Q&A with Kindershield Founder Winnie Tan: Protecting Preschools, Teachers, & Families
by on 13/11/2025 ...
Also available in : Bahasa Malaysia 中文版
On any given weekday morning, a preschool buzzes with the sound of little footsteps, giggles, and curious chatter. To parents, it feels like a safe haven—a place where their children can learn, play, and grow under the watchful eyes of caring teachers. But for those running the school, every laugh and every bruise, scratches and bumps come with a weight of responsibility – injury, legal action, reputation loss.
It was out of these concerns that Kindershield was born. Developed by Winnie Tan, founder of My ELink (M) PLT, Kindershield is the first insurance solution in Malaysia designed specifically for preschools, teachers, and families. Today, it safeguards more than 10,000 children across over 300 schools nationwide. In this Q&A, Winnie opens up about her journey, the gaps she set out to fill, and why she believes every school should see protection as part of nurturing the next generation.
What exactly is Kindershield, and why did you create it?
Winnie: Kindershield is the first purpose-built insurance plan in Malaysia for preschools, nurseries, and kindergartens. I started it because I saw a huge gap—most insurance products didn’t cater to the real risks in early childhood education. Parents, teachers, and school owners were left vulnerable, and when accidents happened, they were often alone in facing the financial and emotional burden. With over 27 years of insurance experience, I wanted to create something that truly fits this industry, offering coverage from accidents and medical costs to lawsuits and even school closures.
How is Kindershield different from a normal personal accident policy or medical card?
Winnie: Many parents assume their child’s medical card is enough. But the reality is, most don’t cover school-related accidents—things like food poisoning, insect bites, or even when one child bites another. Kindershield covers all of these. What’s more, coverage begins immediately upon school registration. There’s no waiting period, no hassle.
Parents often say insurance claims are stressful. How does Kindershield make it easier?
Winnie: That’s one of our biggest strengths. With Kindershield, the school handles everything. If a child is injured, the teacher takes the child to the clinic, pays first, and then submits the claim to us. Parents don’t need to prepare IC copies, bank statements, or stacks of documents. As long as school fees are paid, the school can sign the claim form on the parents’ behalf. Most claims are processed within two to three weeks, and the reimbursement goes directly to the school. It’s designed to be as hassle-free as possible.
What about parents who already have insurance—can they still benefit from Kindershield?
Winnie: Absolutely. Kindershield complements existing coverage. If another policy pays part of the medical bill, Kindershield can help cover the rest. Parents don’t need to worry about medical costs piling up, because our coverage adds an extra layer of security.
What specific benefits do children get under Kindershield?
Winnie: For less than RM0.10 a day, children receive 24/7, 365-day protection worldwide. Benefits include up to RM4,000 coverage per accident, unlimited claims in a year, and coverage for accidents, insect bites, and food poisoning. If a parent passes away, we provide a RM10,000 education allowance to ensure the child’s schooling is not disrupted. Many parents are amazed that such comprehensive coverage can be this affordable.
Teachers also face risks in their work. How does Kindershield protect them?
Winnie: Teachers are at the heart of every school, and they deserve protection too. With Kindershield, for every 10 children covered, one teacher receives free coverage. If a teacher gets hurt during duty—say while breaking up a fight or slipping in class—their medical costs are covered. On top of that, our PGTO (ProfessionGuard) plan protects nursery and preschool teachers in legal disputes. If they are sued for negligence, their legal fees are covered. That’s important because many teachers simply cannot afford legal defense on their own.
Preschool owners carry the heaviest responsibility. What risks do they face without Kindershield?
Winnie: Owners face the toughest challenges. One accident can mean lawsuits, fines, reputational damage, or even closure. I’ve seen cases where parents sued for RM50,000 over a bite incident. I’ve also seen CCTV footage misunderstood and twisted into allegations of abuse. Even if owners are innocent, the financial and reputational fallout can be devastating. That’s why we also offer Kindershield BIZ, which protects all centres or businesses against fire, theft, property damage, and even closures due to infectious diseases like HFMD.
Can parents buy Kindershield directly for their children?
Winnie: No, Kindershield is only offered through licensed preschools and kindergartens. This way, every child in a school is covered under one plan. It makes it easier for schools to manage, and for parents, it removes the burden of renewals or separate applications.
Why limit it to licensed schools only?
Winnie: Because I want Kindershield to be a mark of trust. When a parent sees that a school offers Kindershield, they know the school values safety and accountability. It also helps raise standards in the industry by encouraging compliance and professionalism.
What is your long-term vision for Kindershield?
Winnie: My dream is simple: I want every child in Malaysia to have protection, from preschool right up to their schooling years. I want teachers to never fear legal or medical costs, and school owners to feel secure knowing they are protected. We’re also going digital—with QR codes that let parents view benefits instantly and streamlined claims that are fast and efficient. At the end of the day, Kindershield isn’t just about insurance. It’s about giving peace of mind to families, schools, and teachers, so they can focus on what truly matters—nurturing the next generation.
