Echoing What’s Important To You

Malaysia’s first Refuge was opened in September 1982 - Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) offering three main services to battered women and their children: shelter, telephone counselling and Face-to-Face counseling.

WAO Beginnings & Work

In 1991 WAO opened a Child Care Centre, the first of its kind in this country. This provides a home for the children of ex-residents who have decided to live independently. It meets an urgent need expressed by many women who have great difficulty in finding a full-time job and reliable, affordable childcare.

In November 2004, WAO opened its third center, the “WAO Centre” which is open to the public. The centre is an administrative and advocacy centre and also acts as an information centre for the public. It is a resource centre for students, researchers, interns and other organizations. It is also used by the social workers to meet with their clients for counselling.

The organization has over the years organized innovative public education programmes on Violence Against Women. WAO plays a lead role in advocacy and, public education on women’s rights and plays an important role in the women’s movement in Malaysia.

WAO Services

Refuge Services

We give shelter to an average of 100 women and 145 children yearly. During their stay the women can receive counseling, legal advice, assistance in job placement and housing.

Face-to-Face Counseling

An average of 50 women seek this service yearly. Professional social workers offer counselling sessions to women who may not necessarily seek shelter but want counselling.

Telephone Counseling

We receive an average 1500 counseling calls yearly. Telephone counselling is available to deal with women’s problems, crisis situations and basic legal queries

Your help means

better lives for battered women….

At the moment, WAO’s greatest need is funds. Money that would usually be given to WAO was diverted to meet the urgent needs in the wakes of the tsunami, hurricane, and earthquakes. As such, we are in need of funds to keep our centers open to women and their children.

There are 2 ways for donation to WAO.

1) Donations in cash – WAO’s operation cost amounts to RM900, 000 annually. It is an uphill task each year as we attempt to raise this amount throughout the various projects and public educatain We hope that to seek out individuals who are able to contribute RM1, 000.00 per person on a monthly basis. All donations to WAO are tax-deductible. If you are able to help, please contact Annie / Didie at 79575636 / 0636.

2) Donations in kind – donation in kind can be in the form of consumables that are constantly in need at our Refuge and Child Care Center. This includes, milk, rice, sugar, cereals, Milo, tea, detergents and the like.

If you will, if you can, please contact us at the number below.

Your donation goes a long way in making our work accessible to women and children in need.

Women’s Aid Organisation

P.O. Box 493, Jalan Sultan,

46760 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Tel : 03-7957 0636 / 5636

Fax : 03-7956 3237

Counselling line : 79563488