A helping hand: Anar (right) receiving the approval letter to operate Rumah Ibu Sabah from state welfare department director Jais Asri.
KOTA KINABALU: A heartbreaking discovery in faraway Kazakhstan has sown the seeds of hope for vulnerable women in Sabah.
More than a decade ago, Anar Rakhimbayeva and her husband stumbled upon an abandoned baby at a construction site in the Central Asian country.
The infant did not survive, but that moment became a turning point for Anar – leading to the creation of the Mother’s Home International Foundation (MHIF).
The foundation has now set up the first Mother’s Home in Malaysia and South-East Asia, the Rumah Ibu Sabah.
“Kindness knows no borders; love has no colour, and ‘mother’ sounds the same in every language of the world,” said Anar.
The MHIF founder oversees Mother’s Homes in countries as far as Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkiye.
For Sabahan women, the home is more than just a shelter, it is a lifeline.
According to project manager Raikhan Berekenova, the Kota Kinabalu-based centre can house up to seven mothers and their children at a time, with each family staying for as long as six months.
“We are collaborating with the Welfare Department, which refers distressed women to us. During their stay, they receive training, counselling, legal support and medical care.
“Our hope is for them to leave stronger, more stable, and ready to stand on their own,” she added.
Raikhan stressed that the choice of Sabah was no coincidence.
“Capitals like Kuala Lumpur are always in the spotlight and often receive attention and resources. We wanted to help an area that is not always in the spotlight.”
At Rumah Ibu Sabah, mothers are guided through job interviews, small business registration and given hands-on training in skills such as sewing, baking, cooking or beauty services, which are practical tools that can help them earn an income.
MHIF co-founder Arsen Tomsky said the centre aims to restore dignity as much as it provides safety.
“Every mother deserves the chance to raise her child in safety and dignity. With Mother’s Home Sabah, we are creating a support system that helps women in crisis find strength, stability and hope for the future,” he said.
The need, he added, is essential with high rates of single motherhood, underage pregnancies and mental health struggles.
State Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Maria Chong said Rumah Ibu Sabah would serve as an empowerment hub.
“Our mission is clear. We want children to grow up in the warmth of a family, cared for and safe. A child should not grow up in an institution, but in a family environment that provides stability and love,” she said.
Raikhan added that while the centre currently follows Kazakhstani guidelines, accepting women aged 18 to 35, they are open to adapting to local needs.
“We know there are many underage mothers here. Together with the Welfare Department, we hope to find solutions so that no young woman feels she has nowhere to turn,” she said.
