Cover image via SOLS ASLI Women Academy (Provided to SAYS)
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Empowerment isn't just a hashtag or a quote; it's about having opportunities that truly make a difference.
For many Orang Asli women in remote villages, that means a stable job, a reliable salary, and the chance to contribute to their own community.
That's exactly what SOLS ASLI Women Academy (SAWA) is doing.
The programme trains Indigenous women to become educators and places them back in their own villages on formal contracts, complete with a salary, EPF, SOCSO, and job security.
By training women from the very communities they serve, SAWA ensures that learning continues without interruption
These educators already share their students' language, culture, and daily life, so learning grows naturally and sustainably.
Graduates are offered:
– RM1,700 starting salary
– EPF and SOCSO
– 12-month to 3-year contracts, depending on placement
The 6- to 12-month programme at SOLS Foundation HQ in Kuala Lumpur combines:
- Classroom learning
- Practical teaching
- Apprenticeships with mentorship
- Formal job placement back in their village
Mothers are also encouraged to apply, as SAWA is designed with real-life needs in mind.
Participants gain teaching methodology, communication, admin, digital literacy, and community engagement, all while staying connected to their cultural identity.
When they return home, they step in not as outsiders, but as trained professionals rooted in their own community.
To make participation realistic, SAWA provides support such as accommodation, meals, travel allowances, and teaching tools.
These ensure that every participant can focus on learning and growing in their new role.
The first cohort started in January 2026, and the programme is open to women aged 21 to 40 who can read, write, do basic numeracy, and stay in Kuala Lumpur during training
After that, they return home to start a meaningful career with a clear path forward.
SOLS ASLI Women Academy isn't about short-term projects. It's about paid work, career growth, and lasting impact that benefits both the women and their communities.
To find out more about SOLS Foundation, check out their website.
