JOHOR BARU: The Rotary Club of Puteri Lagoon (RCPL) and the Rotary Club of Johor Straits View (RCJSV) are collaborating to empower single mothers to be trained in entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to be self-sustainable.
The project themed "Baking for a Cause" is to provide technical skills in baking so that they can be employed or be self-employed as bakers.
RCPL president Yee Woon Seng said initially 12 single mothers were selected to undergo this programme to be trained to adapt new skills and be independent.
"We want them to cultivate their self-confidence and take part in society as responsible individuals," he said.
He said many single mothers have been hit badly during the Covid-19 pandemic, either losing their jobs or can't work because they need to take care of their kids.
"Single mothers are in their predicament mostly because of spousal death, spousal abandonment or divorce. Many face financial challenges and most single mothers that hail from rural areas usually lack specialised job skills, as well as the education required to get proper employment," he said.
Yee stressed that Persatuan Kebajikan Wanita Penyayang Johor Baru, RCPL and RCJSV conducted the assessment to ensure the eligibility of the single mothers to take part in this programme.
"Financial independence is what single mothers are struggling to achieve. These women have virtually no savings or very minimal savings of their own," he explained.
Elaborating further, he said they were fully dependent on their husbands for finances. When they become single mothers, a heavy burden is placed upon their shoulders to fight for survival.
"They build a foundation of business skills through the programme and become economically independent for their families after graduating," he said.
He explained that these single mothers would be provided with raw materials, tools necessary and an oven which they can loan from the Club.
He said if these single mums can provide reports they bake daily or weekly for six months, then they can own the oven.
The aim of this project, he said, is to allow these single mums to stand on their own feet and venture into small home-based businesses to make ends meet.
He lamented the fact that many single mums are jobless and with our training, they can then embark into the business world and need not be dependent on others.
"Many of them are in dire straits and we show them how to make more money from their own home so that they can save and pay off their debts and educate their children," he stated.
He said once they pick up the skill and knowledge they can be employed in a bakery or pastry shop or even do online business by selling cakes or products for a living.
Yee who launched the programme hoped they could rope in more single mothers and provide the training so that they can lead a life of independence.
RCPL and RCJSV are extending their hands to help these mothers to earn money and to control their own lives both within and outside the home.
Present at the cake baking session were Permas assemblyman Baharudin Mohd Taib, RCPL president Yee Woon Seng, RCJSV president Catherine Chai and other Rotarian officials.