Women's Centre for Change

Women's Centre for Change
AbbreviationWCC Penang
Formation1982
Founded atPenang
TypeNot-for-profit non-governmental organization
HeadquartersGeorge Town, Penang
Location
  • 241, Jalan Burma, 10350 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
  • 13, Lorong Sutera 6, Taman Sutera, 13700 Seberang Jaya, Penang
ServicesFree and confidential counselling, outreach programmes, court support, advocacy work
Official language
English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, Tamil
Executive director
Loh Cheng Kooi
President
Dr. Hajar Abdul Rahim
Staff16
Volunteers30–50
Websitehttps://www.wccpenang.org/

Women's Centre for Change (WCC) is a Penang-based not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to the elimination of violence against women and children and the promotion of gender equality through service, outreach and advocacy work.

The organisation has a team of 16 staff and some 30 to 50 regular volunteers from different ethnic, social, and professional backgrounds who work closely in all areas of outreach, services, publications, and advocacy.[1]

Loh Cheng Kooi has served as the organisation's executive director since 1997.[2]

History

Women's Centre for Change was founded in 1982 by a group of individuals concerned that there was no place in Penang and the northern region where women suffering domestic violence could go for help.[3]

On July 1, 1985, the organisation was officially registered as a society with a committee of women consisting of lawyers, clerks, teachers, lecturers, and home-makers. It started with a phone line, and began offering free and confidential face-to-face counselling as the number of cases of women experiencing crisis increased.[4]

In 1990, the organisation began serving temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence. Within a year, it served 17 women, some with children.[3]

In 1996, following the establishment of the One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) at Penang General Hospital,[5] Women's Centre for Change began to offer training for healthcare, welfare and police personnel so that they could better understand and handle the issues of violence against women.[3]

In 2009, the Penang State Government and Women's Centre for Change formed a joint project named Pusat Perkhidmatan Wanita (PPW) to expand its services to mainland Penang.[6][7]

In 2013, Women's Centre for Change became part of the Attorney General Chambers' Coordinated Working Committee on Law to work towards public consultations on proposed legislation before such laws are passed.[8]

Services

Women's Centre for Change offers free and confidential services and support women and children experiencing crisis, especially domestic and sexual violence. The organisation provides face-to-face, telephone, and online counselling in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, and Tamil.[9]

The organisation lobbies and campaigns in union with other women's and children's organisations in the national-level coalition of Malaysian groups known as the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG).[10]

In addition to work in legislative reform and lobbying activities on ending violence against women and children, Women's Centre for Change also works closely with most of the government hospitals in Penang state and provides court support.[11]

The organisation's outreach team connects with the community through workshops and programmes for schools, government agencies and associations to raise awareness to prevent sexual violence in society.[12]

Recognition

On March 6, 2024, Women's Centre for Change was awarded the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives' Project Excellence Award for its "Strengthening Criminal Justice Agencies for Better Protection of Child Sexual Crime Victims" project.

Trainings

Bijak Itu Selamat (BIS) Training for Educators

In 2001, Women's Centre for Change developed an educational package to train teachers and educators to carry out child sexual abuse prevention programme for young students, called Bijak Itu Selamat (BIS).[13] The organisation also publishes several online storybooks to serve as educational resources for children.[14]

OK Tak OK Programme for Children

In this hour-long session, the WCC facilitator uses animated scenarios and examples from the OK Tak OK video to help children ages 10 to 12 years old to understand good touch and bad touch.[15] The video also teaches children how to protect themselves and seek help from a trusted adult.

In 2020 and 2022, WCC published three online cartoon books for children to further aid their understanding of OK Tak OK, titled “Lisa and Her Secret”, “Yusri and His Secret”, and “Sara Says No”. These books are available in 6 languages: English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, Kadazan, and Iban.[16]

Cybersafety Programme

The WCC Cybersafety programme highlights the dangers of online violence.[17] Besides educating teenagers, WCC also trains teachers and educators to carry out this programme at school.[18]

In 2023, WCC published an online cartoon book for children to learn about online grooming, titled “Samir & His Online Friend”. This book is available in 6 languages: English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, Kadazan, and Iban.[19]

Government Agencies Training

WCC trains service providers and stakeholders, such as the police, hospitals, Social Welfare Departments, public prosecutors form the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), and more, so that they are more sensitive towards the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault victims.[20]

Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Students Training

WCC conducts training and talks specifically for doctors, trainee doctors, medical social workers, nurses, medical students, and student nurses so that they provide gender-sensitive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence.[21]

Community Awareness Talks

WCC provides talks about domestic violence, child sexual abuse, gender sensitisation, and women’s empowerment to community groups, corporations, NGOs, and government departments. [22]

WCC Value Shop

In November 2017, WCC Value Shop, a social enterprise, was launched at Island88.[23] Volunteers, donors, and customers have directly helped fund the services offered by WCC to vulnerable women and children. Pre-loved items available at WCC Value Shop include clothing, household items, books, accessories, and toys.[24]

WCC Value Shop adopts the concept of being environment-friendly by promoting the principles of 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.[25]

Publications

  • Malaysian Women and the Law (1999)[26]
  • Becoming Whole: A Handbook for Working with Abused Women (2000)[27]
  • Working with Rape Survivors (2001)[28]
  • Mengubah Arus Maklumbalas (2003)[29]
  • Muslim Women and Access to Justice (2004)[30]
  • Mengurus Wang Anda (2009)
  • Respect Respek: Discussing Relationship Issues with Young People (2009)[31]
  • Seeking Justice for Victims of Sexual Crime (2009)[32]
  • Hear Our Stories: The Moment the Butterfly Flaps Its Wings (2014)[33]
  • Nina dan Rahsianya (2014)[34]
  • National Consultation on “The Rights of the Vulnerable Witnesses in Court” (2017)[35]
  • Surviving Court: A Guide to Understanding the Criminal Court Process (2019)[36]
  • Manual Pencegahan Penderaan Seksual Kanak-Kanak: Mengajar Kanak-Kanak Langkah Keselamatan (2019)[37]
  • Bijak Itu Selamat: An Educational Package on Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (2019)[38]
  • Lisa and Her Secret (2020)[39]
  • Yusri and His Secret (2020)[40]
  • Safer Families Handbook (2021)[41]
  • Standing with Sexual Crime Victims: WCC Support Services (2021)[42]
  • Cybersafety: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe Online Guidebook for Teachers and Parents (2021)[43]
  • Sara Says “No” (2022)[44]
  • Samir & His Online Friend (2023)[45]

References

  1. ^ "Who We Are". WCC. Archived from the original on 2025-05-06. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  2. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-star-malaysia-star2/20151204/281539404884456?srsltid=AfmBOoqwP9Jgytjct8FGRKexXSceIxCRc05kfTn247zdpEGA8RgV1JvW. Retrieved 2025-06-12 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "How We Began". WCC. Archived from the original on 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  4. ^ "Women's Centre for Change (WCC)". End Slavery Now. Archived from the original on 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  5. ^ Ismail, Najua (2025-05-08). "30 Years On – Are One Stop Crisis Centres Effectively Serving Gender Based Violence Survivors?". Ova. Archived from the original on 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  6. ^ "WCC hails state govt's efforts in helping to care for women and children". Buletin Mutiara. 2022-04-25. Archived from the original on 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  7. ^ "PPW Pushes For Gender Equality on Penang Mainland". www.bfm.my. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  8. ^ "Advocacy". WCC. Archived from the original on 2024-12-25. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  9. ^ "Service". WCC. Archived from the original on 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  10. ^ "The Snuffing Out of Local Democracy in Malaysia". m.aliran.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  11. ^ "Support systems for child survivors". R.AGE. 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  12. ^ "Teens learn about impact of sexting and pornography in talk by NGO". The Star. 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  13. ^ "'Bezakan sentuhan OK atau tak OK'". Malaysiakini. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  14. ^ "Books". WCC. Archived from the original on 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  15. ^ "Male volunteer at women's NGO runs programme to help prevent child sexual abuse". The Star. 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  16. ^ "Breaking the silence of child sexual abuse in six languages". The Star. 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  17. ^ "Students end up sexually active prematurely due to online porn". The Star. 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  18. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  19. ^ "New book on child sexual abuse now in Iban". The Star. 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  20. ^ "MCPF Penang meets up with Women's Centre for Change (WCC) – MCPF Penang". 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  21. ^ Tan, Abigail. "How This NGO Helps Victims Of Domestic Abuse In M'sia". Jireh's Hope. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  22. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  23. ^ "WCC Value Shop开第二家 峇央峇鲁分店欢迎你". 中國報 China Press (in Chinese (China)). 2019-12-03. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  24. ^ "好街坊办赠衣日600件衣物 周六等大路后居民来领取". 中國報 China Press (in Chinese (China)). 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  25. ^ "2 Feb 2023. Inner Wheel Club of Penang. A Support of WCC Value Shop. Writeup". innerwheel330.org.my. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  26. ^ "Malaysian women and the law : rights, discriminations, and reform / compiled by Lim Kah Cheng, Petra... | Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  27. ^ Colombini, Manuela; Ali, Siti Hawa; Watts, Charlotte; Mayhew, Susannah H. (2011-06-21). "One stop crisis centres: A policy analysis of the Malaysian response to intimate partner violence". Health Research Policy and Systems. 9: 25. doi:10.1186/1478-4505-9-25. ISSN 1478-4505. PMC 3141786. PMID 21693029.
  28. ^ "2002 - Working with Rape Survivors: A handbook". adriancheah.com. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  29. ^ "Details for: Mengubah Arus Maklumbalas : Manual Untuk memahami Dan Membantu Wanita Yang Dianiayai › OPAC | UNISSA – Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali catalog". unissa.edu.bn. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  30. ^ "Muslim Women and Access to Justice: Historical, Legal and Social Experience in Malaysia - Books n Bobs". booksnbobs.com. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  31. ^ Devaraj, Prema E. (2009). Respect respek : discussing relationship issues with young people : a manual for facilitators and trainers /. Women's Centre for Change. ISBN 978-983-44784-1-4.
  32. ^ "PERMATA | Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak". mykmsearch.uitm.edu.my. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  33. ^ Koon, Wong Soak (2015-03-12). "Hear Our Stories: The Moment the Butterfly Flaps its Wings". Aliran. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  34. ^ "Cerita Sayangi Diri: Nina Dan Rahsianya - Membalik Buku Halaman 1-30 | AnyFlip". anyflip.com. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  35. ^ "Justice not served due to lack of victim advocacy - The Malaysian Bar". www.malaysianbar.org.my. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  36. ^ Melissa Mohd. Akhir (2019). Surviving Court : A Guide to Understanding the Criminal Court Process / (Second Edition, 2019 ed.). Women's Centre for Change. ISBN 978-983-44784-7-6.
  37. ^ a_HerculePoirot_fan (2021-11-21). "PSA: Free and downloadable PDF resources on child sexual abuse by WCC (Women's Centre for Change) suitable for parents, teachers, etc". r/malaysia. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  38. ^ pandai.org. "Menerapkan Kemahiran Keselamatan Diri Dari Penderaan Seksual Dalam Pendidikan Jasmani dan Kesihatan". Pandai. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  39. ^ admin, Aliran (2020-09-09). "It takes a village to stop child sexual abuse". Aliran. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  40. ^ Tawie, Priscilla (2023-05-09). "Be alert for signs of abuse". Sarawak Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  41. ^ Khor, C. (2024-01-03). "Challenging myths and ending Intimate Partner Violence - Citizens Journal". Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  42. ^ Devaraj, Prema E. (2021). Standing with Sexual Crime Victims: WCC Support Services. Women's Centre for Change. ISBN 978-967-16908-5-7.
  43. ^ "A Guide to Online Safety for People with Autism | MARF". Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  44. ^ admin, Aliran (2022-04-08). "Child sexual abuse: Sara Says 'No'". Aliran. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  45. ^ "Raising awareness on child sexual abuse via multi-lingual book". www.dailyexpress.com.my. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
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