Nancy said women would, by participating, be able to gain insights into prevailing issues that affect them, learn new skills and exchange ideas with their peers.
To give more women across the country the opportunity to mark the occasion, this year’s celebrations have been hosted in five zones across the country, a departure from the tradition of holding the event only in Kuala Lumpur.
The venues were Kuching, Sarawak for the Borneo Zone, and Kuala Terengganu for the East Zone. Those in the north marked the occasion in Ipoh, Perak; in the south, the place to be was Johor Bahru and in the central region, it was held Seremban.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will launch the main event at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (March 8).
Nancy said women will get to talk to each other and share their stories at the International Women’s Day celebrations.
“They can also share their views on subject matters that women in other places may still not be aware of,” she told FMT in an exclusive interview recently.
Nancy said the opportunity to have so many women share stories and experiences at the same place and time would also enhance their empowerment.
She said there was a critical need to empower women from under-represented and rural communities.
“We hope to see more women heard and supported. These events are an opportunity for them,” she said.
LaWa centres: advancing financial, digital skills for women
Given that the task of enhancing women empowerment is an ongoing process, the ministry has also set up Laman Wanita (LaWa) in various states to serve as local centres focused on programmes to upskill women.
Apart from that, these centres also serve as platforms from where women can sell their products and share their expertise with other women, Nancy said.
A total of 14 LaWa centres have already been set up, across seven states, namely Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Labuan.
Nancy also shared the story of a woman who has already benefited from the LaWa initiative.
The individual had quit her job as an engineer during the Covid-19 pandemic to make the transition to producing frozen food.
“Her skills as an engineer gave her an advantage in creating a diverse range of products. Other women then came to see what she was doing and they learned from her. This is what LaWa is all about,” she said.
Nancy said LaWa centres also serve as a platform for women to acquire financial literacy, digital skills and financial independence. Experts are regularly invited to speak on these topics.
“When the pandemic hit, women realised there was a need for digital literacy as they had to adapt to online sales platforms to continue their businesses. These women came to LaWa centres to learn these skills,” she said.
Lately, the ministry has also introduced LaWa On The Go, a mobile version of the programme, to reach women in states where such centres have yet to be set up.
This is where truckloads of volunteers go down to the ground to offer their help and expertise.
“This is how we reach more women. No one is left behind,” she said.
Nancy pointed out that these efforts to assist women also have a multiplier effect. “By helping women, we also help the family and (by extension) the country as a whole,” she said.