POVERTY ERADICATION THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG SINGLE MOTHER

This paperwork explores the potential of single mother to engage in entrepreneurship. Over the years, poverty has become a main problem to the population in remote areas. Almost 1.3 billion of the world population is declared below the poverty level including 900 million women. From this figure, 500 million live in rural areas especially in India and Middle East. This group included single mother, who played role as a backbone for the manpower supply in an agriculture sector. The single mother cum household leader is highly affected during economic crisis, driving them below the poverty line. Poverty among single mother is caused by many factors such as low income job, large number of dependents, unemployed, low education level, lack of sufficient skills and age factor. Therefore, both government and non-government organizations have planned and executed many programs that cost millions of ringgit in order to reduce, and eventually eradicate poverty problem. Regardless of the utmost effort taken, the total amount of poverty population is large in number. Dealing with that, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has decided to encourage and give substantial support for single mother to engage in entrepreneurship. Skills enhancement program is carried out with collaboration of non government agencies, aiming to equip the target group with competent knowledge and skill. Yet, the number of single mother in poverty showed no significant change especially in rural areas. Looking at this problem, it is undoubtedly important to explore and create an effective model for single mother to success in entrepreneurship. Thus, the finding from this study is used to design an entrepreneurship development model for the single mother according to their own capabilities. The designed model is hoping to help the related ministry to draft a new strategic plan for single mother to involve in entrepreneurship and indirectly improve their life status.