The initiative celebrates 6 full scholarships in partnership with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman and provides bursaries to 300 deserving young students through GoBarakah.
Grab Malaysia has awarded six outstanding students full university scholarships through the GrabScholar 2025 programme, an initiative in collaboration with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR) and funded through the GrabForGood Fund. At a special ceremony, Grab recognised the resilience and aspirations of the scholars, underscoring the company’s commitment to giving back to its community and creating opportunities for brighter futures. In addition to the scholarships, the initiative also sees 300 students receiving bursaries through GoBarakah.
Supported by the GrabForGood Fund, GrabScholar is designed to uplift socioeconomic mobility by providing educational opportunities to Grab driver- and merchant-partners, their immediate families and the wider community. University students receive full scholarships that cover tuition fees, living allowances, and access to development programmes, while needs-based bursaries for primary and secondary students offer one-off financial assistance.
Adelene Foo, Managing Director of Grab Malaysia, remarked, “Our partners are the backbone of our ecosystem, and this scholarship honours their incredible sacrifice and dedication to their families. Through the GrabForGood Fund and GrabScholar, we aim to remove financial barriers so these resilient students, as well as those from the greater public, can focus on learning and dreaming big. We view the GrabScholar programme as a launchpad, not just financial aid and we’re proud to be able to play a part in supporting the future movers of our nation.”
Kularetnam Viyakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman added, “YTAR is honoured to continue our partnership with Grab Malaysia for the second year, through a programme that not only provides comprehensive financial support but also offers a two-year leadership development programme empowering GrabScholars to shape better futures for themselves, their communities and Malaysia.”
Uplifting Partner Families: Meet the GrabScholar Awardees
One of the GrabScholar recipients Lawinyia a/p K Paramesivam, 22, is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), seeking to advance healthcare and contribute to biomedical innovation. Her passion for science and determination to break barriers were evident from her school days, where she formed her school’s first-ever female hockey team while balancing academic pursuits with helping her mother at a food stall, contributing to her father’s income as a Grab driver-partner.
“This scholarship gives me the opportunity to fulfil my dream of contributing to biomedical research that can improve healthcare. It has eased the burden on my family, and I am grateful for the chance to turn my aspirations into reality,” said Lawinyia.
Meanwhile, Aruna a/p Dhanapalan, 23, a Law student at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, aspires to advocate for individuals facing challenges similar to hers. Despite an initial rejection by a university, she persevered and successfully secured a place in one of Malaysia’s top law schools after taking a gap year to work and support her household, serving as the primary caretaker for her five siblings while her brother contributed to finances as a Grab driver-partner.
“Being given this opportunity means the world to me. It not only validates the struggles I’ve faced but also fuels my determination to become a lawyer who can advocate for families like mine. This scholarship is more than financial support, it’s hope for a better future,” said Aruna.
The GrabScholar initiative underscores Grab’s commitment to giving back to its partners who form the backbone of its platform by supporting education and enabling social mobility. In partnership with YTAR, Grab aims to expand opportunities for even more families, creating a ripple effect of empowerment where every scholar’s achievement also honours the sacrifices and contributions of their loved ones.