HELP International School proudly hosted the delegates of International Council for Small Business (ICSB) during the final stop of their four-day Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) World Forum 2024, themed "Driving Innovation and Sustainable Growth of MSMEs". Held in Kuala Lumpur from 27 - 30 November and organised by the ICSB, the annual forum highlighted the pivotal role of small and medium enterprises in advancing economic growth and innovation globally.
A Celebration of Youth Innovation
The visit to HELP International School brought the forum to a meaningful close, showcasing youth entrepreneurship and innovation. The event featured the "Mentor Me" pitch session, where Sixth Form students from the School’s Project Purpose Programme presented their innovative ideas to a distinguished panel of guests and mentors, gaining valuable feedback and insights.
HELP International School welcomed esteemed guests including:
- Prof. Dr. Kim Ki-Chan, Chairman of ICSB and Professor at The Catholic University of Korea
- Prof. Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy, President & CEO of ICSB and Professor & Deputy Chair, School of Management, George Washington University, USA
- Dr. Zakaria Taib, ICSB Board Member & Forum Coordinator in Malaysia, and Executive Chairman, Sepadu TECH Services Sdn Bhd
Speaking about his visit, Prof. Ayman remarked, “I am honoured to visit HELP International School and witness the innovative and forward-thinking education the school provides for its students. Meeting the students & teachers today and seeing their passion for entrepreneurship and innovation has been truly inspiring.”
Project Purpose: Driving Real-World Impact
The success of Project Purpose, a programme aimed at empowering students to address real-world challenges through design thinking and social enterprise, is the development of young entrepreneurs creating impactful solutions for societal change.
Two standout teams, Connex and Soluvo, pitched their projects to the delegates and received funding to start their initiatives for the Demo Day, a shark-tank-style incubator event, in June 2025. In recent years, students who pitched their social enterprise projects at Demo Day have successfully received over RM50,000 seed money to fund their projects, including the translation of English-Bahasa Malaysia dictionaries into Braille, and the creation of a "tremor-friendly" ergonomic bottle for Parkinson’s patients as well as its IP parent registration.
Mr. Paul Lau, the Head of Sixth Form, shared, “We are glad our students had the opportunity to present their ideas and receive feedback from SME operators and industry professionals. They learned how to refine their projects, gained insights into real-world challenges, and built valuable connections to support their future growth.”
Sixth Form students from the School’s Project Purpose Programme presented their innovative ideas
Showcasing Forward-Thinking Education
Guests were also introduced to other innovative curriculum initiatives at HELP, including the Financial Literacy Programme, presented by the programme coordinator, Mr. Braden Cobb, with testimonials from primary students, demonstrating how HELP International School integrates practical life skills into its curriculum.
Dr. Gerard Louis, CEO of The HELP Group of Schools, commented, “HELP International School is dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders and innovators. This event showcases the strength of our educational philosophy, which combines academic excellence with real-world application. We are proud to support our students in creating meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.”
Dr Gerard Louis introducing Professor Kim to Sixth Form students of HELP International School.
A Fitting Conclusion
As the final stop of the SME World Forum 2024, this event was a celebration of youth innovation and a testament to HELP International School’s mission to empower students to lead, innovate, and inspire change.
For more information about HELP International School and its initiatives, please visit www.his.edu.my.
