KUCHING, Nov 11: Micro Entrepreneurs Welfare Programme (UMK) participants can earn more than RM17,229.65 per month with assistance and guidance from the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development (KWKPK).
KWKPK Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the through the programme, the participants are given guidance for two years in the form of training and skill courses, including on packaging, labeling, direct marketing and online marketing.
“Through UMK, each recipient is given a maximum of RM5,000 grant in the form of business equipment.
“This year a total of 1,235 UMK participants are active and currently undergoing the mentoring process,” said Fatimah in her speech during the “Hari Keusahawanan Mikro Kebajikan dan Hari OKU” celebration held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), here today.
On another note, Fatimah said the ministry’s full time residential home at the Special Need Community Centre (SNCCs), would provide the accommodation needed for OKU children who have no caretaker.
According to Fatimah, the ministry is aware of some parents’ concerns regarding who will take care of their OKU children when they passed away.
“With that in mind, we also will have another component under SNCC’s full time residential home for those that do not have anyone who can look after them,” she assured.
She said at SNCC, the whole spectrum of needs of the disabled (OKU), from young to adulthood, is catered for.
“There will be access to diagnosis, early intervention, primary and secondary education, vocational training, sheltered workshop, daycare centre, sports and recreation, and full-time residential home,” she added.
Fatimah pointed out that SNCC will have a pool of professional support groups consisting of special education teachers, physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists to provide counselling and guidance for students, parents and teachers.
“Skill training, with certification where possible, is provided to equip OKU with the necessary skills to be employable in the job market or to become self-entrepreneurs,” she said.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and his wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud, Assistant Minister of Community Well-being Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus and Welfare Department Sarawak director Noriah Ahmad. — DayakDaily
