The WOW empowerment programme at PPR Lembah Subang has helped B40 women improve their livelihood. — Photos: AZMAN GHANI/The Star
Over 10,000 women at low-cost housing benefit from eight years of guidance
Low-income women from People’s Housing Programme (PPR) Lembah Subang came together to celebrate significant livelihood improvements after being part of the Women of Will (WOW) empowerment programmes for eight years.
The WOW programmes is aimed at instilling business skills among women, to enable them to increase their incomes and have better quality of life.
The organisation also introduced leadership programmes to train women to take up significant roles as well as handle community needs.
In an event themed “Empowering women, Empowering communities; Celebrating the transformation of Lembah Subang”, the spotlight was on the efforts of these women in bettering themselves and their communities.
WOW president Datin Goh Suet Lan said there were challenges when the non-governmental organisation (NGO) first began extending its services and programmes to the PPR Lembah Subang community.
“Only half of the invitees attended our activities, no matter how interesting we tried to make them,” she said.
“The lack of cooperation among residents, trust towards WOW and community resources made it harder for us to proceed with our plans,” she elaborated.
Goh says WOW is committed to replicate the success of its Lembah Subang programme in other communities nationwide.
However, after months of meetings and seeking compromises, the NGO managed to reach its goals.
“The transformation of PPR Lembah Subang is a sign of the women’s determination in rising above the challenges to rebuild their lives,” said Goh.
“This proves our belief that by investing in women, we are investing in the betterment of their families and communities,” she emphasised.
Successful business owners who participated in WOW’s programmes shared their experience with StarMetro.
One of them was Isham Romli, 60, a community leader as well as founder and president of the Association of Empowered Women Leaders – an NGO born from WOW’s programme.
“After joining WOW in 2016, I progressed to its advanced classes and was proud of the skills that I had learned.
Norol is a proud online business owner selling traditional kuih.
“The courses on business, financial management and self-grooming are very important in shaping who I am today,” she said.
Isham, who had dreamt of becoming a tailor, helped set up the WOW sewing centre.
Located within the vicinity of the PPR, the sewing centre allowed women to learn tailoring and venture into the clothing business.
“It is a valuable community resource that helps generate income for women in the long term.
“I believe it is important for women to have sustainable security and growth in business,” she said.
Besides tailoring, the community had also developed a food and beverage business.
WOW participant Norol Hidayah Ahmad Khalipah, 33, who has been staying at PPR Lembah Subang for 12 years, now owns an online business selling traditional kuih.
Lalitha finds joy in her flower-arrangement skills.
“After my husband lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I was keen to do something to help save our family,” the mother-of-four said.
“I had started a catering business but I lacked knowledge and experience.
“After joining WOW’s courses, I changed my business direction towards desserts and saw great improvement,” she related.
Norol Hidayah said gaining knowledge about financial management made her conscious of her spending habits as she had to factor in her daily income.
“I did not keep track of my daily income previously.
“Now, I have a savings account for myself and my children and I bank in a little bit of money every day,” she said.
Her income has also gone up, from barely RM1,000 a month to a consistent average of RM6,000.
Another hard-working business owner is single mother Lalitha Muniandey, 48, who has lived in PPR Lembah Subang for 18 years.
“I used to run a simple sundry store from my house where I sold necessities like instant noodles and mobile top-ups.
“Though my income back then was enough to cover the education needs of my four children and my own expenses, I did not have any extra money to spend on anything else,” she said.
In almost eight years as a WOW participant, Lalitha had learned the importance of financial management.
She has now saved enough money to send her children for tuition classes.
She also owns a floral arrangement business at a kiosk in Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya.
“Everyone loves fresh flowers.
“So I believe it is a career choice that is worth trying, and I have no regrets,” she added.
The WOW programme, in partnership with Hasanah Foundation and Finance Ministry, had impacted over 10,000 PPR Lembah Subang residents.
WOW plans to replicate the success of its programmes in other low-income communities across Malaysia.
