Community Centres for the Empowerment of Indian Women in Malaysia

It is a three-year project co-funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by ERA Consumers Malaysia (ERA) in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF). It falls under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights: Combating Racism & Xenophobia & Discrimination against Ethnic Minorities & Indigenous People.

Project Objectives

The main objective of the project is the empowerment of women of the Indian community in Malaysia to express and defend their rights and gain greater self-esteem and control over their own lives and personal and social relationships.

The Community Centres aims to build confidence among Indian women and raise awareness of gender issues in the urban and suburban Indian communities. They will also raise the socio-economic status of Indian women by enhancing their capacities to sustain their own living and to participate in self-help groups of the community.

At the broader perspective, the project seeks to facilitate political dialogue with other pressure groups and NGOs as well as political decision makers with the aim to improving provisions on women’s rights in Malaysia. This is intended to be achieved through organising campaigns, seminars and other activities targeted at government bodies, Ministries and other NGOs.

These national level events are intended to have a two-fold effect of influencing changes and/or improvements in legislations and reforms in areas of domestic violence, sexual harassment and other related legislation which would be a long-term solution to prevent violence against women. Moreover, the events will also provide an opportunity to showcase the operation of the Community Centres as a model for replication by relevant Government Ministry.

Target Group

The main target group of the project is Indian women, because
they are most affected by discrimination, related intolerance and violence;
they will benefit most from the promotion of inter-cultural and inter-racial interactions by the Community Centres; and
they have the capacity to facilitate overall change in the community.

The Centres will also address:
Indian men’s participation in the activities of the Community Centres, because male participation and acceptance of changed roles are considered essential for women’s empowerment. The Centres will seek a minimum of 20% male participation.
Involvement of families and the community as a whole. This will increase their awareness for gender equality as a prerequisite for the sustainable development of their community.
Involvement of Malays, Chinese and other members of the local community who will be invited to performances and other community building programmes in order to enhance mutual understanding and tolerance.

The Community Centres are also working on building up of trust and confidence in the communities, and more involvement of men in order to raise their awareness and sensitise them to gender issues, as these are seen to be an essential part of the long term measure of preventing violence against women. These are being achieved through conducting various group activities that aim towards improvement in the economic status of women, better understanding and tolerance between family members and within society.

In addition the Centres also provide free legal advice and psychological counselling to the disadvantaged female members of the communities.

The project is being implemented by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and ERA Consumer Malaysia, and has been underway since 1st of May 2003 reaching out to thousands of people in the Indian Malaysian communities.

Activities and training organised by the Community Centres

• Counseling including therapy session, marriage counseling
• Confidence building and conflict management skills
• Coping with discrimination and family disputes
• Pursuing gender equality
• Gender sensitivity training for men
• Understanding legal provisions
• Health-awareness programmes such as reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS, drugs and alcohol abuse
• Basic Entrepreneurial skills for household entrepreneurs
• Drafting business plans
• Profit-loss calculation
• Skills improvement programs
• Basic office management skills
• Language classes
• Basic computer skills
• Basic accounting skills
• Community building programs
• Games
• Cultural activities
• Inter-community activities
• Income generating programs

The European Union

The European Union is made up of 25 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms.

The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

ERA Consumers Malaysia

Education and Research Association for Consumers, Malaysia (ERA Consumer Malaysia) is a voluntary, non-profit and non-political civil society organization. ERA CONSUMER MALAYSIA envisions a self-reliant, empowered community based organizations and grassroots community actively participating in protecting and asserting themselves as consumers, practicing sustainable livelihood and consumption and participating equitably in the governance process. ERA CONSUMER MALAYSIA acts as research, education and advocacy group. It builds linkages and works in partnership with community based organizations and grass root communities to strengthen their capacity and empower them to participate through initiatives in socio-economic, accountable governance, sustainable agriculture and ecological endeavors.

Implemented by ERA Consumers Malaysia in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Click here for Project Background

	This project is co-funded by the European Union. The content of this web page is the sole responsibility of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

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