Harinder Veriah Trust celebrates 20 years of supporting Malaysian students

Martin Jacques established the Harinder Veriah Trust in 2006 to provide educational support to underprivileged girls in Malaysia.

The trust honors the memory of his late wife, Harinder Kaur Veriah, a Malaysian lawyer who passed away in 2000. Jacques founded the organization to turn a personal tragedy into a positive legacy by helping students who face financial barriers to their education.

The trust focuses on pupils at Assunta primary and secondary schools in Petaling Jaya, where Harinder Kaur Veriah attended school. The organization provides students with school fees, uniforms, shoes, bags, and stationery. It also covers daily recess meals and extra tuition to ensure students can keep up with their academic work. Since 2006, the trust has helped more than 600 girls. Currently, the program supports 114 students, including 41 in primary school and 73 in secondary school.

Starting in 2024, the trust expanded its reach to provide financial aid to students who have finished their SPM exams and are pursuing higher education. All funding comes from donations and events in the UK, with no administrative costs being deducted from the funds provided to the children.