KUALA LUMPUR: Women of Will (WoW), the NGO that helps disadvantaged women, has made great strides in making single mothers and widows particularly in the lower income category economically independent.
Through what is known as the “Raya Hamper” project, the ladies, including some who were unemployed, were able to earn extra income for the Hari Raya season by selling cookies and hampers and be self-sufficient financially.
Advertisement
This was made possible through Edra Power Holdings Sdn Bhd partnering WoW for the project and providing micro-financing and empowering single moms, widows and disadvantaged women.
“For the past three years, we have seen these women improving tremendously, earning more and helping their families and their communities,” said Jennifer Aleeya Wong, Assistant Vice President for group public affairs at Edra.
The women, mainly from the B40 group with less than a monthly household income of RM2,000, also gain access to entrepreneurial development programmes to operate and expand their business.
WoW was able to help them go beyond basic activities such as baking to inculcate skills in packaging and marketing, prompting Edra to order the cookies and Raya hampers for its staff and corporate partners.
Advertisement
.gif)
“WoW’s programmes have extremely benefited the B40 group, which is why Edra will continue to partner with WoW in its future programmes,” she said in a statement today.
A participant, Norliza Mohd Arshat, who has five kids, said: “I gained valuable experience, from expanding the range of cookies baked to wrapping hampers. From the experience gained, I’m confident of opening my own business supplying cookies for other festivals such as Christmas.”
“As such, I will be able to increase my family income,” she said.
Another participant, Sharifah Ahmad, a widow, said with the new found confidence, she might venture out of KL having learnt new found skills.
“Before this, I just sat at home unemployed. I am very ambitious about going away far from KL and possibly overseas to market these products, that’s my target,’ said Sharifah.
WoW President Datin Goh Suet Lan said projects such as the Raya Hamper project was especially important for women because it upskills them in many areas, in line with the NGO’s outreach programme to help more than 1,600 women.
Introducing different recipes for the cookies, such as products made from dates, including date rolls, pistachios and almonds, date squares, date balls, which enhanced product marketability as it would appeal to a wider consumer base, even in neighbourhoods in Bangsar.
“And this year is especially exciting for us because through WoW’s Community Kitchen, we are introducing our baked products under the name of WoW’licious.
“So, the women all are very proud to be part of this effort and WoW community kitchen and the launch of the WoW’licious products,” said Goh. – Bernama
