The flagship programme also commemorated a decade-long partnership between WOW and Yayasan Hasanah, bringing together women entrepreneurs, community leaders, government agencies and strategic partners.
PETALING JAYA: Women of Will (WOW) marked its first large-scale community initiative in Kedah through its Community Wellbeing Day, reflecting the organisation’s expansion beyond the Klang Valley into states with higher socio-economic vulnerabilities and underserved communities.
The flagship programme also commemorated a decade-long partnership between WOW and Yayasan Hasanah, bringing together women entrepreneurs, community leaders, government agencies and strategic partners.
The event was officiated by Her Highness YTM Tunku Temenggong Kedah, Datuk Seri Diraja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz binti Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim.
In her royal address, she said women play a vital role in strengthening families and community resilience through both economic and caregiving contributions.
“Women work tirelessly, often without recognition, to ensure their families continue to persevere and progress. Through small businesses and daily sacrifices, they continue to rise again for the sake of their children and families,” she said.
Her Highness also commended WOW and Yayasan Hasanah for their decade-long partnership, which has extended its impact to underserved communities in Kedah.
Yayasan Hasanah trustee and managing director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki said the partnership with WOW has focused on empowering women and strengthening grassroots communities through entrepreneurship and leadership development.
She said Kedah was selected as a priority state due to its strong community potential, with programmes reaching areas including the People’s Housing Programme (PPR) in Kota Setar, PPR Seri Jerlun and Kampung Lahar.
WOW president Datin Wira Goh Suet Lan said the initiative reflects sustained collaboration aimed at creating long-term community impact.
“Our partnership with Yayasan Hasanah goes beyond funding support. It is a shared commitment towards sustainable grassroots development that uplifts women, families and communities,” she said.
State Welfare, Women, Family, Community and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Halimaton Shaadiah Saad said women’s empowerment initiatives have contributed to broader community progress.
“When women are equipped with support and confidence, they become catalysts for progress within their households and communities,” she said.
WOW began expanding into Kedah in 2021 through community assessments and stakeholder engagement sessions focusing on poverty intervention, women’s economic participation, entrepreneurship development and community resilience.
To date, the organisation has supported more than 150 women entrepreneurs across seven communities in Kedah and trained 21 women community leaders.
Among the participants, Syahida Shukor from PPR Seri Jerlun said her sambal business had grown from a home-based operation into a wholesale venture through continuous support and training.
Another participant, Nurzaisha Kasim from Kampung Lahar said entrepreneurship training had helped strengthen her branding, marketing and business management skills, enabling her to expand her catering business.
As part of the programme, WOW also shared preliminary findings from an ongoing research collaboration with Monash University Malaysia on the impact of women’s empowerment initiatives in low-income communities.
The study found that 31.6 per cent of participants reported business growth, 36.6 per cent registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), while 25.1 per cent took on community leadership roles.
Overall, WOW has empowered more than 2,900 women entrepreneurs and nurtured over 110 community women leaders across more than 45 communities in the Klang Valley, Kedah and Sabah.
