Institute for women, elderly in state soon

Wong (third from left) presenting the mock cheque to nGOs at the urban Transformation Centre in Ipoh.

THE Perak government plans to set up an institute that caters for women, family and community development.

State Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Wong May Ing said the institute would provide training or workshops to educate the target group on how to care for themselves or those in need.

She said women or single parents would be equipped with skills to help them find work.

“They will learn caregiving skills to look after the needy or the elderly, which are needed at welfare homes,” she said after presenting a RM150,000 grant to 50 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at the Urban Transformation Centre in Ipoh.

She added that the initiative would benefit women, children, the disabled and the elderly.

Wong said the 50 NGOs each received RM3,000.

“Prior to this, we presented aid to old folks home and orphanages last month,” she said.

Apart from financial constraints, welfare homes, she said, particularly those with children also needed assistance to help with their studies.

“Some special needs children require teachers with the necessary skills to help them,” she said, hoping that the public sector would help with funding or finding teachers.

On another matter, Wong said a booklet on sexual harassment would be distributed to all schools in the state in February.

She said it would allow students to understand and be aware of the issue.

“We want students to understand what is it so they will not become victims.

“The other plan we have is to train school teachers to identify early signs of domestic violence among children,” she added.