Participant Voices
What people say about learning with Akar
Honest feedback from Malaysians who've worked through our workshops and programmes — in their own words.
Back to Home480+
Participants to date
4.7
Avg satisfaction score
94%
Would recommend
7 yrs
Delivering programmes
Participant Feedback
What participants share after the programmes
Petaling Jaya · 3-Month Course
"I went in thinking it would be a standard money management class, but it was more like a slow unfolding of how I actually think about spending. By month two I was using the habits journal daily — that's something I genuinely didn't expect to happen."
May 2025
Subang Jaya · Workshop
"The half-day workshop was a good way to test whether this approach would work for me before committing to a longer programme. The facilitator was calm and unhurried, which I appreciated. I came away with a worksheet I've looked at most weeks since."
April 2025
Shah Alam · 6-Week Programme
"I have two young children and a full-time job, so I was worried the six-week commitment would be hard to keep. Actually the sessions are paced in a way that felt manageable. The support circle element was something I was sceptical about but ended up being useful for staying on track."
May 2025
Damansara · 6-Week Programme
"I appreciated that they were very clear this is education, not advice. That distinction matters to me. I wanted to understand how to think about money better, not be told what product to buy. The programme did exactly that."
April 2025
Cheras · 3-Month Course
"The three-month course is a meaningful time commitment — I want to be honest about that. But for me it was the right level of depth. The workbooks are genuinely well-designed and the monthly clinic sessions gave me a space to ask questions I didn't know I had until I was several weeks in."
May 2025
Ampang · Workshop
"I almost didn't come because I assumed it would feel embarrassing — like sitting in a room being judged for not saving enough. It was the opposite. Everyone was in a similar position, the facilitator was non-judgmental, and I left feeling calm rather than overwhelmed. I've signed up for the six-week programme."
May 2025
Participant Journeys
Three stories from people who've gone through the programmes
These are based on composite participant experiences shared with Akar. Names and some details have been adjusted for privacy.
The person who kept starting over
6-Week Programme · Completed March 2025
The challenge
A 34-year-old teacher from Klang had tried budgeting apps and online guides several times. She'd get organised for a week or two, then abandon the system when life got busy. The pattern had repeated itself for years.
The approach
Through the six-week programme, she mapped why previous attempts had collapsed — mostly because the systems were too complicated to maintain during busy periods. She built a simpler two-routine structure: a weekly ten-minute review and a monthly longer reflection using the habits journal.
What changed
Eight weeks after completing the programme, she was still using the weekly review habit. "It's the simplicity that makes it hold," she noted. She enrolled in the three-month course four months later.
The couple with different money habits
Both attended the Workshop separately · January 2025
The challenge
A couple in their late twenties from Puchong had different natural tendencies with money — one a cautious saver, the other a relaxed spender — which caused recurring friction. Neither felt they had the vocabulary to discuss it calmly.
The approach
They attended the half-day workshop in separate groups on different dates, which gave each space to reflect individually before discussing things together. The workshop's habit guide gave them a shared framework to talk from.
What changed
Having a shared reference point reduced the emotion in their conversations about household finances. They described it as "the same language finally." Both went on to attend the six-week programme.
The recent graduate building from scratch
3-Month Course · Completed April 2025
The challenge
A 24-year-old from Kota Damansara had just started his first full-time job. He had no existing financial habits — not bad ones, just none. He wanted to build something solid from the beginning rather than drift for years then try to correct course.
The approach
The three-month course gave him a structured foundation — understanding his own patterns, building a weekly review habit, and using the long-term planning folder to think about the next five years without panic. The monthly clinics helped him work through EPF contribution decisions and other practical questions.
What changed
By the end of month three, he had a clear weekly review habit and a written one-page plan for the next three years. He described feeling "less anxious and more curious" about his finances — a shift he attributed to having a structure rather than just information.
Credentials
Professional recognition and standards
SME Corp Community Education Partner
Financial education delivery recognition, 2023
PDPA 2010 Compliant
Full compliance with Malaysia's personal data protection regulations
MyCEB Registered Provider
Eligible for HR development fund claims, 2022–present
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