Community Enterprise
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) provides local start-up assistance and local start-up financial assistance to help the local community start and develop financially and socially sustainable businesses, through free entrepreneurship training, knowledge transfer, market access and funded enterprise projects.
Local start-up assistance
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) provides assistance in the local community supporting the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses through entrepreneurship education, practical skills training, knowledge transfer and access to market opportunities.
EmpowerMom Creation: supporting community entrepreneurship
In 2025, EmpowerMom Creation (EMC) supported B40 single mothers in Penang in developing practical skills and translating them into income-generating activities. Entrepreneurship training and knowledge-transfer sessions were provided free of charge to participating single mothers, removing training fees as a barrier to participation.
University-led skills development
EMC operates under the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Sector of the Student Development Centre, Division of Student Development Affairs and Alumni (BHEPA). The initiative brings together USM students trained in entrepreneurship at The Bricks, Siswaniaga@USM, to support community participants through periodic knowledge-transfer sessions. Participants develop skills to produce marketable goods from home, including handmade soaps, scented candles, crochet items and other crafts. This approach provides a practical pathway into small-scale enterprise while accommodating family responsibilities.
In November 2025, EmpowerMom Creation announced a free workshop series for B40 single mothers in Penang, giving hands-on experience in soap making, candle crafting, crochet art and charm design. The workshops are free of charge and are held every Saturday and Sunday in the Penang area from 22 November 2025, continuing until 11 January 2026. B40 single mothers register through an online form, and a named EMC contact is available for enquiries.
Product development and market access
EMC connects skills development with opportunities to showcase products, engage customers and generate sales. At the Penang Entrepreneurship and Career Carnival (3KPP), held at USM from 10–12 October 2025, EMC exhibited handcrafted products to potential customers from the university and wider community.
EMC also participated in BananaPop Market from 14–16 November 2025, providing public-market exposure for products crafted by B40 single mothers. These activities helped connect participants’ production skills with market opportunities and customer feedback.
Continuing entrepreneurial support
The Phase 2 Knowledge Transfer programme began in November 2025, extending practical entrepreneurship training and support for low-income single mothers. Through recurring engagement, EMC provides opportunities for participants to strengthen their skills, build confidence and develop income-generating activities beyond an introductory workshop.
Supporting financial and social sustainability
EMC supports financial sustainability by helping participants develop marketable products and access sales opportunities. Its social purpose is to strengthen the economic participation of low-income single mothers through skills development and home-based enterprise. By combining free training, continuing knowledge transfer and market access, USM helps community members take practical steps towards establishing and sustaining businesses that support their households.
Local start-up financial assistance
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) provides financial assistance to the local community supporting the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses, through funded initiatives that combine financial resources, technical guidance and market support.
Funded mushroom cultivation for community entrepreneurs
One example is the Economic Empowerment Project through White Oyster Mushroom Cultivation for Asnaf Fakir, Miskin and Muallaf, implemented at Masjid Kampung Morak, Tumpat, Kelantan.
RM131,000 in partner-funded enterprise support
The project is a community economic development initiative organised by USM, with a total allocation of RM131,000 in full sponsorship from Bank Rakyat, the main sponsor. It supports the establishment of a commercial mushroom cultivation enterprise targeted at 10 asnaf entrepreneurs. Participants from the fakir, miskin and muallaf categories were identified and verified by the mosque with support from the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK). The initiative was led by Dr Johari bin Abdullah of USM’s School of Dental Sciences, in collaboration with Koperasi Masjid Mukim Morak Berhad and PERKIM Cawangan Wakaf Bharu.
The project commenced on 1 July 2024, was officially launched on 10 October 2024, and had an implementation period extending to 30 June 2025. The RM131,000 represents total project funding across this period, rather than funding disbursed exclusively in 2025.
On 3 July 2025, the School of Dental Sciences published a public update on the project. The update records the main sponsor, the partners, the target of 10 asnaf entrepreneurs and the project dates, and reports that the project succeeded in generating income for participants.
Connecting financial assistance with business development
The funding supported commercial white oyster mushroom production and marketing activities. USM provided project leadership and coordinated collaboration between the sponsor and community partners, connecting financial resources with practical enterprise development. PERKIM provided intensive guidance in technical cultivation skills and basic entrepreneurship. Koperasi Masjid Mukim Morak Berhad managed product marketing and sales, giving participants an organised route to customers. Together, these contributions supported the development of an income-generating enterprise for community members facing financial barriers to starting a business.
Financial and social sustainability
The enterprise was designed to generate continuing income through mushroom production and sales. Technical guidance supported production capabilities, while cooperative-led marketing connected the business with sales opportunities. Its social purpose was to expand economic participation among asnaf entrepreneurs and strengthen their capacity for self-reliance. The mosque-based partnership brought together funding, community participation, technical assistance and marketing support within a coordinated enterprise model.
Through this USM-led, Bank Rakyat-funded project, the University supported community business development with both income-generation and social-inclusion objectives, with implementation extending into the 2025 reporting year.