THE Women’s Rights Awareness Association (WRAA) and Sneham Malaysia, with support from the Batu Kawan Parliamentary Service Centre and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), will jointly organise a Family Well-being Workshop on Aug 23.
Organising chairperson Rachel Teh Chuann Yien said the initiative aligns with the Penang2030 vision of building a “Family-Focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation,” specifically addressing Theme A: Increasing liveability to enhance quality of life, and Theme C: Empowering people to strengthen civic participation.
“The workshop aims to strengthen family bonds, improve community mental health, and promote household resilience,” said Teh, who also serves as an MBSP councillor, during a press conference yesterday.
The one-day programme will feature keynote speakers, interactive sessions, and breakout workshops on topics including emotional wellness, positive parenting, conflict resolution, and financial literacy. Participants will gain practical skills to nurture healthier family relationships and build stronger support networks within their communities.
The workshop will be conducted in English at the MPKK Bukit Tengah Community Hall. It is limited to 100 participants, and more than 30 have already registered. Admission is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Breakfast, lunch, and a tea break will be provided.
The event is open to all residents, especially parents, youth, and caregivers.
“Empowering families is the first step toward building resilient and inclusive neighbourhoods. When families thrive, communities flourish – which is central to Penang’s long-term development goals.
“Let’s come together and put ‘Families First’ – for a better today and a brighter Penang tomorrow,” Teh added.
Also present were WRAA adviser Datuk Seri Chong Eng, WRAA president Leena Lee Soch Khim, and Sneham Malaysia president Datuk Dr Florance Sinniah
Chong Eng highlighted that while many organisations and agencies provide support for family-related issues, affected individuals often do not know how or where to seek help.
To address this, the workshop will present real-life scenarios to help participants understand how to manage these challenges and move forward.
“Family is the cornerstone of society. If every family plays its role well, many social problems, such as child neglect, drug abuse, child sexual abuse, and strained marital relationships, can be prevented,” she said.
Chong Eng also thanked Batu Kawan Member of Parliament Chow Kon Yeow for funding support and expressed hope that more resources could be pooled in future to organise similar beneficial programmes.
Dr Florance said participants will be divided into 10 groups to discuss 12 anonymised real-life case studies involving diverse family-related issues.
“These include family disputes and violence, parenting in the digital age, raising children with disabilities, financial scams affecting family members, alcoholism, elderly care, and children’s mental health.
“We want participants to understand that they are not alone – there is support available, and solutions are possible with the help of experts and volunteers,” she said.
Lee added that the association has long been committed to organising initiatives that benefit the community and raise awareness on family and women’s rights.
In addition to the upcoming workshop, a series of related workshops is also in the pipeline.
For more information, visit the Bukit Mertajam Women’s Rights Awareness Association Facebook page or contact 012-4150188.
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis