YWCA launches accelerator to help female entrepreneurs scale their business
This is part of the charity’s new Hopemaker Movement, which seeks to uplift the lives of women
[SINGAPORE] Two years ago, Cathy Kim – a widow and mother of Jeon Joon Hyeong, a 26-year-old with special needs – was introduced to hand-built ceramics.
Creating such items has now become an avenue of income for the mother-son duo as they have began selling their creations since last August at bazaars organised by various social service agencies.
Seeing a business opportunity, Kim joined a programme by YWCA to learn fundamental skills in this area and gain connections, in hopes of expanding her business and producing more high-value items.
She is one of 20 participants in the Women’s Business Accelerator Programme, which was launched on Tuesday (Jul 22).
Kim aims to obtain her own space with a kiln to make more ceramics, not only to make her operations more efficient, but also to teach other women and special needs adults her craft.
Economic empowerment
The Women’s Business Accelerator Programme aims to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses by providing business training, mentoring opportunities and access to YWCA’s network of community and corporate partners.
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The pilot programme targets women from challenging backgrounds – such as those from lower-income groups, caregivers of children with special needs, and transnational women – who face barriers due to a lack of digital and financial literacy, as well as limited access to resources.
Sim Hwee Hoon, president of YWCA Singapore, said many of these women may not be suited to working in a traditional employment setting.
“What they need is an avenue for flexible income generation, while at the same time fulfilling their caregiving responsibilities,” she added.
YWCA worked with social service agencies to recruit participants. Though the programme does not have fixed criteria for those who want to join, participants usually already have concrete plans for a business or have already started one.
“This could be something that is perhaps just a passion for them, and we can turn it into something that is sustainable for the longer term,” Sim said.
The pilot cohort underwent an eight-week course to learn essential business skills. They will continue to receive individualised mentorship from industry experts and entrepreneurs, gain opportunities to pitch to seed funders, and access YWCA’s network.
Sim emphasised the importance of equipping women with the right skill sets so that they can be financially independent.
“YWCA’s focus is largely to help support women in the vulnerable space through practical, actionable steps. We believe that economic empowerment is the most sustainable way to help someone.”
Another participant in the programme is Nurulfatin Afiqah Binti Ahmad, or Ann, who has a home-based business cooking and selling traditional Malay dishes.
In 2018, amid financial difficulties in her family, Ann turned to cooking as a way to heal and cope.
When she realised how much her daughter enjoyed her cooking, she started listing her food on Carousell in hopes that other people would enjoy it too. She got her first customer in six months.
Ann joined the Women’s Business Accelerator Programme at the recommendation of her social worker. She hopes to return to the workforce, but wants to also expand and continue her business as a side hustle.
During the course, Ann learned about budgeting, accounting and marketing techniques. She aims to obtain the relevant licences to one day set up a small kitchen or shop and hire other mothers facing adverse circumstances.
The Women’s Business Accelerator Programme is part of the newly launched Hopemaker Movement, which uplifts the lives of women and their families and provides a supportive network for them.
YWCA will continue recruiting participants for future cohorts; the charity also invites entrepreneurs, organisations and corporations to support the women in mentorship and seed funding.
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