Helping mothers navigate business world

Ameer Ali and invited guests at the closing ceremony of Ibu Nakhoda Hidup 2018 at Mydin Mall in Subang Jaya.

A MOTHER’S role in ensuring that her children get the best in life is not something that is easy to accomplish.

To help reduce the burden of mothers, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, together with Procter & Gamble (M) Sdn Bhd (P&G) and non-governmental organisation (NGO) WOMEN:girls, worked together to successfully promote the Ibu Nakhoda Hidup programme for the fourth year.

The programme aims to provide support to mothers to become successful entrepreneurs.

Mothers, who lack resources to pursue their dreams ,will be given assistance including knowledge, equipment, branding and marketing opportunities, with funds from the Hulurkan Harapan Fund.

Monies collected for the fund are from purchases of P&G products in all Mydin stores.

At the closing ceremony of the Ibu Nakhoda Hidup 2018, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Ameer Ali Mydin said continuous help would be given to mothers who want to become entrepreneurs.

Ameer Ali said many skills such as tailoring, cooking and childcare service could be explored further through the programme.

“If they are hardworking and focused in their goals, they can be successful,” he said.

Mydin director Datin Dr Siti Hawa Mohd said the company was proud to be part of the programme in offering assistance to mothers to expand their businesses.

“I had the opportunity to meet more than 400 mothers during our roadshows in this four-year period,” she said, adding that 15 products were being offered by mother-entrepreneurs under the programme.

Siti Hawa hoped other mothers would be inspired to help each other get involved in business.

P&G Malaysia general manager Teoh Gaik May said so far, 15 mothers had been selected under the programme.

“This year, we will have another five mothers participating,” said Teoh, adding that the Ibu Nakhoda Hidup complemented P&G’s aim in empowering women.

“We have fresh ideas in the pipeline such as special membership card (for them). We will also try to increase the partnership for this programme next year,” she added.

P&G has been providing branding skills as well as business opportunities to some of the mothers where they become suppliers for the brand’s Gift-with-Purchase campaigns.

WOMEN:girls president Low Ngai Yuen said there was no specific criteria for a mother to participate in Ibu Nakhoda Hidup.

“It would depend on the mother to suggest a business and we will assist according to the requirement,” she said.

Currently, Low said the mother-entrepreneurs were involved in selling hand-sewn products, accessories, scarves, food and fabrics.

She said the NGO would look for places to place the products for sale, either at Mydin or other locations to make them more attractive to consumers.

WOMEN:girls executive director Abby Latif said roadshows were organised to promote the products.

Abby said the NGO had received 117 submissions from mothers who were keen to participate in the programme this year.

Later, Ameer Ali handed a mock cheque for RM106,078.55 to Low for the programme’s smooth running this year.

The Ibu Nakhoda 2018 search, which began on March 15 will end on July 31.

A weekly photo contest on Instagram was held for public participation which required contestants to spot the WOMEN:girls team in Mydin during their on-ground nationwide tour and tag three entrepreneurs they know in the caption.

Three lucky winners were selected to receive Mydin shopping vouchers worth RM50 with the grand prize of Mydin shopping vouchers worth RM1,500.