State to have collection centre for creative sewing products soon, says Fatimah

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KUCHING: Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah is looking forward to the establishment of the first collection centre for creative sewing products in Sarawak by end of this year to help boost the economy of local entrepreneurs.

The collection centre will help entrepreneurs, especially women and single mothers, to display their handmade products and create a market for them.

“We aim to have our first collection centre of products produced by women, single mothers and low-income individuals to help them increase their household income and move away from poverty.

“It is high time for us to have a collection centre that will also create a solid platform for these entrepreneurs to market their products,” she said during the presentation of Guinness World Records certificates cum ‘Restyle and Business Matching’ programme at Wisma Wanita here yesterday.

Fatimah pointed out that several organisations wanted to help fulfil this wish, including CityOne Megamall Kuching.

“They have offered us a space in the mall to be turned into a platform for Sarawakian entrepreneurs to market their high-quality handmade products.

“This is an opportunity not to be missed and must be seized by them,” she added.

Fatimah hoped that more agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would help realise the dream of entrepreneurs in the state, especially the women and single mothers, as she pointed out: “When we help a woman, we help the whole family.

“It is our hope that by 2018, we will be able to reduce or achieve zero-hardcore poor in Sarawak.”

The minister also encouraged women to use their greatest potential to change the lives of their families, communities and state.

“We also hope to have more entrepreneurs in the near future.

“Wisma Wanita Training Centre (WWTC) is a great platform for women to learn to cook, sew and learn makeup artistry. The courses offered here are free and women should take the initiative to grab the opportunities given and thus, use the skills to improve the livelihood of their families.”

Earlier at the event, Fatimah presented certificates of participation to 16 Sarawak women who took part in a mass sewing event at Cempaka Sari Auditorium in Putrajaya Corporation Complex on April 9 – setting up a Guinness World Record for ‘The Most People Sewing Simultaneously’.

The event was jointly run by the Creative Sewing Art Association (PSJK); Pusat Latihan Kraftangan Epal; Putrajaya Corporation; Women, Family and Community Development Ministry as well as Janome Malaysia – in conjunction with the Malaysian Batik Sewing Art Exhibition, where 606 creative individuals took part.

“This event proves that if we do something and put our hands together, we can achieve our biggest dream. What cannot be achieved by a person can be achieved by a group.

“Hopefully, there will be more records to be broken by the entrepreneurs and creative individuals in the state in years to come,” she added.

The ceremony yesterday was also attended by state Women and Family Department director Noriah Ahmad, Epal Handicraft Training Centre founder and managing director Fully Chye Goet Lee and Tekun Nasional officer Siti Haja Mustapha.