MELAKA: The life of a 23-year-old Melaka youth changed thanks to a pair of hearing aids sponsored by PETRONAS.

       Sim Xin Yi, the eldest of two siblings, said she faced many challenges due to her hearing impairment.

       "When I was in school, I found it hard to focus on my studies and was unable to mingle like other girls as my condition was a constant hurdle," she said in an interview on Monday (March 11).

       Sim, who now works as a digital designer, said she always hoped to regain her hearing.

       "This impairment had also hindered my professional growth and made it difficult for me to contribute fully to my work," added Sim, who was the sole breadwinner for her family, as her parents were retired.

       Set on changing her life for the better, she decided to get help and obtain a pair of Signia hearing aids.

       However, the high-tech devices came with a hefty price tag.

       StarPicks

       Championing sustainability and urban biodiversity

       Still determined, Sim joined PETRONAS's 50th-anniversary campaign that celebrates 50 real-life dreams of those in need across seven festivities throughout the year.

       Through this campaign, Sim was given the "Signia" hearing aids.

       With her new hearing devices, Sim said her life had been transformed for the better.

       "I now wake up to the sound of raindrops falling on the window, the sound of birds chirping outside, and the sound of her dog barking in the morning," she said.

       "I can now communicate better with my colleagues, leading to enhanced teamwork.

       "My new hearing aids have given me a voice and opened up a world of possibilities, and I am grateful for the opportunity to hear better," she added.