Rohani (centre), Women’s Development Department director-general Datuk Yatimah Sarjiman (on her right) and others in a photograph with some of the students.
KUCHING: The small town of Beladin now has a fashion centre – a platform for women entrepreneurs to undergo courses and training in the field of dressmaking.
Known as Beladin Fashion Centre, it was declared open by Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Karim yesterday.
This project is one of the initiatives by the ministry, through the Women’s Development Department, to assist local female entrepreneurs, single mothers and women from low-income households to generate income while improving the family economy and living independently through entrepreneurial activities.
Rohani said the Beladin Fashion Centre project is capable of empowering women, especially housewives, single mothers and women under the B40 category to generate income.
“The teaching staff members have undergone intensive training for two weeks in Singapore to be specialised in certain skills and knowledge in the field of dressmaking so that their products can penetrate the international market.
“In addition, women who follow this project can be role models to others, for them to be financially independent and strive to generate more income for the family,” she said.
For starters, 25 women will undergo training there and it is expected that the number will increase to 300 soon.
Through a tie-up, manufacturers in Singapore will ship fabrics in bulk to be worked on by local women.
Once completed, the clothing will be sent back to Singapore to be marketed to other countries.
The project also received cooperation from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) especially the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI) which was set up on April 8 last year.
The establishment of IWFCI in Malaysia is the 12th in the world and Rohani has been appointed patron for this NGO.
(Front, from second left) Rohani, Yatimah, IWFCI president Datuk Elaine Teh, Beting Maro assemblyman Razaili Gapor and the ministry’s deputy secretary-general Azman Yusuf show some of the fashion sketches.