BEACON FOR WOMEN: Nancy (seated centre) and members of the association.
KUCHING: It is a great satisfaction to see women and their families progressed tremendously and also my dream to see women involved in NGOs such as SFWI, become role models to other women in Malaysia and the world.- Nancy Shukri, Sarawak Federation of Women’s Institute (SFWI) chairwoman
A women’s leader expressed her pride to see more women holding important positions in government agencies, corporate bodies and also in their own business entities.
“It is a great satisfaction to see women and their families progressed tremendously and also my dream to see women involved in NGOs such as SFWI, become role models to other women in Malaysia and the world,” said Sarawak Federation of Women’s Institute (SFWI) chairwoman Nancy Shukri.
She said looking back at women’s involvement in the social and economic activities in the 60s SFWI has achieved a great deal towards the development of women in the state.
“SFWI is just like a reflection of one of its founder and very dedicated administrator, Datin Hajah Rugayah Majid who played a pivotal role in helping SFWI succeed,” said Nancy who is also a Batang Sadong MP.
She also revealed that the association has welcomed guests from other countries who were interested to learn how SFWI developed women in rural areas in their capacities as mothers, entrepreneurs and leaders.
“I am thankful for the government who provided assistance in the form of grants and programmes while the state women’s bureau under Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah and the federal women’s bureau under Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil have given SFWI a lot of support to ensure continuity of training programmes for the association,” she added.
Nancy, who made the comments in conjunction with the anniversary of SFWI yesterday, also pointed out that the association’s formation day has been gazetted in the state almanac, indicating the importance of the role of women non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the state.
“I practically grew up with SFWI due to my mother’s involvement with the association in 1962 and after years of observation, I’ve come to a conclusion that many women entrepreneurs here began their entrepreneurial activities with SFWI and have in turn succeeded in their various fields of expertise,” she said.
This year’s 49th anniversary and annual meeting will be held in Sri Aman with the theme ‘Generating Income through Innovation and Creativity’, aimed at providing skills to help improve income for its members.
To be attended by 40 delegates throughout Sarawak, the activities included visits to the orphanage and the nearby hospitals while SFWI patron Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah, is expected to officiate the annual dinner tomorrow.
SFWI organises programmes to ensure consistency of skills applications where to date, more than 8,000 members from 301 SFWI branches from around the regions have benefited from government grants as well as government training programmes.