Starting with no sewing skills to mastering them, and having a platform to earn an income is a huge achievement, especially with the support of materials and sewing machines to get started, said a participant of the Brunei Council on Social Welfare’s (MKM) ‘Harapan Ku – Tote Bag Empowerment Project’ in Temburong District recently.
The initiative aimed to support underprivileged women in Temburong by providing training and resources to create tote bags from recycled materials, allowing them to earn a stable income while promoting sustainability.
Participants Nurmalina binti Mohd Hussin, 22, and Aqilliya Arissya binti Muhammad Mu’in, 30, had minimal sewing experience prior to attending the project, but with the support of MKM, are planning to generate income through the project.
Many women in the project face challenges such as limited access to tools, preventing them from gaining financial independence.
With the project focusing on utilising recycled materials to produce tote bags, it aligns both environmental sustainability and economic empowerment by providing underprivileged women with the tools, training, and resources to establish a sewing business.
Nurmalina, who started sewing by hand at age 17, joined the project to further develop her passion.
She is also thankful for the sewing machine provided to her.
She plans to use the income from tote bag sales to cover her daily expenses, and encourages other women to do the same.
Meanwhile, Aqilliya said she initially joined just to try it out but found the project valuable in enhancing her sewing skills, especially with a sewing machine.
She hopes the skills and resources will allow her to contribute to her family, easing her husband’s financial burden while supporting their two young daughters. – Lyna Mohamad
