natural Heritage Trail.
CSR 2005
Scaling Mount Kinabalu
In a special effort to kick-off the VFE in 2005, VERITAS staff took on the challenge of scaling Mt Kinabalu, the highest peak in South East Asia at 13455 ft on 22nd September. A total of 32 of our staff reached the summit at Lowe“s peak from the total of 54 who climbed from the foothills to Laban Rata base camp. The fund raised an additional RM 34,000 from corporate sponsors.
CSR 2007
F1 in Schools Technology Challenge World Championships - Rapid Blaze Team University Technology Malaysia (UTM)
This exciting competition was organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Petronas Formula One technology challenge in Malaysian secondary schools. VFE was one of the co-sponsors for the Rapid Blaze team from UTM. This annual event has participation from over 3000 student teams worldwide and their objectives are to polish entrepreneurial, engineering and industrial design skills while providing an early exposure to advanced technology.
CSR 2008
Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve Design Competition
January 2008, the VFE organized an ideas competition open to students of design aimed at preserving the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve in Kuala Lumpur and to create awareness of its importance as a green lung and bio-shelter for Kuala Lumpur. The Forest Reserve is located in the center of the city, and this exercise aimed to challenge creative young minds to provide unique and original solutions to rehabilitate and raise interest in this important piece of our natural heritage. Local actress Maya Karin was the event's celebrity patron.
MRCB a large Malaysian business conglomerate was the main corporate co-sponsor for this year's VFE event. The final dinner was held at the Borneo Rainforest Cafe and was witnessed by Dato' Haji Bakaruddin Othman Deputy Secretary General of Federal Territory Ministry Department, En. Sharil Ridza Ridzuan Managing Director of MRCB, David Hashim CEO of VERITAS Design Group and Andrew Sebastian from the Malaysia Nature Society. Travel grants and prizes worth RM 38K were given away on the night to the winning student teams from various universities.
CSR 2009
VFE 100 Trees
VFE conducted a tree adoption/planting programme in conjunction with Yayasan Warisan Alam (YAWA) as well as the Rumah Pengasih Malaysia (Drug Rehabilitation Center). The idea derived from VERITAS' environmental sustainability outlook for the year as well as the 'National Tree Planting Campaign' to plant 20,000,000 trees by the year 2020.
On Sunday 13th December 2009, the event kicked-off with an officiation and ground breaking ceremony with Tan Sri Salleh Md Nor of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), David Hashim CEO of VERITAS Design Group, Tn. Mohd. Yunus Pathi of Rumah Pengasih Malaysia, Malaysian actress Aishah Sinclair and Miss Malaysia 2007 Deborah Henry. VERITAS staff participated in the planting of 200 trees of varying fruit and rainforest species within the Rumah Pengasih grounds.
The tree planting was followed by workshops on sustainable 'green' home practices for adults and kids.
CSR 2010
Beach Clean Up
On 11th December 2010, a group of 100 over VERITASians and their children got down to the beach of Casa Rachado in Pord Dickson for a beach cleaning activity. We were assisted by Ms Stephanie & Ms Angel from the Malaysian Nature Society. We started with the beach clean up at 10:30 am and within an hour, 1.5 km of beach was scoured and 16 large bags were filled with beach debris. Fine weather made the activity fun for everyone including the little ones. To add a challenge to the event teams competed with each other for how much rubbish was collected!
CSR 2011
Facelift For Old Flats
Another VERITAS' initiative; VFE- Taman Maju Jaya Flat "Facelift for old flats". VERITAS is covering the design and construction cost of this project as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, having spent the last two years laying the groundwork for this project. Through our social responsibility initiative the VERITAS Fund for Excellence (VFE), we will keep on trying to make a difference and give back to society a part of what we have received in terms of support and goodwill.
CSR 2012
VFE conducted a tree planting programme in conjunction with VERITAS' 25th anniversary celebrations - '25 trees for 25 years'. The event saw staff of VERITAS planting 25 trees in the park, while DBKL supported the move by planting another 25 trees. VERITAS' Clients had pledged RM1000 for each of the 25 trees and VERITAS will match that RM 25,000 with an equal amount to raise a total sum of RM 50,000, which will go towards Malaysian Nature Society and a Charity Home each RM25,000.
On Saturday 8th September 2012, the event kicked-off with an officiation and ground breaking ceremony with our Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib of the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), David Hashim Group President of VERITAS Design Group and Miss Malaysia World 2009 Thanuja Ananthan. VERITAS staff participated in the planting of 25 trees of varying rainforest species within the Taman Metropolitan park.
CSR 2013
THE EDGE BURSA RAT RACE 2013
THE Kuala Lumpur Rat Race® has long been regarded as a must-attend event for Corporate Malaysia, as evident in its 14th year running since its inaugural event back in 2000. This is VERITAS' first year to don their running shoes for The Edge Bursa charity. This year's Kuala Lumpur Rat Race®, was held on Tuesday, 17 September 2013, with a route of 4.5KM through the commercial heart of Kuala Lumpur.
For David Mizan Hashim, Group President of VERITAS Design Group, it was his first time running in the CEO category. David finished 5th out of 63 participating CEOs, while the VERITAS team finished 26th out of 44 other teams in the mixed category.
CSR 2015
Nepal Earthquake Fund
Moved by the sufferings of Nepalese after the Himalayan nation was battered by the worst earthquake in 80 years, a local company has collected funds from its staff to build five temporary shelters. VERITAS Design Group manage to collect and spent the RM10,000 in funds to build the shelters. With assistance from the Arun Chaudhary Foundation based in Nepal, the shelters were built last month for the homeless victims for use as temporary homes. The three-metre in width, 4.6 metre in height shelters made from aluminium coat-based material costing US$500 per unit could accommodate a family of five.
It was imperative that VERITAS gave a helping hand and build shelters for the homeless. On April 25, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Nepal, killing more than 9,000 people. Since then, the country has experienced 387 aftershocks of over magnitude 4.0.The Kathmandu Valley which is located in Nepal - famed for having seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites - has also been devastated by the earthquake.
"Adopt a Park"
https://www.facebook.com/VERITASvdg?ref=hl
Under the VERITAS Fund for Excellence (VFE) program, VERITAS recently launched its latest initiate; the Adopt-a-park scheme! Conceived by VERITAS and gifted to Kuala Lumpur, the scheme invites private companies to support the creation and maintenance of ‘pocket-parks’ around the city by contributing to a special fund established under the control of Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). Under the terms of this adoption DBKL will build and upkeep the pocket-park of a period of 2 years and maintain signage of the adoptee company within the park.
In addition to conceiving of the scheme, VERITAS also adopted the first pocket-park, a 300sm median area infront of KLCC which includes the installation of walkways, artwork, garden lights, shady trees and ornamental shrubs. The Memorandum of Agreement (M.O.A) signing ceremony was officiated by Tan Sri Haji Ahmad Phesal bin Hj Talib, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur and David Mizan Hashim, Group President of VERITAS.
VFE-MNS Mangrove Tree planting
Kuala Selangor, 2 May 2015 – VERITAS Design Group with VERITAS Fund for Excellence (VFE) and with the help of Kuala Selangor Nature Park, restore mangrove forest to benefit the coastline of the Straits of Malacca and the environment as a whole.
VERITAS Fund for Excellence is part of VERITAS Design Group coordinated by the knowledgeable staff at Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Kuala Selangor to plant native mangrove trees along the coast. 99 volunteers that consist of Staff and family members of the VERITAS Design Group participated in the tree planting. The volunteers and park staff will plant 200 mangrove trees of one species Rhizophora Mucronata the notable red mangrove species.
CSR 2016
VERITAS Kickstarter Day 2016
The VERITAS Kickstarter Day was a fun-filled outdoor event which was held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Car Free Morning by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). A total of about 100 VERITASians and their families participated in a cycling tour of KL, mapped out to enjoy the bi-monthly car-free morning. The event which took about two hours to cover, saw many VERITASians returning with fulfilled looks of a good work-out. Upon return to the starting point at the VERITAS Office at Bangunan Getah Asli, the team jived to the steps of Zumba. The merriment of this exercise set-off the mood for more dance steps and fun on the floor.
Enhance the Area Around Tasik Seri Aman in Puchong
The VERITAS Fund for Excellence in Design Education (VFE) has joined hands with Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ) to enhance the area around Tasik Seri Aman in Puchong on 8th October 2016. About 60 VERITASians plus students from a few local universities planted a hundred trees and shrubs around the lakeside. This was followed by the painting of four murals on the walls of a café and facilities center located next to the lake. Paint for the murals was sponsored by Jotun paints. Other sponsors were Peace Garden & Hobbyest Sdn Bhd, MIG Landscape Sdn Bhd and Pembinaan Muzqi (M) Sdn Bhd.
CSR 2017
VERITAS UNITY project
The UNITY project has been a unique CSR initiative undertaken by the VERITAS Fund for Excellence (VFE) in collaboration with the Shalini Ganendra Fine Art (SGFA) and also in conjunction with Malaysia’s 60th Merdeka anniversary in 2017. The project seeks to remind all Malaysians of the importance of our Rukunegara and to celebrate the unifying power of this national philosophy through the curation and exhibition of a collection of 5 special works of sculpture by students of design from Malaysia’s premier School of Architecture, Taylor’s University.
In summary, the objectives of The UNITY project were to;
a) Raise awareness of our Rukunegara and the importance of national unity,
b) Celebrate our 60th Merdeka, and
c) Showcase the creative works of Malaysian youth.
VFE has been conducting a series of workshops to curate students’ art works, leading to the Exhibition & Prize-Giving Ceremony held as part of the programme of the Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur (GW-KL) 2017.
Art works were based on the Rukunegara principles:
1. Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan (Belief in God)
2. Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara (Loyalty to King and Country)
3. Keluruhan Perlembagaan (Supremacy of the Constitution)
4. Kedaulatan Undang-undang (The Rule of Law)
5. Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan (Mutual Respect and Good Social Behaviour)
Representatives of each of the student teams walked the guests and attendees through the 5 sculptures displayed in the art works exhibition and shared their concepts and inspiration to represent each of the pillars of the Rukunegara. Based on this presentation, the Jury, formed by VFE, SGFA, TAYLOR’S and Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail (PAM President) deliberated and decided on the best idea and sculpture, granting the winner team with a cash cheque and internships with VERITAS.
CSR 2018
Urban Park
On 29th September 2018, the VERITAS Fund for Excellence (VFE) organised a gardening day in the Kebun-Kebun Bangsar park. The effort began earlier in collaboration with students from Taylors University, School of Architecture and Building Design (SABD). They designed and built a hangout spot for visitors to the park to enjoy the greenery. To officiate the completed works, a June Plum fruit tree (Spondias Dulcis) was planted by VERITAS Group President David Hashim and Tony Liew, Dean of SABD. The VERITASians and students were then divided into groups to plant various types of flora including fruit trees, vegetables and shrubs in several different locations. It was a very “fruitful” day for the green loving VERITASians!
Live Design Discourse Competition
VERITAS Fund for Excellence sponsored four Malaysian Architecture students to attend the LIVE DESIGN DISCOURSE (LDD) – The Essential Framework, to Surabaya (Indonesia), from 19th – 23rd February 2018. The LDD series is a programme initiated by Ar Saifuddin Ahmad (PAM) that aims to create an opportunity to collaborate, network and foster better relationship among student members of the participant institutes of architects. Also, to serve as a platform for students to share design ideas which are unique to our region, culture and environment. Four countries and several universities were represented at the design charrette: Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Association of Siamese Architects (AIA) and the host Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (IAI). VERITAS Principal Ar Lillian Tay and Architect Dr Miguel A. Robles-Cardona attended and supported the Malaysian participant students: Aiman Al Fahmi Bin Adbul Kashaf (UiTM), Syahidah Binti Samsir (UM), Nurul Husna Binti Zulkifli (IIUM) and Muhammad Aizat Bin Anuar (UTM). Ar Nur Safuraa Abd Razak tutored the team during the design exercise in Surabaya.
VERITAS FUND for EXCELLENCE (VFE) KAMPUNGKU PROJECT
On 17th till 19th August 2018, a group of 9 VERITASians joined an expedition to Taman Negara for ‘Project Kampungku’ which is a renewable energy initiative aimed at bringing artificial lighting to orang asli villages across rural Malaysia. The co-founder of Kampungku is an NGO called ECOMY and the project’s new partners; VERITAS, Haskell and Lewis & Clark College of USA were part of this particular Kampungku expedition. The VERITASians led by Latha Ramasamy, Head of Human Resources worked with the indigenous tribes people to construct bamboo frames for the photovoltaic panels, and installed with wiring and lighting to the many homes in the village.
