Mom’s Village: Using business to empower women
PUCHONG: There is no limit to what we, as women can accomplish, said former First Lady Michelle Obama.
With that in mind, Mom’s Village Malaysia founder Vatsala Nair Manoharan set up her organisation to train women to become financially independent so that they can take charge of their own lives.
Speaking to The Leaders Online team, Vatsala said that her organisation can help women to discover and nurture their own values, by offering them a conducive support system.
For starters, Vatsala initiated the RM10 campaign for housewives last year to encourage women start their own business from home.
“This business can make a woman earn at least RM10 a day, where she can spend her own money to a buy a meal.
“Even though it’s just RM10, the idea is, it’s her own money and no one can question on how she spends it or take it away from her. This is the objective behind the campaign,” she said.
Speaking about her work, Vatsala said that most women under her wing suffered domestic violence in the past.
Due to the trauma, some of them suffer from mental health issues such as depression.
“When I work with them, I can see that they want to be independent. So, that’s why I encourage them to venture into business.
“Whether it makes a profit or not is secondary matter. The idea is they should be able to make at least some pocket money for themselves,” she said.
Vatsala added that she also helps empower women working with her to make their own life decision. With self-confidence and empowerment, the abuse they suffer declines and even stop.
“The abuse they suffer stop once they do things for themselves. They become more independent and confident.
“They also get empowered and realise that they don’t deserve such treatment from their spouses,” Vatsala said.
On Mom’s Village, Vatsala said that she works on community-based projects, where women can start selling their own products. However, the organisation itself does not help to sell the products directly.
She added that mothers who are unable to leave their kids to go for work can tryout their ‘start-up suri’ programme, where the organisation would plant the idea of setting up a business in their minds and work on a business model for them.
“We also offer a business networking system which known as ‘business shower’.
“This is where we group them together and get them to market their products and share ideas with those in the group. This will help them improve their products,” said Vatsala.
This organisation also has trading models where some women will be employed by the organisation. This in turn, will help them get the necessary capital to start their business venture.
When asked about other plans for housewives, Vatsala said “We are planning to look for crowdfunding and train our women to become distributors.
“In six months, we will be able to do this,” she said.
In a message to men, Vatsala said the former should support their spouses to become financially independent, as blocking such effort would also be considered as domestic violence.
“A woman should know domestic violence is not confined to physical harming. A man who stops them from earning is also committing domestic violence.
“Women should be rid off this problem,” she said.
By S Jeevita
