BACKGROUND
The South West CDC initiated a ComCare project, entitled Candles By Moms, in February 2007 to equip needy women with skills for home-based employment. The project trained an initial batch of 20 women to make candles, of which several of them begun earning extra money by fulfilling corporate orders for candles. Seven also went on to gain some retail experience by manning a stall selling candles at IKEA in June 2007.
WEworkz, a co-operative for women, is a spin-off from Candles By Moms. Run independently by a Board of Directors, WEworkz is built on sound business plan – to develop a pool of talented and skilful workforce so as to deliver quality products and services to the community. The Co-operative empowers women with relevant skills and knowledge, and be the demand aggregator by working with various community and corporate partners to secure business, as well as building network for part-time or free-lance services.
Women Enterprise Workz (WEworkz) was launched in March 2008, facilitated by the South West Community Development Council (CDC) and supported by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF). The aim of WEworkz is to encourage and empower Singaporean women, especially the more vulnerable, who are unable to commit to full-time employment due to their family priorities or circumstances, to engage in home-based economic activities. The Co-operative provides training and business opportunities that fit the members’ personal skills and interests.
Launch of WEworkz on 12 March 2008
VISION
To encourage and empower lower-income Singaporean women who are unable to commit to full time employment to engage in home-based economic activities to supplement their household income.
MISSION
Empower needy women with skills and business opportunities for economic independence so as to enable and enrich their lives.
‘Our experience at the CDC shows that one of the barriers to work for women is the lack of flexible part-time work that allows them to juggle between family and work. At the same time, many low-income families tend to have the husband as the sole breadwinner and could well do with some extra income earned by the wife.
WEworkz aims to equip in particular, women from low-income families with skills to enable them to work from home or be engage in some part-time work that allows them to supplement the family income and at the same time gain some financial independence. Working part-time could also allow them the possibilities of benefitting from the Work Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme to build up their retirement income.’
Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District and Advisor to WEworkz
