Empowering Women An Investment In Society's Future - Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz

AYER HITAM, May 23 (Bernama) --  Efforts to empower women should be viewed as an important investment in the future of society, said Tunku Temenggong Kedah Datuk Seri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

She said the strength of a community often begins at home, with women playing not only the role of caregivers but also serving as community builders and catalysts for social change.

“In many households, there are women who work tirelessly every day, often unnoticed and without praise, yet continue making sacrifices to ensure their families survive and progress.

“Some run small businesses from their kitchens, while others begin life with very little. Some have stumbled and lost confidence, but they rise again for the sake of their children, their families and a better future,” she said.

Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz said this when opening the Women of Will (WOW) and Yayasan Hasanah Community Wellbeing Day at the PPR Sri Jerlun Community Hall today, which was also attended by Yayasan Hasanah trustee and managing director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki and WOW president Datin Wira Goh Suet Lan.

She also expressed appreciation for the role played by WOW and Yayasan Hasanah as strategic partners in creating opportunities for communities to grow sustainably and with dignity.

“I would like to commend WOW for its meaningful efforts in building and strengthening communities through various women and family development programmes, especially in Kedah,” she said.

Meanwhile, Goh said WOW’s long-term success was achieved through strong collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah, which extended beyond funding support to focus on sustainable grassroots development.

“WOW began expanding its initiatives in Kedah in 2021 through community assessments and engagement sessions to identify key needs involving poverty intervention, women’s economic participation, entrepreneurship development and community resilience,” she said.

According to her, WOW has so far supported more than 150 women entrepreneurs across seven communities in Kedah and developed 21 women community leaders.

Nationwide, the organisation has empowered more than 2,900 women entrepreneurs and over 110 community leaders across more than 45 communities in the Klang Valley, Kedah and Sabah.

-- BERNAMA