FOUNDER’s journey

Roots in Diversity

Born on the island of Penang, I was exposed to diversity from a young age. My childhood was shaped by joyful mischief—making friends with children from a nearby shelter home, wandering into monasteries and disturbing monks during prayer, and growing up surrounded by people who lived very different lives from my own. Those early years instilled in me a deep curiosity about the world beyond my comfort zone and a fascination with how people, cultures, and communities come together.

As I grew older, I became increasingly aware of how fortunate I was to interact with people from all walks of life—poor and wealthy, people of colour, Indigenous communities, Caucasians, as well as those living with disabilities and illness. I was drawn to difference. Whether it was curiosity or a deeper desire to understand humanity, I found energy in listening to stories that challenged my own assumptions. Over time, I built friendships across races, religions, genders, belief systems, and political views—each shaping how I see the world today.

Learning the Divide: Rural and Urban Malaysia

My father’s 30-year career in the civil service further deepened this exposure. Our family moved frequently between rural districts and urban centres across Malaysia. Leaving friends behind was emotionally difficult, but those transitions gave me an early understanding of the social and economic divides between rural and urban communities.

Even after completing my education and beginning my career in the capital, memories of my rural childhood friends stayed with me. There was always a pull that drew me back to remote places.

Leaving Comfort to Seek Purpose

In my early twenties, passions for scuba diving and mountain climbing took me across Asia, bringing me closer to rural communities that form the backbone of the region’s hospitality and tourism industries.

Three years into my first job in marketing and events, I resigned at the age of 26 due to a growing conflict of values. I sensed there was something more purposeful I was meant to pursue. I packed my bags and set out to backpack across Asia in search of direction.

The First Leap into Entrepreneurship

Seven weeks and thirty-nine cities later, while watching the sunset along the northern beaches of Goa, I received a call from Malaysia. A former client invited me to return home to lead a national campaign scheduled to be launched by the Prime Minister.

Reluctant to leave the life I had found on the road, I saw an opportunity to start my own business and create something meaningful. The campaign was a success, and I reinvested a significant portion of my earnings into real estate—allowing me to continue exploring Asia while reflecting on my next chapter.

Turning Passion into Action

In 2012, I decided to put purpose into action. Fuelled by ambition, investment returns, and an extensive network built through travel and work, I founded a vocational academy in Kuala Lumpur to empower youth from across Asia.

The journey was far from smooth. After two challenging years and a steep learning curve in leadership, I took time off and travelled to Borneo—initially to scuba dive and reconnect with nature.

A Turning Point in Borneo: The Birth of PROJECT TRY

What began as a holiday became a defining moment. On the island of Mabul, I befriended a group of unemployed youth and witnessed the lack of access to skills, opportunity, and dignified work. Compelled to act, I developed a vocational programme tailored to their needs.

This marked the beginning of my mission to uplift rural communities. PROJECT TRY was born.

The path that followed was unplanned and unconventional, yet deeply fulfilling. It took me to remote villages and global stages, connecting me with fellow changemakers around the world.

Collapse & Reflection: Lessons from COVID-19

When COVID-19 struck, everything my team and I had built collapsed within months. Emerging from the pandemic, I found myself disoriented and questioning what came next.

Once again, I returned to what I knew best—exploring rural landscapes in search of clarity. I trekked through the Himalayas, drove from Central Java to Bali, dove the eastern islands of Borneo, and spent time with monks in Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam.

A New Lens: Women at the Centre of Change

During these journeys, one image stayed with me: women working tirelessly in fields with babies strapped to their backs, carrying both economic and emotional burdens for their families.

The question that followed was unavoidable—what if empowering women through dignified livelihoods could create healthier, more resilient futures for their children?

The Pledge: A Defining Commitment in Vietnam

That question crystallised at a leadership summit in Vietnam. While facilitating a dialogue among regional business leaders, the session turned into a powerful series of confessions about the challenges women face in today’s economy.

Standing before 120 leaders, I made an unplanned but deeply personal pledge—to invest in women. I knew in that moment I had committed to a pivotal new direction.

An Evolved Mission: Empowering Women and Youth

What began as a youth-focused initiative evolved into an inclusive social enterprise with a renewed mission to empower women and youth communities across Asia.

The journey has not been a bed of roses, but it has been deeply purposeful. I have learned that impact does not come from intention alone—it comes from action.

From Hero Stories to Systems Change

As a child, I admired characters like Robin Hood and Batman—heroic, inspiring, and unlawful. While those stories shaped my imagination, today I believe real impact comes from building systems, not lone acts of heroism.

This is not a story about saving others. It is a story about showing up, listening deeply, and creating pathways for people to thrive—supported by foundations, partners, and institutions committed to lasting change.

Don’t TRY, Don’t Know

I hope my journey offers food for thought—and perhaps the courage to take a chance in making a difference.

As we often say within our organisation: Don’t TRY, Don’t Know.

If you believe in building a more equitable world, I look forward to meeting you somewhere, someday—over a good cup of coffee—sharing meaningful conversations about living a life of purpose.

Love,

Raviraj