Pembangunan Kendiri Wanita dan Gadis (Women:girls), in collaboration with Nivea and Watsons, has announced the relaunch of its transformative program, ‘Kejar Kerja,’ aimed at empowering and inspiring young women.
Izza Izelan, Executive Director of Women:girls, elucidated that the term ‘Kejar Kerja’ translates to ‘chasing for work’ in English. She emphasized that the core objective of this initiative is to empower young women to make informed decisions for themselves, regardless of the circumstances.
“Considering the far-reaching effects of the pandemic, many young women encountered challenges such as job loss and difficulty in reestablishing their careers post-pandemic,” Izza stated during her address at the launch event on August 9th.
Supported by Nivea and Watsons, Izza highlighted that following a temporary pause during the pandemic, her team has regrouped and is devoted to offering young women opportunities for flourishing careers in the makeup, fashion, and beauty industry.
Ng Hock Guan, Country Manager for Beiersdorf Malaysia and Singapore, stressed Nivea’s steadfast commitment to empowering young women and bringing about sustainable change in underserved communities. He emphasized that Nivea’s collaboration with Women:girls and Watsons for the Kejar Kerja program aligns seamlessly with their core values.
He noted that through this partnership, Nivea aspires to play a pivotal role in driving enduring social change, breaking down barriers, and inspiring a new generation of confident, skilled, and empowered young women in the creative and beauty sectors.
The initiative harnesses the extensive network of industry experts at Watsons, a prominent health and beauty retailer in Asia. Women:girls benefits from Watsons’ expertise in nurturing talent and fostering professional growth.
Caryn Loh, Managing Director of Watsons, expressed pride in their unparalleled expertise and resources. She envisaged their significant impact in shaping the future of the health and beauty industry by empowering the next generation of leaders.
Loh expounded on their mission, which encompasses not only imparting essential skills and knowledge for career advancement but also instilling confidence and self-belief, enabling women to attain greater heights of success.
The Kejar Kerja program is tailored to young women aged between 18 and 30 residing in the Klang Valley. It offers a structured career trajectory within the beauty and creative industries.
Initiated in 2016, the program pairs participants with reputable mentors and distinguished leaders in makeup, fashion, and beauty. This mentorship equips them with invaluable guidance and insights throughout their apprenticeship journey.
To ensure future-proof careers, participants receive skill training attuned to the contemporary demands and trends of the beauty and creative sectors.
The program encompasses three pivotal phases: recruitment, orientation, and apprenticeship. The recruitment phase will span August and September, followed by the orientation phase in October. The apprenticeship phase is scheduled for November and December.
Members of the public can contribute by purchasing RM20 worth of Nivea products from any Watsons store nationwide. For each purchase, RM1 will be donated to support the cause.
Reflecting on a decade-long journey, Izza concluded by highlighting Women:girls’ profound impact on the lives of over 20,000 individuals.
