Women Of Will: A Tapestry of Empowerment and Hope for Women

What does social mobility mean to you? It may be that hard-won job promotion. Or perhaps power to acquire more of the creature comforts that vie for attention on our social media feeds. For the large majority of single mothers who fall under Malaysia’s B40 household category however, personal advancement may simply be the ability to afford the bare necessities —food, water and shelter. 

One such individual from the B40 community — which refers to the bottom 40 per cent of Malaysian households in terms of income distribution — is Isham binti Ramli, whose husband passed away 16 years ago while their children were in university. For years, the mother-of-three struggled to foot her family’s daily expenses, running multiple ventures including a mobile spa and food business.

“There were times when we only drank lukewarm water (instead of meals) as I didn’t have enough money. Around the time my husband left us, I felt like I had reached a dead end,” recounts Isham, who also goes by Misha. 

Then in 2016, an opportunity emerged for the entrepreneurial mother, who had previously supplemented her income by hawking food and taking on sewing assignments. Through a friend, Isham discovered Women Of Will (WOW), a non-governmental organisation that equips disadvantaged women with the skills, knowledge and funding to develop and run sustainable businesses. These include single mothers, widows, and abandoned or abused women who live in poverty and uncertainty.

“Women from the B40 community who have the desire and ambition to develop themselves should be given the opportunity to do so”, explains Lakshwin Muruga, executive director of Women Of Will. “Our goal is to support these women in reaching their full potential so that they can empower themselves, their families and their communities.”

Besides providing financial assistance to budding entrepreneurs via a micro-credit scheme, WOW also enrols them in their Entrepreneurial Development Programme where they can learn marketing and product development skills. As of 2023, the flagship programme has been implemented in 40 communities across Malaysia and helped some 2,700 women. 

These include Isham, who — in partnership with WOW — established a sewing centre in Petaling Jaya. Its first project was producing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers during the pandemic. Today, Isham oversees the production of hand-sewn pouches, among other items.

“The courses organised by WOW helped me build my sense of self-worth. Not only did they offer business tips, they also provided moral support,” shares Isham, who has attended a slew of WOW courses. “They especially understand single mothers,” she adds. The proud grandmother, whose children have since graduated from university and started their own families, will soon fully helm the sewing centre.

And the 60-year-old is now determined to pay it forward. As a community leader who chairs a volunteer organisation, she directs women to WOW programmes that help to level the playing field. 

“I always tell women that they need to have financial independence. If you see a business opportunity, just grab it. Don’t be shy,” says Isham.