(Seated from left) Dr Ezura, Ellisha and Shahridan with PPR Desa Tun Razak community leaders (standing from left) Arbaayah Awang and Haniza Nasir at the Kelip briefing. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
Initiative transforms mums into peer educators, fostering sustainable change and well-being
FOR many mothers living in Kuala Lumpur’s low-cost flats, access to maternal and child health services often feels like a distant dream: out of reach, too costly or time consuming.
But a new community-led initiative called Kelip (Kelab Intan Payung), spearheaded by social enterprise Thrive Well with support from Think City, has been quietly transforming lives for public housing project residents at PPR Lembah Subang 1 and PPR Desa Tun Razak.
According to a media briefing on the initiative by Kelip at PPR Desa Tun Razak, the model is simple but powerful.
Mothers are trained to become community leaders who, in turn, serve as peer educators and provide emotional support to others in their neighbourhood.
One of the most popular activities under Kelip is the “Masak Apa Tu?” initiative, literally translated as “what are you cooking?”.
There, families learn to make healthier meals without losing the comfort and familiarity of everyday dishes.
For some, it is the first time they realise that changing cooking habits can make such a big difference to their children’s well-being.
But beyond nutrition, the project’s real impact lies in the emotional connections it fosters.
Despite the presence of national healthcare programmes, many low-income families struggle to access them due to limited awareness, high cost or the overwhelming demands of daily life.
The Kelip study highlights how these gaps push mothers to rely on informal networks which may often be unreliable or inadequate.
By formalising these support systems and rooting them in the community, Kelip creates a sustainable model of care that goes beyond handouts.
Early results are already encouraging, with mothers reporting improved knowledge, healthier food choices and stronger bonds with their children.
By turning mothers into leaders, Kelip has shown that sustainable change doesn’t always come from large-scale programmes, but from investing in the people at the heart of the community.
The project’s consultants include Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM Assoc Prof Dr Ezura Madiana Md Monoto, clinical psychologist and Thrive Well managing director Ellisha Othman and Think City technical director Dr Shahridan Faiez. — By M. JIWA PRIYAA
