Digital skills programme empowers women to embrace technology

About 50 women in Johor gained practical exposure to artificial intelligence (AI), digital tools and online safety during a women’s empowerment programme aimed at strengthening their confidence to participate in the digital economy.

The four-hour “EmpowerHer Elevate Digital – Empowering Women to Thrive in the Digital Economy” programme was held at Giant Kitchen 2 in Nusa Bestari on Aug 22, 2026. It was jointly organised by the Lions Club of Skudai and SD Vision (Smart Direction Vision), with collaboration and support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Microsoft.

Participants were introduced to prompt engineering, AI applications, business opportunities, personal website creation, WhatsApp chatbot applications, online safety and misinformation.

Beyond learning specific technologies, organisers sought to help women develop the confidence to adapt to a rapidly changing digital environment.

Digital skills linked to economic opportunities

SD Vision co-founder Yokitha Naidu said digital literacy was increasingly important to women’s economic participation, particularly for those running businesses or seeking employment and additional income.

“Digital skills are no longer optional for women — they are directly connected to income, visibility, access and business survival,” she said.

The programme therefore focused on practical applications rather than AI concepts alone. Participants learnt how to communicate more effectively with AI tools through prompt engineering and explored ways technology could support business development and online visibility.

They were also introduced to personal website creation and WhatsApp chatbot applications, while sessions on online safety and misinformation addressed the challenges of navigating an increasingly complex digital environment.

For small-business owners, stronger digital skills can help improve visibility and customer engagement, while those seeking employment or new income opportunities can potentially use digital platforms to reach opportunities beyond their immediate communities.

Lions Club of Skudai president for the 2026–2027 term, Lion Sundari (Thiavasundari Arumugam), said the programme was intended to reach women who might have had limited exposure to technology.

“Lions Club of Skudai organised this programme because digital skills are becoming essential in everyday life,” she said.

“We wanted to give women, especially those with limited exposure to technology, the confidence and opportunity to learn, adapt and become more independent.”

Learning together extends beyond programme

The programme was officiated by Skudai assemblywoman YB Kartiyani Jeyapalan, who highlighted the importance of collective empowerment.

“It’s about empowering women by empowering each other. We cannot empower ourselves alone. To survive together, we have to learn from each other,” she said.

Her message was reflected in the experience of 73-year-old retired teacher Margaret Foo, who welcomed the opportunity to explore new digital tools but said more hands-on practice would have been beneficial.

“I think we were rather short on hands-on practice,” she said.

Rather than ending their learning with the conclusion of the four-hour programme, Margaret said some participants were considering continuing their practice independently and sharing their knowledge with one another.

“We would meet in a group on our own to share more of what we had learnt. We each have different learning capacities and a different learning orientation,” she added.

Her experience highlighted the importance of peer learning, particularly when participants have different levels of digital familiarity and learn at different speeds.

While AI and emerging technologies are often associated with younger users, Margaret’s willingness to continue learning at 73 demonstrated that digital inclusion is relevant across generations.

The programme also underscored that digital empowerment does not necessarily mean becoming an expert in every new technology. Instead, providing access, practical exposure and a supportive environment can help individuals overcome uncertainty and take the next step.

As AI and digital tools continue to reshape workplaces, businesses and everyday communication, the ability to keep learning and adapting could become as important as mastering any particular technology.

For the women who gathered in Nusa Bestari, the programme offered not only an introduction to new digital tools, but also an opportunity to build confidence and discover the value of learning together.