WCT EMPOWERS LOW-INCOME WOMEN WITH INCOME-GENERATING SKILLS THROUGH WCTGIVES “THREADS OF HOPE”

WCT has launched its latest CSR initiative, WCTGives“Threads of Hope”, in collaboration with Grace Community Services and Hazel & Nutz.

WCT Holdings Berhad (“WCT” or “the Group”), an investment holding company with businesses in engineering and construction, property development, as well as investment in and management of retail malls, hotels, and business aviation, has launched its latest corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) initiative, WCTGives “Threads of Hope”, in collaboration with Grace Community Services (“GCS”) and Hazel & Nutz.

Organised under WCT Gives and guided by the #WeCareTogether and #EducationforAll pillar, the initiative aims to equip 20 women from B40 and vulnerable low-income communities with practical, income-generating sewing skills, enabling them to strengthen their capabilities, build sustainable livelihoods, and improve their financial resilience.

Through its engagement with GCS, WCT identified that many women within the community already possess basic hand-sewing skills, reflecting their resourcefulness and determination to support their families. However, limited access to sewing machines, materials, and structured training has made it challenging for them to further develop these skills into meaningful income opportunities.

To address this gap, WCT through WCTGives “Threads of Hope”, has developed a structured sewing programme in partnership with GCS and Hazel & Nutz. The 11-week programme comprises 11 sewing lessons, with each four-hour session conducted in small groups to ensure personalised guidance, practical coaching, and hands-on learning. The programme will culminate in a graduation day, where participants will showcase their completed sewing projects and celebrate their progress in developing skills that can support future income-generating opportunities.

Dato’ Lee Tuck Fook, Group Managing Director of WCT, said, “At WCT, our WCTGives community initiatives are anchored in the belief that sustainable impact comes from enabling long-term self-reliance, not short-term assistance. WCTGives “Threads of Hope” reflects this approach by creating a structured pathway for women to build confidence, strengthen practical capabilities, and unlock opportunities for future economic independence. “

Dr Christina Qara Pillai (third from left), MsLo Wei Teing (centre) and MsHazel Loke (third from right) presenting sewing machines and programmematerials in support of the WCTGives“Threads of Hope” initiative.

In support of the initiative, WCT will sponsor ten (10) sewing machines, along with essential sewing tools and materials, to ensure participants are fully equipped throughout the programme. The sewing machines will remain at the GCS community centre to support continued skills development and future training initiatives beyond the programme duration.

As the programme trainer, Ms Hazel Loke, Founder of Hazel & Nutz, brings her experience in fashion design and entrepreneurship to guide participants through each stage of the sewing journey, from foundational techniques to the completion of practical sewing projects. She said, “Many participants start with basic knowledge, but with structured, hands-on training, they are able to build confidence, improve their skills, and gradually produce work that can be developed into income-generating opportunities.”

Expressing the community’s appreciation, Dr Christina Qara Pillai, Chief Executive Officer of Grace Community Services, said, “We are grateful to WCT for their support in providing a meaningful and structured 11-week programme that directly benefits low-income women in our community. This initiative goes beyond a one-off intervention; it is a sustained commitment that gives participants the time, expert guidance, tools, and practical resources they need to build and strengthen their skills, grow in confidence, and work towards sustainable income-generating opportunities for themselves and their families.”

Participants undergoing hands-on sewing training conducted byMsHazel Loke.

Launched in 2022, WCTGives embodies WCT’s commitment to balancing profitability with purpose by creating shared value for both business and society through its three core pillars: #WeCareTogether, #AGreenerTomorrow, and #EducationForAll. Each pillar focuses on programmes that aim to enrich the lives of the community, provide education support to the underprivileged, and preserve the environment. WCT allocates a percentage of its total annual revenue to fund its various CSR programmes across all business divisions. 

To learn more about WCTGives, visit www.wct.com.my/sustainability/wctgives