A total of 21 semester-two students from the Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) in Management and Entrepreneurship programme at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School (UniKL BIS) have empowered housewives and members of the B40 community through digital skills training.
Recognising digital literacy as a key driver of economic mobility, the students successfully organised the Digital Empowerment: Housewives & the Community (DHOC) programme in collaboration with Pertubuhan Anak Watan Malaysia (WATAN).
Programme Director Siti Mariam Muhammad Asif Khan said the initiative focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge on using TikTok for business, enabling them to build a digital presence and generate income.
“Participants gained hands-on experience in setting up TikTok business accounts, creating engaging content, and promoting products effectively. The interactive elements of the programme, including ice-breakers and practical sessions, received very positive feedback and helped boost participants’ confidence,” she said.
She added that staff from Pertubuhan Anak Yatim Nur Qaseh were also invited to participate in the programme.
In addition, they were given the opportunity to open a booth to sell their retort-packed Daging Dendeng, with proceeds supporting the children at the orphanage.
The DHOC programme is part of broader efforts to bridge economic and gender disparities among Malaysian communities, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the nation.
Beyond addressing issues of gender-based inequality and discrimination, digital literacy empowerment can create a ripple effect in poverty alleviation by improving living standards and overall well-being.
“Through this programme, UniKL demonstrated its strong commitment to social responsibility by contributing meaningfully to the development of digital literacy within the B40 community.
“This initiative was driven by the belief that digital literacy can be a game-changer for underprivileged communities, opening doors to new economic opportunities and enabling them to thrive in the digital age,” Siti Mariam added.
