The PWW cafe at Perak Turf Club’s Equestrian Centre serves home-cooked meals. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star and courtesy photos
The Perak Women for Women Society (PWW) has launched a new empowerment initiative: a community-run book and cafe corner at the Perak Turf Club’s (PTC) Equestrian Centre in Ipoh.
The project offers women, particularly those from the B40 income group, a path to financial independence and confidence as they serve home-cooked meals in a green and tranquil setting.
PWW secretary and co-founder Yip Siew Keen said since operations began in March, the PWW Book and Cafe Corner is open four days a week – Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.(The cafe is closed on Ipoh race days, which is scheduled on some weekends.)
Guests enjoying their meals during a weekend at PWW cafe.
“Every Wednesday and Thursday, the cafe opens its doors for brunch from 11am to 1pm, while on weekends it is from 8.30am to 1pm,” she said when met at the cafe.
Yip said Thursday is particularly demanding, requiring an extra kitchen push to prepare a total of 100 servings.
“Sixty of these servings are sponsored food packets distributed to B40 families residing in the Taman Harmony Buntong flats and Kampung Tai Lee in Buntong.
“The remaining 40 servings are prepared for dine-in and takeaway customers.”
She said Thursday’s distribution, entirely sponsored by outsiders, has become a lifeline for many who depend on at least one warm, nutritious meal.
“A team of four women takes turns handling the preparation for this weekly commitment, with the income earned on operating days shared among all involved.
“The menu varies daily and dishes include nasi lemak, chicken curry, stir-fried cabbage, mee hoon as well as cakes and cookies for dessert,” she added.
Thilagam has built a small business that brings joy to her customers.
How the project started
Recalling how the project began, Yip said about a year ago, PTC offered PWW a small cafe at the Equestrian Centre.
She said a brainstorming session was held with the women to see who wanted to become entrepreneurs and a few showed interest.
“One of our members, Norhasliza Zainudin took charge of managing the cafe and training the women, teaching them how to cook better food, maintain hygiene and run a cafe efficiently,” Yip said.
Sumathi says PWW has helped hundreds of women overcome hardship.
Norhasliza, 51, runs a home-based catering business.
PWW provides the kitchen equipment such as pots, pans, utensils and electrical items.
“The women prepare their own menus and use their own capital.
“If needed, we offer small subsidies, but so far, they have been managing well.
“They make simple local dishes like nasi lemak, roti jala, mee curry and kuey teow,” she said.
On slower business days, Yip said friends support them by buying food, so they will not incur losses.
“So far, they are able to sustain and are motivated to continue.”
When asked if PWW hopes to increase its operating days, Yip confirmed the possibility exists, noting that the baking studio has more women with the potential to staff an additional day.
The studio, where classes started in September at Taman Harmoni Buntong Flats, trains women in baking and teaches how to promote their products online to become home-based entrepreneurs.
Yip said sometimes farmers would donate their produce.
If the women are able to sell it to raise funds, they do so.
“If we are unable to sell, then we let the women take back for them to cook, to cut down on their expenses or provide it to the poor,” she said.
Yip and Norhasliza taking a break at the pavilion.
PWW runs a small book corner within the same premises as the cafe, which is open on weekends from 9am to 1pm.
“Visitors can bring a mat, pick a book and enjoy a cup of coffee in a peaceful, natural environment over at the pavilion,” Yip said.
“We even started a small community reading programme, encouraging families to read together.”
She added that the nook is a calm, relaxing spot with a lovely atmosphere – a perfect place for people to unwind.
Vibrant movement
PWW president S. Sumathi said what began as a modest support group for women in crisis more than two decades ago had grown into a vibrant movement for empowerment skills training and community connection.
Sumathi said since its founding in 2003, PWW had helped hundreds of women overcome hardship through counselling, training and entrepreneurship programmes.
“With this latest initiative, the cafe and book corner are giving women a chance to gain financial independence and confidence,” she said.
Rozita finds the experience of running a cafe rewarding financially and socially.
She said PWW’s core mission was to empower women and girls through education, advocacy and crisis support.
Its key initiatives include providing assistance for domestic violence and abuse victims, running a pre-loved shop to fund training projects, running baking, sewing, computer and English classes, and feeding programmes for the underprivileged.
Sumathi said PWW started with the aim of empowering young girls to know their rights and to understand who they are, to uphold their rights, dignity and self-respect.
In the early days, PWW went to schools to talk about higher education and gender equality.
“We reached out to colleges, schools and communities to raise awareness about women’s rights and related issues.”
Sumathi said PWW was also part of the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, which includes about 15 organisations advocating for women’s rights.
“We help women in crisis, those facing domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment or child abuse, as well as cases involving gender inequality.”
In this regard, PWW works closely with the Welfare Department and the police.
It previously ran a shelter home, but decided to close it due to the complexity of cases, the need for 24-hour volunteers and high costs.
She added that it now focused on helping victims by connecting them with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
PWW often raises funds to help women and children in crisis, supporting them through difficult times, placing them in homes and helping with children’s schooling or transport.
“However, we cannot depend on donations alone.
“So, we started a pre-loved shop, where people donate items, and we also have new handmade crafts, aprons, jewellery and hand-painted tiffin carriers sold here.
Beautiful hand-painted tiffin carriers sold at the PWW shop in Ipoh.
“‘The shop has also become a community platform where women come for help, food aid, welfare information or advice when they face difficulties,” she added.
Norhasliza said she would oversee daily operations at the venue, with her main responsibility being the weekend breakfast service.
“I’m here to monitor everything for now.
“On weekends, I handle the breakfast myself, from 8.30am to 1pm,” she said.
She also manages small-scale events hosted at the premises, typically catering for groups of 30 to 50 people.
“One of our recent engagements involved participants of the Mrs Asia pageant, who stopped by for breakfast before their photography session.
“Other major bookings are usually for the Cup Race on Dec 6, where we expect between 80 and 100 guests,” added Norhasliza.
Running the cafe
K. Thilagam, 53, one of the three women who runs the cafe, has been a familiar face at PWW for the past eight years and also joined the baking classes offered.
The mother of three grown-up children has not only honed her baking skills but has also built a small business that brings joy to her customers.
“Even before joining PWW, I already had a love for baking, but the courses and workshops at the classes have helped take my skills to the next level,” she said.
Yip showing some of the pre-loved clothes available at the PWW shop in Jalan Market.
Thilagam, who works full time ironing clothes at a house, said her creations – from biscuits to traditional treats like seri muka, nona manis and popiah – had earned a steady stream of orders.
“The cafe also introduces me to new people, many of whom become loyal customers.
“At the cafe, I have developed the ability to cooperate with friends, choose the best ingredients and manage a small business efficiently,” she said.
Rozita Ahmad Dayarby, 53, a former factory supervisor, said she found new opportunities in sewing and baking, eventually establishing a small business that allowed her to generate extra income and connect with the community.
She began her working life as a supervisor in a factory.
When the company shut down, she upgraded her skills.
Rozita, a widow, joined the Community Development Department (Kemas) sewing workshops and later participated in PWW programmes, where she honed her sewing skills and eventually taught classes for the B40 community.
“My journey did not stop there, as I later enrolled in PWW’s baking classes, which led to an opportunity to run the cafe.
“I started by selling my signature butter cakes, which quickly became popular among customers,” she said.
Her cafe experience also involved cooking a variety of dishes, including nasi lemak and fried bee hoon, rotating shifts with other participants.
The mother of two, and now a grandmother of two, finds the experience rewarding both financially and socially.
“Being here, I can earn extra income, meet new people and even gain knowledge.
“Everyone here is very friendly and it is great to see people from all backgrounds working together,” she said.
M. Indira Gandhi, 50, a mother of three, has been lending her culinary skills to the cafe.
“I started cooking when they opened in March, and in addition to my work at the cafe, I also tutor underprivileged students at the Harmony Flats,” she added.
Indira takes turns preparing dishes such as chicken curry, chapati and thosai, with the cafe rotating menus every week.
“It’s very enjoyable cooking here. We have a diverse team from all races and we work as a team rather than seeing it as a competition,” she said.
A trained baker, she also takes part in the cafe’s baking activities, producing cakes and cookies.
Reflecting on her journey, she credited PWW with helping her increase her income as a single mother and providing a platform to give back to the community.
“PWW has been very helpful to me throughout my journey,” she said, referring to her well-publicised ordeal to find her youngest daughter who was taken away by her husband 16 years ago.
For Loon Pooi Pooi, 40, who comes to collect food from here every Thursday, life is a daily balancing act.
A mother of six, she spends her days caring for her children at their rented home in Menglembu, while her husband works as a foreman, earning RM2,000 a month.
Her children are aged between nine and 23.
“Two of my children have special needs.
“My 17-year-old daughter is mute, while my nine-year-old son, who has a twin sister, is unable to speak or walk.
“Every Thursday, I receive 10 packets of food, which help lessen my burden a little,” she said.
