Thirty-one trainees of YWCA Kuala Lumpur’s Vocational Training Opportunity Centre (VTOC) shared a proud moment recently at the institution’s 27th graduation ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
Over a one-year period, the trainees, who also stayed in the dormitory at the school in Jalan Hang Jebat, were equipped with both the required knowledge as well as the soft skills needed for the job market.
Founded by the late Datuk Dr Rasammah Bhupalan and Datuk Ramani Gurusamy in 1998, VTOC offers the underprivileged, including the Orang Asli, opportunities to learn useful skills in the fields of culinary and bakery, beauty care, and hairdressing.
It provides vocational skills training irrespective of ethnicity, religion, and social and cultural differences.
In her welcome address at the Mar 28 graduation ceremony, VTOC chair Joanne Yeoh paid tribute to Rasammah and Ramani for pushing for the centre’s establishment as a means to empower underprivileged young women to achieve their potential and realise their aspirations.
“The highlight of the women’s achievements in the course is when they successfully acquire internships with organisations and gain hands-on experience in actual work environments,” said Yeoh.
Other than core courses in their various disciplines, trainees are exposed to areas such as people skills, event management, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
A total of 136 guests graced the ceremony in support of the trainees’ achievements, with actor Chacko George Vadaketh volunteering to emcee the ceremony for the second year running.
Yeoh said VTOC, which welcomes its 2026/2027 intake today, is always grateful for the many volunteers who stepped up to assist in various ways.
She said the next intake will see the introduction of a new course to prepare the students for the hospitality industry.
For details, visit vtoc.org
