Latest news with #ThePathForward
The Star
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Keningau vocational student among finalists for global award
Sabah, Keningau, Keningau Vocational College, Student, Siti Nur Hanisah Omar Hashim, Finalist, Global Student Prize, Finalist, Social Enterprise, Mearpet, Upcycling, Puppets, Storytelling, Sustainability, Inclusive Education Siti Nur Hanisah Omar Hashim is the only Malaysian running for the Global Student Prize 2025 title. KOTA KINABALU: A young woman from Keningau has been named one of the 50 finalists for the prestigious Global Student Prize 2025, the only Malaysian selected from over 11,000 nominations worldwide. Siti Nur Hanisah Omar Hashim, 20, a final-year Early Childhood Education student at Keningau Vocational College (KVC), is reputed to be a trailblazer in vocational education, sustainability and inclusive learning. Among her initiatives is social enterprise Mearpet, which transforms used clothes and stuffed toys into puppets for early childhood storytelling. The project promotes sustainability while preserving local culture through performances of Sabah's indigenous folk tales. It also engages students with disabilities, providing inclusive opportunities in design and performance. 'I have always been passionate about upcycling since my lower secondary years. Living near Kota Kinabalu, I often saw plastic waste polluting the waterways. That inspired me to act,' she said when met recently. Upon joining KVC, she launched Mearpet, which quickly gained traction. The college became a collection hub for pre-loved clothing and toys, with some donations arriving from as far as Peninsular Malaysia, receiving over 200 tonnes of materials. With her peers, Siti Nur Hanisah transformed Mearpet into a thriving enterprise that creates educational tools and novelty items from recycled materials. She also founded The Path Forward, a programme offering free Malaysian University English Test (MUET) preparation classes to vocational students, a group often excluded from this academic requirement for higher education. The programme has now become a permanent part of the college's offerings. Beyond the classroom, Siti Nur Hanisah leads Virtual, Remote, Live (VRL), a digital learning platform that has connected over 2,500 Malaysian students and teachers with international educators through online masterclasses and exchange sessions. KVC director Lumang Lang said Siti Nur Hanisah's success highlights the calibre of students that vocational institutions can produce. 'Hanisah is living proof that vocational colleges under the Education Ministry can produce ambitious, capable and socially driven individuals who make a genuine difference,' he said. Siti Nur Hanisah hopes to win the prize and launch a state-wide social entrepreneurship competition for Sabahan youth, expanding Mearpet by developing commercial puppet kits and locally inspired educational materials. Sponsored by the UK-based Varkey Foundation and the Global Student Prize recognises outstanding students who are making a significant impact in their communities. The winner will receive US$100,000 (about RM420,000), and the finalists were announced on Thursday (July 17). The top 10 finalists are expected to be announced next month, and the champion will be known by September.
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa Rising Leadership Summit & Awards to empower Africa's future through digital transformation
Africa Rising Leadership is proud to announce the Africa Rising Leadership Summit & Awards, a premiere leadership gathering set to take place in Johannesburg on 27 and 28 March 2025 at the Inanda Club Sandton. This landmark event will bring together Africa's most dynamic and visionary leaders in a two-day Summit to explore the intersection of leadership and digital transformation under the theme 'The Path Forward - Empowering Africa's Future through Leadership in the Age of Digital Transformation.' The summit is set to feature a stellar line-up of speakers, including Nomvula Nxumalo (MiWay Insurance), Themba Chakela (e-Motion), Jackie Kennedy (LeadMe Academy), Francois de Wet (Wamly), Moshe Apleni (Spur Group), Simo-Sihle Mvinjelwa (Baker Hughes), and Sylvester Chauke (DNA Brand Architects) among many other experts driving impact in their industries. Africa Rising Leadership is dedicated to nurturing and empowering the next generation of African leaders, equipping them with the skills and mindset necessary to drive sustainable growth, digital innovation, and inclusive development across the continent. Through a thought-provoking summit featuring keynote addresses leadership masterclasses from industry leaders and an awards evening dedicated to honouring and celebrating leadership excellence. Speaking on the vision for the Summit, Nomazibulo Tshanga, founder and CEO of Africa Rising Leadership commented 'Africa has everything it needs to be a global powerhouse; the talent, resilience, and a thriving entrepreneurial spirit. But to fully realise that potential, we need leaders who are ready to embrace change and challenge the status quo. The digital age presents Africa with an unprecedented opportunity to drive transformation with Leadership at the heart. Through the Africa Rising Leadership Summit & Awards, we are creating a space where we can engage in empowering dialogue that will drive meaningful change.' The Africa Rising Leadership Awards will honour the individuals and organisations reshaping industries, building inclusive economies, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Recognising innovation, entrepreneurship, and outstanding leadership, these awards will shine a light on those who are redefining success across the continent. With over 500 delegates expected to attend, this is the ultimate opportunity to connect, learn, and be part of the movement shaping Africa's future. The event takes place on 27 and 28 March at the Inanda Club Sandton.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starbucks sets new limit on amount customers can order through app
Starbucks is making some changes to its mobile ordering system in order to speed up service. The coffee giant confirmed to that it has reduced the maximum number of items online customers can order — from 15 to 12. Additionally, as first reported by Bloomberg, Starbucks app/website users no longer have the ability to add a splash of milk or lemonade to a classic Refresher or the option to order a caffè americano without water, as these modifications already exist in beverages that are on the menu. The changes were made to improve the ordering experience for customers, reduce wait times and ease the workload for its baristas, according to Starbucks. Back in October, Starbucks' new CEO Brian Niccol shared plans to get the chain's 40,000+ locations back to their 'community coffeehouse roots' in a video message titled 'The Path Forward.' 'We need to offer a great experience to our customers every single time, especially during the morning peak,' Niccol said in the video, adding that the company would be 'reorienting' its work to ensure baristas prepare and deliver beverages directly to customers. 'This is the moment of truth,' he continued. 'To succeed, we need to address staffing in our stores, remove bottlenecks and simplify things for our baristas. We need to refine mobile order and pay so it doesn't overwhelm the café experience. We know how to make these improvements, and when we do, we know customers will visit more often.' In the time since, the chain has made several changes to operations, including extending free refills to all customers lounging in its cafe, bringing back condiment bars and reversing its open-door policy. For years, baristas and customers alike have posted online about how the often-excessive amount of mobile orders have negatively impacted their Starbucks experiences. 'I should not be feeling like I walked into a burning building every time I start my shift,' one worker posted in May 2024. 'I should not be asked to stay well over what I was originally scheduled for almost every day,' they continued. 'I should not be holding my pee for 1-2 hours because if I dare to go to the bathroom for 2 minutes, everything will collapse on 2 other people on the floor.' The mobile ordering change has been welcomed by some baristas working today. 'Baristas are the most important part of the Starbucks experience,' Sal Hirsch, a barista from Philadelphia and bargaining delegate with Starbucks Workers United, tells adding that baristas that open and close the stores every day, clean, make drinks greet customers and remember the names and favorite orders of their regulars. 'Clearly Starbucks executives are hearing us after years of union baristas raising alarms about the mobile order system, understaffing in our stores, and more,' Hirsch says. 'Any steps taken to make the mobile order process more workable for baristas is a union win, but more needs to be done. It's time to finalize fair contracts that invest in baristas and provide the support and protections we need to do our jobs.' On social media, some workers seem skeptical about the change. 'this literally doesn't even matter since there's no cool down on the mobile app,' one barista wrote. 'the other day a lady ordered 12 drinks, and then 12 food items, and then another couple food and drink items. this changes nothing.' 'Last week a woman ordered 35 drinks on 5 separate back to back orders,' wrote another. 'Yea, I had a customer who would place 2 orders every Tuesday since he hit the cap,' added one more. 'That way he can get drinks for the whole office.' This article was originally published on
