WiSE | Women in Skills Empowerment
WiSE (Women in Skills Empowerment) is a 12-month community-based programme by PSPK supporting women from urban B40 and refugee communities to build practical skills, confidence, and readiness for income generation.
Through hands-on training in baking and tailoring, supported by mentorship and peer learning, participants strengthened technical skills, communication, and self-belief. WiSE focused on early-stage micro-entrepreneurship, enabling women to take first steps into income-generating activities aligned with their personal readiness.
A unique feature of WiSE was the mixed participation of Malaysian and refugee women, fostering cross-community learning, collaboration, and mutual support. The programme emphasised applied learning, allowing participants to practise skills through real orders and community-based sales.
At a Glance
- 20 women engaged (urban B40 women & refugee communities)
- 90% first-time micro-entrepreneurs
- Two vocational skill tracks: Baking & Tailoring
- Digital readiness & content skills
- 16 structured sessions per track with mentoring
- Approximately RM20,000 in cumulative participant sales achieved post-training
Uniqueness & Participant Benefits
What makes WiSE unique is its mixed participation of Malaysian and refugee women, creating a shared learning environment that strengthens skills while fostering mutual understanding and peer support. The programme focuses on early-stage micro-entrepreneurship, supporting women who are taking their first steps into income generation rather than those with established businesses.
Participants benefit from hands-on skills training, mentorship, and real-world exposure that builds confidence, communication, and readiness to engage customers. Beyond technical skills, WiSE supports self-worth, resilience, and leadership, enabling women to apply what they learn in ways that fit their personal circumstances and community contexts.
Core Capabilities Strengthened
Income-Generating Capabilities
- Practical baking and tailoring competencies aligned to market needs
- Product quality control, consistency, and customisation readiness
- First-time experience managing orders and receiving income
Micro-Entrepreneurship Readiness
- Basic pricing, cost awareness, and value articulation
- Customer communication and order negotiation
- Exposure to real-world sales and business processes
Digital & Market Access Capabilities
- Product presentation through basic photography
- Visual communication and simple branding using Canva
- Content creation to support product promotion
Confidence, Leadership & Social Capital
- Increased self-confidence and decision-making ability
- Communication, teamwork, and peer learning
- Early leadership and coordination readiness
Partnership
Implemented with support from Yayasan MySDG Foundation, under the theme of Sustainable Economic Security.
