Mah Sing Foundation (MSF) and Women of Will (WOW) celebrated a major milestone recently with the graduation of 50 women from the second cohort of their Women Entrepreneurship Programme (WOWED) at PPR Seri Semarak. This marks the 5th year of collaboration between MSF and WOW to empower women from B40 communities through skills training and entrepreneurship support.
The WOWED programme, which began in 2021, has now benefitted 100 women from PPR communities in Kuala Lumpur. The first cohort from PPR Seri Alam completed their training in 2023, where over 90% saw an increase in income. The second cohort made up of 50 women from PPR Seri Semarak showed remarkable progress:
- 56% increase in average monthly business income
- 29% increase in household income
- 171% increase in personal savings
Empowering Through 5,000 Hours of Training and Community Leadership
Since its launch, the WOWED programme has delivered more than 5,000 hours of training to 100 women from PPR Seri Alam and PPR Seri Semarak, covering entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital marketing, product development and personalised business coaching. Each participant also received an interest-free microcredit loan of RM2,000, with a portion repaid into a Community Fund that supports local development initiatives.
To further strengthen impact within the community, 12 participants have completed a structured 10-module leadership programme designed to equip them with the confidence and skills to drive change. These women now lead Community Fund projects that address local needs, including tuition classes for students, computer literacy programmes for senior citizens and other initiatives that uplift the wider community.
Mah Sing Foundation’s Chairman, Dato’ Indera Syed Norulzaman Syed Kamarulzaman, who officiated the graduation said, “These women have shown that with the right support and training, they can change not just their own lives, but also the lives of those around them. This is real impact and it’s why Mah Sing Foundation continues to invest in programmes like this.”
Empowering Voices: Personal Impact Stories
“As a mother of three and wife of a retired army officer, I used to sell my homemade kuah rojak within the community. After joining the programme, I learned to improve my packaging, use digital marketing and gained the confidence to grow. Today, Kuah Rojak Makteh is sold at petrol stations and the Chow Kit Market, and I’ve even received SIRIM certification. This programme gave me the skills, confidence and support I needed to take my business seriously,” said WOWED participant, Siti Rahmah binti Ahamad
For Amirah binti Faeizel Amril, a housewife and mother of three, the journey began when she noticed an unused kiosk in her apartment block. “I started Brekkie Dawn with just a simple idea which is to sell breakfast sandwiches. Through the WOWED programme, I learned how to improve my business, from better marketing materials to using TikTok to reach more people. I even went live to sell in real time, which I never thought I could do. My income grew from RM200 to RM900, and more importantly, I now have the more time to enjoy with my children,” she shared.
Women of Will President, Datin Wira Goh Suet Lan, said the programme is about more than just income. “When a woman is confident and financially independent, the whole family benefits. What we’re seeing today are women who are proud of themselves, proud of their work and ready to give back,” said Datin Wira Goh.
Moving Forward: Reaching More Women
Looking ahead, MSF and WOWED are committed to continuing the momentum. This year, the programme will expand to PA Desa Rejang and PPR Jelatek, with another 50 women expected to benefit. “As we move into the next phase of the programme, we remain focused on impact. We’ve seen what’s possible when women are given the right tools and guidance. With every cohort, we’re not only training entrepreneurs, we’re supporting mothers, daughters, and leaders who are reshaping their communities from the inside out,” said Dato’ Indera Syed Norulzaman.
