The Front & Female Awards Malaysia 2023: Meet the winners

What she's doing: Dr Yin Ling Woo's vision is to eliminate cervical cancer in Malaysia. Looking at emerging evidence and research, Woo and her team believe that screening women with HPV PCR tests at least twice in their lifetime can go a long way to reduce cervical cancer cases in the country alongside ensuring women have access to treatments and vaccinations against HPV (Human Papillomavirus), a major cause of cervical cancer. Acting on these insights, the University Malaya Medical Centre consultant gynaecological oncologist founded Programme ROSE (Removing Obstacles to Cervical Screening), a novel cervical screening strategy utilising a self-sampling method.  

Defining progress: "Progress is being able to steadily move towards achieving the full potential in every aspect of my life, whether it be personal or professional, recognising that there is a time and a season for everything. I’m someone who gives myself little challenges each day and I derive a great sense of satisfaction when I get those done. All these small successes are what I consider ‘personal progress’."

How you can support: Woo's non-profit ROSE Foundation is dedicated to providing centralised cervical screening services for Malaysian women using HPV testing. Steady and consistent funding is crucial for ROSE Foundation to screen as many women in Malaysia as possible. Show your support by joining or donating to the foundation's work via www.programrose.org.   

What she's doing: Almost 10 years ago, Xin Yu Lim started volunteering on projects to support Orang Asli communities, a decision that would see her quitting her full-time job to focus on The Asli Co. with her co-founder, Jason Wee. The Asli Co. is an accredited social enterprise that gives orang asli mothers the tools, resources, and training to produce high quality handmade artisanal gifts. Where they didn't have flexible income options before, these orang Asli mothers now have the income to support their families, sometimes earning up to RM3,000 a month during peak months.             

Defining progress: "Progress and growth happen over time. Take little steps forward one step at a time and you’ll be amazed how much you’ve progressed over the course of a year."

How you can support: From purchasing locally made products to spreading good reviews, supporting Malaysian social enterprises goes a long way in multiplying their impact. The Asli Co. specialises in customisable gifts, beloved by corporates and individuals alike, that give back to the community. Its unique wares and gifts (made by Orang Asli mothers) are available on Shopee, Lazada and website www.theasli.co.

What she's doing: Suriani Kempe believes that equality is not an option but the right of every person to a life of dignity. This is the core value that's seen her through the highs and lows of her journey as president of Family Frontiers, an NGO leading the campaign that lobbies for an amendment to the Federal Constitution to grant equal citizenship rights to Malaysian women to confer their nationality to their children who are born outside of Malaysia. At present, automatic citizenship is granted to children born abroad to Malaysian fathers, whereas Malaysian mothers have to endure a lengthy, costly process to apply for Malaysian citizenship for their children.

Kempe is also the co-founder of Kemban Kolektif, a women-owned consultation service provider that is focused on intersectional gender and human rights issues and supporting civil society and government agencies in deepening their understanding and practice of gender equality. 

Defining progress: "On a personal level, progress to me is about constantly learning and evolving, to be a better version of myself tomorrow than I am today. On a societal level, I see progress similarly—that we strive together towards making our communities and our world safer and more inclusive, that we treat each other with kindness and compassion, and ensure that our laws do the same."

How you can support: You can play a part in supporting Family Frontiers' work in Malaysia through donations, which will go towards supporting mothers who are affected by this uphill struggle and towards raising awareness and sustaining the public momentum around equal citizenship rights and the urgency of amending the Federal Constitution through Family Frontiers' #PindaPerkara14 campaign. Learn more at www.familyfrontiers.org.

What she's doing: A former lawyer, Ida Mok is the co-founder and president of Women in Blockchain Asia (WIBA), an organisation dedicated to increasing female participation in blockchain-based causes and empower women with the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources to succeed in the blockchain space. "Blockchain is a technology that dis-intermediate and at time completely removes frictions that are set up to isolate and discriminate against women," Mok says. "It has the ability to mask gender bias, social status and removes credit referencing metrics which traditionally either discriminates or isolates women."

Mok believes that now is the best time for women to enter the blockchain industry and, given the right opportunities and support, perform better than expected.  

Defining progress: "In the context of what I am doing here in Southeast Asia through WIBA, and the challenges it uniquely presents, I would say progress to me is the success in changing people’s hearts and minds. After the success of our inter-varsity hacking competition, investments flowed in to two of our local universities from Algorand Foundation direct. The female students who once thought coding was too difficult are now looking for more challenges. More universities are open to work with us, with some continuing our efforts on their own volition. It only takes a spark to get a fire going, but someone has got to start that spark."

How you can support: While funding is an ongoing need, WIBA is always on the lookout for more influential women who are willing to champion and sponsor other women, whether it involves mentorship or using one's platform and influence to lobby and advocate the cause. Be part of this growing community at womeninblockchain.asia. 

What she's doing: Izzana Salleh believes great leaders aren't made overnight. She also recognises crucial mentorship and community are for women and girls with leadership aspirations. Following up this conviction, she co-founded Girls4Girls (G4G) International, a volunteer-run organisation dedicated to empowering young women with specific skillsets for leadership roles in the corporate sector or public service via mentorship programmes and courses delivered by industry leaders and partners.                

Defining progress: "I’m a big believer of only competing with yourself. The only person you compete with is who you were yesterday, a minute ago, a year ago, 10 years ago. That’s the only comparison you should use. It’s easy to fall into the game of comparing yourself to someone who has a totally different journey than you. But doing that is doing yourself a complete disservice. Progress is relative, right? In this case, it's asking 'Am I better than a week ago, when I got upset about something and crumbled? Am I better today compared to back then?'"

How you can support: So many mentors who come onboard G4G Malaysia's programmes do it in hopes of paying it forward and some do it realising it's something they wish they had access to in their early careers. Get involved with G4G Malaysia by becoming a mentor in one of its cohorts or find out more at www.projectg4g.org.

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