Page 97 - Zakat & Waqf: Impact on Women and Community Development

Zakat & Waqf: Impact on Women and Community Development | 87
© Zakat & Waqf: Impact on Women and Community Development
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INTRODUCTION
Women entrepreneurs in the B40 community are not an alien
situation. The dynamic of their family income has forced the stay-at-
home spouses to work while at the same time taking care of the
children. The decision to enter the workforce, however, is not without
its challenges. The cost of sending their children to nurseries or day-
care facilities can be a significant financial burden, undermining the
very purpose of their employment. Thus, setting up their own business
seems to be an alternative option. Similar situations also exist in Sg.
Pusu Gombak. However, it is believed that this business among
women is not resilient and is unsustainable due to a lack of financial
knowledge and funding. A dearth of financial knowledge and limited
access to funding channels often stand as formidable barriers to their
success.

Recognizing this stark reality, the IIUM Institute of Islamic Banking
and Finance (IIiBF), as part of its Flagship Project, "Islamic Social
Finance for B40 Community," has taken the initiative to address these
challenges in the verdant landscapes of Sg. Pusu, the Jarum Emas
Project has emerged as a beacon of hope. This visionary undertaking
identifies a group of resilient and enterprising women, recruiting them
and providing the necessary skills and tools to craft handmade bags.
The primary objective of the Jarum Emas Project is to empower these
women to establish and manage their small-scale enterprises
successfully, enabling them to generate a sustainable source of income.

Previous research has proven that women entrepreneurs in urban areas
have no indicative understanding of the concept of social
entrepreneurship (Rokis et.al, 2018). It was even highlighted that there
are a lot of government and private sectors’ policy and initiatives to
ensure that financial assistance reaches the urban citizens. However,
the dilemma remains whether the initiatives have achieved their goals

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