Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS) is an entity owned by the Malaysian government under the Ministry of National Unity. Since it was launched back in 2012, YSS was initially part of the Ministry of Higher Education and presently transitioned under the purview of the current ministry on December 3, 2022.
YSS aims to foster national integration and unity through volunteerism. Since its inception, it has successfully executed 93 high-impact volunteer missions across Sabah, Sarawak, and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam.
YSS collaborates with strategic partners to support low-income households (B40) and other marginalised communities.
As of December 2025, YSS has trained 2,438 student volunteers in an immersive environment where they ‘eat, live and breathe’ alongside local communities. This experiential approach enables volunteers to engage deeply with the people they serve and learn through direct participation.
Upon completing their mission, YSS alumni continue to have access to ongoing opportunities within and beyond YSS to strengthen and build their portfolios in line with their aspirations. They remain empowered to inspire positive change within their communities, carrying forward the spirit of unity and service.
#VolunteerismForUnity
Malaysia as the global hub for student volunteers leadership.
To become the centre of excellence for student volunteer leadership among students, learning, and communities towards national unity and sustainability.
Each pillar supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG). Activities and projects are carried out collaboratively with the local community in the targeted areas, local authorities and our strategic partners, locally and internationally.
This pillar focuses on all kinds of work that includes improving the condition of living among the community, not limited to the work involving upgrading communal infrastructure but also improving the quality of life of the local community emotionally and economically.
This pillar emphasises education programmes for school and university students. It also includes capacity building programmes focusing on training young people to be equipped with relevant skills and aware of various happenings around the world.
This pillar focuses on climate education including awareness programmes and capacity building for climate resilience and efforts towards environmental sustainability through localised actions.
This pillar focuses on improving and sustaining the health and wellbeing of the community. It maintains liaison with NGOs and the Health Department to implement disease awareness programmes, including programmes encouraging healthy living.
This pillar focuses on educating communities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M) and also includes projects which aim to transform traditional practices to digital and develop future-ready, tech-savvy communities.
The social impact mobilisation pillar of YSS encourages self-sustaining communities by empowering the local community through entrepreneurial activities. This includes rebranding or improving the status of local businesses to generate better income, and capacity building among the communities for sustainability.
The values that guide every YSS mission, from selection to post-programme alumni engagement.
InclusivenessMutualMeaningfulEmpowermentRight Volunteer for the Right JobSustainabilityExemplaryOur four strategic goals and six thrusts, all in service of one focus: Volunteerism For Unity.
Malaysia as the Global Hub for Student Volunteers Leadership
To become the Centre of Excellence for Student Volunteers Leadership among Students of Higher Learning and Communities towards National Unity and Sustainability
Volunteerism for Unity
Volunteerism Leadership for Nation Building
