Yayasan Sime Darby Annual Report 2025
Empowering Through Play
95%
target achieved
143 out of 150 students enrolled
350 training hours delivered
exceeding 80 hours per group annually
5 of 6 competitions held
providing exposure to 630+ players
111 students evaluated
to be assisted with tailored support, through structured monitoring
Little Legends Unlock Young Potential
The Little Legends programme by the Nicol David Organisation (NDO), supported by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), demonstrates how access to sport can be a catalyst for empowerment. Since 2023, the initiative has trained 143 of its targeted 150 children, aged 8 to 11, from B40 and M40 families, offering professional squash training, English tutoring, and life skills development.
YSD’s RM1 million commitment over three years has helped remove barriers to a sport traditionally reserved for the privileged, enabling underserved children to thrive in a structured, nurturing environment. Supported by World Squash Federation-certified coaches, the training instils focus, self-discipline, and persistence. It goes beyond physical activity, encouraging academic improvement and mental wellbeing.
Children like eight-year-old Cahaya, who once struggled with focus and language skills, are now thriving. She has since ranked among Malaysia’s Top 30 in the Under-11 squash category and is steadily gaining confidence in English. Monitoring and evaluation have already been conducted for 111 students, ensuring tailored support for each child, including those with learning challenges like dyslexia.
Holistic development is central to Little Legends, and the impact is significant:
- Over 350 hours of squash training completed (surpassing the original 80-hour target per group annually)
- Five of six tournaments held, providing exposure to 630 players
- 84% attendance and 85% retention rate across cohorts
- 91% of parents rate teachers 8 to 10 out of 10
- 80% parental participation in engagement sessions
Little Legends also prioritises post-COVID education recovery, with 30% of students enrolled in its Reading Club to address literacy gaps. Life skills workshops tackle issues such as mental health and environmental awareness, while initiatives like the Art Exhibition and Culture Day foster creativity and social bonding.
As Datuk Nicol David, Founder and Head Coach of NDO shared:
Sport changed my life. When children are active and involved in sport, the values they learn form the foundation of their character.”
Her vision continues to unfold, with YSD as a key enabler, through a programme that not only nurtures young athletes but builds future-ready talents. Every child now walks taller, knowing their dreams —in sport, school, or life—are within reach.