By Zaki Salleh
Malaysia Design Development Centre (DDEC) through the Empower NCER programme offers short-term skills and entrepreneurship courses.
DDEC is a subsidiary of MARA, which has been appointed by the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) as a service provider to implement the programme.
Courses run on Saturdays and Sundays for 10 sessions or between one and three months only.
Among them are sewing courses, batik making, bakery, barista, website building, modern agricultural techniques, traditional massage and therapeutic massage.
Also offered are heavy machinery courses, Japanese cooking and seafood-based food preparation courses.
Perak MARA in a message via its Facebook page informed that participation is open to those aged 18 to 48 with an income of less than RM3,800 and the course is free.
“Priority goes to the unemployed, jobless and graduates who have not yet worked.
“Entrepreneurs who have just started a business and are interested in being helped to thrive are also encouraged to apply.
“The same goes for entrepreneurs who have been operating for a year who want to be improved and helped to be more successful,” said the statement.
Participants will be given a certificate from an accredited skills institution and get a business start-up kit according to the type of course followed.
They will also be assisted free of charge for two years in business development such as marketing methods, packaging and branding.
For those who want to work, they will be helped in getting a suitable job because the aim of Empower NCER is to help the participants to succeed.
Refer to the flyer below for details.