“LOVE COOKIES” ANOTHER PROJECT BY WANITA GERAKAN

Wanita Gerakan is responding to the national cry to help single mothers. Statistics (2006) indicated that there are an estimated 650,000 single mothers. This is an alarming increasing number in the country. Of this figure, 129,000 of them need help. The study shows that some are just teenagers who have to support their children on their own.

Another survey which was carried out by Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO : 2006) showed that the women surveyed earn well below the mean monthly gross household income of RM2453; 52 percent of them fall in the low-income household bracket, earning less than RM1500 monthly and 9.5 percent are even living in poverty, earning less than RM450 monthly.

Dato’ Tan Lian Hoe, Ketua Wanita Gerakan, said the wing is coming up with a national programme to guide single mothers to become independent financially and mentally so that they can bring up their children well. This programme which is called “Love Cookies” aims to collect RM400,000 for the Single-Mother’s Fund to help in its activities to equip single mothers with knowledge and skills through relevant courses, workshops and small business ownerships.

Dato’ Tan Lian Hoe appeals to all party members and the public to come forward to render their help with the sales and purchase of the 200,000 tins of cookies each costing RM9.00. RM2.00 from the purchase of each tin will be donated to the Single Mother’s Fund. “We hope to be able to achieve our target of collecting RM400,000 for the fund by July 2007” added the Ketua Wanita. “By the year 2008 we hope to see the single mothers being able to start their own businesses.

There will be an official launching by YB Dato' Shahrizat Binti Abdul Jalil Minister of Women, Family & Community Development on Saturday, 20 th January 2007 at 3.00 pm at 1-Utama Shopping Center (Old Wing – Beside East India Co.), Bandar Utama, Damansara, Selangor.