Cover Photo: Canva
Photo: Canva
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The three-month 'Jobs for Community' apprenticeship programme will provide upskilling training and employment opportunities to deserving women
In conjunction with International Women's Day 2022, on-demand online florist and gift business BloomThis has announced its partnership with Malaysian NGO Women:girls to launch the 'Jobs for Community' CSR initiative.
The initiative consists of a three-month paid apprenticeship programme to equip women with the necessary floristry skills and know-how to boost their employability in this specialised industry and ultimately, to provide jobs for the participants at BloomThis.
According to BloomThis co-founder Penny Choo, the Jobs for Community programme is open not just to women from B40 communities, but also to school-leavers with a passion to learn about floristry.
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Above Penny Choo, BloomThis co-founder
Above Izza Izelan, Women:girls executive director
Penny Choo, BloomThis co-founder
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Responding to the increase in the numbers of floristry workers who lost jobs due to the closure of businesses during the lockdown, BloomThis has risen to the challenge to step in and meet these individuals' needs by providing the hands-on training that will help them to secure jobs in the floristry industry.
"At BloomThis, we had this opportunity to give people jobs in what's known as the 'gig economy'. During the pandemic and the lockdown, BloomThis provided jobs to approximately 1,500 riders, many of whom had lost employment prior to this," says Choo, adding that BloomThis also saw a surge in the number of florists seeking jobs within the company.
This year, BloomThis has turned its sights once again to the local community by reaching out to Women:girls to help identify and select the participants for the Jobs for Community programme, which will be conducted at BloomThis' new facility in Petaling Jaya. The goal is for BloomThis to absorb at least 20 participants as fixed-term contract employees.
"The impact of this programme is that they will be given the skillsets to secure employment whether at BloomThis or at another business," Choo says.
Adds Women:girls executive director Izza Izelan: "Part of our mission has always been to relieve barriers and realise the options that unemployed women have. We recognise that there is a need for a structured program to help build the career journey for women through mentoring and learning on the field with key industry leaders. Through ‘Jobs for Community’ we see an opportunity to help future-proof the apprentices’ careers and change the trajectory of their lives for the better."
To find out more about the initiative, email hr@bloomthis.co or media@womengirls.org.
Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
