If someone told you that a single programme could spark honest conversations, protect vulnerable teens, and shape safer communities, would you believe it? That’s exactly what the OrphanCare Foundation is doing, and their 2025 milestones are nothing short of inspiring.

Backed by Yayasan Sime Darby under the Ministry of Finance, OrphanCare is expanding its youth empowerment efforts through the SINAR Programme, an initiative that’s living up to its name by shining a light into areas many young Malaysians desperately need.

Empowering Youth Through Knowledge And Real Talk

In 2025 alone, OrphanCare reached more than 2,000 young Malaysians with reproductive health awareness initiatives. These aren’t your typical stiff, awkward “don’t do this, don’t do that” sessions. Instead, they’re refreshing, relatable, and built on OrphanCare’s empowering “I Am In Control” module.

Through 25 nationwide Reproductive Health Talks, youth aged 10 to 25, from universities to PPR communities, learn about:

• Sexual harassment
• Pregnancy
• Abortion
• Consent
• Where to seek help
• And other crucial real-life topics many are too scared to ask about

The best part? These sessions are for both males and females, reinforcing the belief that reproductive health, consent, and respect are shared responsibilities.

As Zakiah A. Rahman, General Manager of OrphanCare Foundation, puts it:

“Reproductive health education is not about teaching how to have sex. It’s about understanding their rights, making safe choices and knowing where to get help when needed.”

SINAR: A Programme That Reaches Beyond Awareness

Image via Tatler Asia

The SINAR Programme (Sokongan Inklusif Autisme, Remaja dan Komuniti Rentan) is more than a set of talks. It’s a holistic support system for vulnerable communities.

Under SINAR, OrphanCare leads a sub-project with two major pillars:

1. Reproductive health awareness for youth
2. Safe shelters for at-risk individuals

By combining education, advocacy, and community engagement, the initiative provides a lifeline for youth navigating real-world challenges—many of which are still considered taboo to discuss openly.

Strengthening Families, Protecting Children

The partnership between OrphanCare Foundation, Yayasan Sime Darby, and the Ministry of Finance is a major milestone in the nation’s push to protect children and strengthen family-based care.

The grant supports:

• Reproductive Health Talks nationwide
• Advocacy for deinstitutionalisation (DI), a movement that helps transition children from institutions into loving family environments

OrphanCare believes every child deserves a home (not just a building), and DI is a powerful step toward that vision.

As Zakiah adds,

“Awareness and open dialogue are the first steps toward prevention. Through SINAR, we are creating safe spaces for honest conversations that change and save lives.”

Lighting The Path Forward

The work done by OrphanCare Foundation under the SINAR Programme proves that youth empowerment isn’t just about education, it’s about empathy, safety, and giving young people the confidence to take control of their futures.

And as Malaysia continues embracing open conversations, family-based care, and inclusive support systems, one thing is clear: The light from SINAR is only getting brighter.