Single mothers are being roped in to make souvenirs for Visit Perak Year 2012 to allow them to earn extra income, said State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman.
“Single mothers can come up with ideas for souvenirs or any other products for VPY 2012.
“We understand that living costs are rising and we want to help them find ways to increase their income,” she told members of the Sikh Single Mothers’ Association Ipoh (Sikhmai) at the Ipoh YMCA recently.
Hamidah, who presented aid to 170 single mothers and their children during the gathering, said single mothers had heavy responsibilities to bear.
“Single mothers often have to double up as fathers in bringing up their children. You must not neglect your children but give them what they need,” said Hamidah to her audience. Hamidah is also state Welfare and Women Affairs Committee chairman.
She later announced a RM10,000 allocation for Sikhmai in addition to a RM50,000 grant from the state government.
Sikhmai chairman Amarjid Kaur said the association was set up four years ago to provide aid and empower single mothers, while also providing attention to their children.
“We hand out provisions to some 30 single mothers and their families. In addition we conduct training workshops on tailoring, make-up application and hairstyling.
“We also try to help their children secure places at institutions of higher learning as well as come up with the money to pay for the necessary fees first,” she said.
Most recently, Sikhmai raised RM7,800 for single mother Ranjit Kaur to get an artificial limb after her right leg was amputated due to gangrene, she added.
-Thestar
