Quick Win participants receive baking equipment
PUTATAN: Thirty participants of Quick Win organized by the Sabah Community Development Department (KEMAS) have received aid kits in the form of baking equipment such as electrical ovens, food mixers and steel tables.
The equipment were handed over to the recipients by Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid in a ceremony at Dewan Kampung Petagas here on October 17.
The aid kit was based on a course the participants joined where they were each provided with a maximum of RM4,000 worth of equipment assistance.
This included learning materials throughout the duration of the course and training costs involving three days of face-to-face lessons or five days of online class.
Mahdzi said the selection of Quick Win KEMAS participants was based on several criteria, including the B40 group, individuals who have started small business and those who displayed their interest in expansion.
“The Rural Development Ministry through KEMAS strives to find ways to increase the income of rural communities, especially those who are willing to seek new opportunities to operate small, home-based businesses such as baking cakes, pastries and traditional kuih-muih,” he said in a press statement.
KEMAS has implemented the Quick Win programme since 2017.
As of 2020, the programme has recorded 16,293 participants.
Among the most popular programmes was cooking which involved 4,416 participants.
KEMAS Skills Education Programme has approved development allocation aimed at providing trainings and courses in the five main fields, namely cooking, sewing, grooming, handicrafts and family wellness education.
This year, KEMAS has received an allocation of RM13.2 million to implement the skills programmes.
Of the sum, RM2.74 million is allotted for the Quick Win programme.
“Although our country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not deterred KEMAS from holding online courses as an alternative to ensure KEMAS continues to support rural communities and achieves the target of benefitting 760 participants from the Quick Win programme,” Mahdzir said.
In Sabah, a total of 1,672 individuals have received assistance from Quick Win since 2017 to 2021, which involved an allocation of RM2.49 million.
Quick Win skills courses targets B40 youths, KEMAS skills class participants, single mothers, housewives and disabled people (OKU).
“It is hoped that the course will provide exposure to participants who have the potential and will to enhance their income in the skills sector and become successful rural entrepreneurs.”