Silent heroes help restore economy of micro-women entrepreneurs

KUALA LUMPUR, March 7   — Being a frontliner in the fight against  COVID-19 is not an easy task, especially for women.

Although health workers and security members play a key role during this pandemic, those ‘behind the scene”  who helped in restoring the economy and people’s income also played a huge role.

One of them is Women Entrepreneur Network Association (WENA) president Nuraizah Shamsul Baharin,  who voluntarily came forward to help to cultivate the spirit of “women help women”.

Nuraizah said the effects of the pandemic had been a great blow to the community’s economy, especially women micro-entrepreneurs, and she and her non -governmental organization felt it their duty to help.

 “We admit, many of these micro -entrepreneurs are badly affected by the pandemic, some could not continue their business, forcing the closure of  the businesses.

“It made us think what we can do (to help). Apart from the assistance provided by the government,  we also need to take an approach to also help restore the economy and source of income for the people, ” she said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Nuraizah, who is also managing director of Madcat World Sdn Bhd, a company that develops mobile applications, said WENA had implemented three programmes since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to help women micro-entrepreneurs.

She said the programs included the MADCash program by her company where three women micro-entrepreneurs were given RM1,000 each.

“Alhamdulillah, through this program, those we helped were able to generate income of about RM16,000 during the last Hari Raya celebration,” she said.

She said through WENA,  a total of 30 women micro -entrepreneurs were given financial assistance and enrolled at an academy  to help them improve their business skills with the help of funding from the United States Embassy.

“This June, we will get another funding from the US Embassy for WENA to help more than 50 micro -entrepreneurs, who will then be enrolled in an academy to improve their business skills, as well as improve their  business,” she said.

Nuraizah said through the ‘BangKIT Bank Islam’ programme, MadCat, as the a ‘çhange maker’ received funding of between RM500 and RM20,000 to help about 100 micro-entrepreneurs.

We are still in the process of selecting the recipients, she added.

As a working woman and mother,  Nuraizah, who has a child,  said her aim was to create an  eco-system of women helping the women.

“Women do not live for themselves, but also for their children, husband and parents because they are taught to also be strong and are able to serve the country and the society,” she said.

This Monday, which is the International Women’s Day, the role and contribution of the women  in Malaysia will be celebrated with the theme “Wanita Waja Negara: Wanita Bangkit Mendepani Cabaran”.

— BERNAMA