Perak:The Perak Department of Women Development is taking significant steps to empower women from the B40 income group through the Khadijah Artisans Mentoring Programme (KAMP 2.0). This initiative, in collaboration with the Khadijah International Waqf (L) Foundation and CIMB Foundation, aims to guide women entrepreneurs in handicraft businesses to enhance product quality and expand market access.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak Women Development Office director S. Kavaramma emphasized the program's role in transforming the business practices of informal sector entrepreneurs. Participants, who were already skilled in handicraft production, received training in areas such as packaging, labelling, branding, and marketing strategies to make their products more competitive.
Kavaramma noted that before the program, products were often sold in basic packaging without labels or branding. After approximately seven months of training, the handicrafts now present a more professional image, with the potential to reach a broader market. The program selected 15 participants based on their commitment, providing them with practical training and market experience to better understand business operations and customer needs.
The initiative also aims to increase the participants' income by offering access to wider marketing opportunities, including sales platforms in the Klang Valley facilitated by KIWF. Discussions are underway to establish more marketing platforms in Perak.
KIWF chairperson Rohani Mohd Shahir highlighted the focus on women artisans from the B40 and asnaf groups, who are eligible for zakat assistance and require business expansion support. The program has successfully provided market access in Kuala Lumpur, the Klang Valley, and Seremban, allowing participants to broaden their customer base and boost sales.
To date, 40 entrepreneurs from Perak have benefited from KAMP, with 25 in the first cohort and 15 in the second, each undergoing about eight months of training. One participant, Hamidah Suratman from Gopeng, shared her success story. The 63-year-old retired teacher plans to open a handicraft center for guided classes and has achieved sales of up to RM9,000 from her batik products since joining the program.