SHAH ALAM, May 17 — From the small kitchen of an asnaf (zakat recipient) woman, tens of thousands of pieces of bread are produced every month. Not only does it generate income for Norlelawati Bahari, 45, and her family, but it also opens up opportunities for others.
This is where the founder of Roti Cik Gebu Ella Sunshine Bakery expanded her business after rising above life’s hardships.
Around 2021, the Shah Alam resident began to take bread-making seriously. It is not that Norlelawati had never tried other businesses, but she found her true passion in the industry.
At that time, the single mother had to rely on asnaf assistance to survive with her only daughter.
The turning point came when she enrolled in an entrepreneurial course and mentorship program through Teraju Ekonomi Asnaf (TERAS).
With no capital to begin with, a friend suggested that Norlelawati apply for assistance from the Selangor Zakat Board. Starting with a mixer machine, she has now built a business from her home.
The rest of the equipment, such as the industrial oven and other tools, was acquired through her own efforts, with help from her mother and from small sales revenue.
“I struggled back then, earning only RM700 a month while raising my child alone. Name any business, I have tried it, even multi-level marketing, because I was determined not to let my child undergo hardships.
“A friend suggested that I register as an asnaf. At that time, I had never heard of these forms of assistance, but that was the beginning of my success in the bread-making field,” Norlelawati told Media Selangor.
However, the journey was not easy, as she admitted that her biggest challenge was not just a lack of capital, but also pressure from the surrounding environment.
“My challenges were capital and also family. I would not say my family was bad, but the support was lacking. Only my mother has always been there for me.
“When I went out to deliver bread until late, people started talking. I had to deal with negative perceptions as a single mother, and I had to face all of that alone,” Norlelawati said, noting that the situation almost made her falter, but she chose to stay strong to change her life.
Her business slowly built a stable cash flow. In fact, after about two years of being serious in the bakery business, Norlelawati began employing asnaf children to provide them with job opportunities.
Having been an asnaf for only two and a half years, among the shortest participants, she was determined to get out of the category to give opportunities to others who were more in need.
“I hold onto one thing, until when do I want to be assisted? I am not ashamed of being an asnaf, but I do not want to stay for long.
“When we can afford it, we must exit. Otherwise, we are infringing on others' rights.
“I am confident that if we work hard, the assistance is only a stepping stone, not a place to rely on forever,” Norlelawati said.
Now, her business in Kampung Lombong, Shah Alam has expanded to include various types of bread supplies for school canteens, mosques, and government agencies.
Moreover, she now mentors about 15 entrepreneurs in her network, with some generating between RM2,000 and RM7,000 a month.
“We do not want to succeed alone. When we share our sustenance, we open opportunities for others.
“That is what I hold onto. When the people below us succeed, that is actually the greatest form of success for me,” Norlelawati said.
Furthermore, the businesswoman actively shares her knowledge of entrepreneurship and bread-making through classes and training programmes nationwide, including those under TERAS. She advised asnaf entrepreneurs who wish to succeed diligently follow various classes.
“When you do not attend free courses, it is sad. People out there pay a high price for knowledge.
“So, use that opportunity as best as possible. Even when knowledge is free, many do not take it, even though that is what can change your life,” she said.
Norlelawati’s success in expanding the business qualified her for vehicle assistance from TERAS, which she still uses today as the official vehicle for delivering bread supplies to customers.
In addition to expanding and increasing her income, Norlelawati holds on to the principles of gratitude and of sharing her sustenance with more people.
“When we open the door of sustenance to people, Allah SWT opens it wider for us. The more we give, the more we receive, that is what I experienced myself,” she said.
