In a heartwarming display of sisterly love and entrepreneurship, 32-year-old Saiyidatul Syahirah Jasney opened ‘Kedai Seringgit’, a snack food store that not only supports her autistic sister but also serves as an inspiration to the community.
The store, located in the backyard of their home in Kampung Bebuloh Laut, began on June 10 and offers a variety of affordable snacks, including pizza burgers and ice cream, which are all priced at RM1.
On top of that, her younger sister Saiyidah Fatimah Nabihah, also has the opportunity to become an independent individual and generate her own income.
Inspiration behind ‘Kedai Seringgit’
Speaking to Harian Metro, Saiyidatul said the name “Kedai Seringgit” was chosen to accommodate Saiyidah’s tendency to become easily confused and forgetful due to her autism.
She also said ‘Kedai Seringgit’ stemmed from her concern for her sister’s excessive preoccupation with gadgets during the Movement Control Order, where students attended their classes online.
Determined to help her sister overcome this distraction and be more independent, Saiyidatul decided to create a business where her sister could work without feeling too pressured.
To streamline business operations, she also devised a simple and easily understandable sales record system by teaching her sister how to mark sales records.
“Not only does the store cater for customers who visit, but it also offers Cash on Delivery (COD) payment during deliveries,” she said.
Received overwhelming support
Saiydatul said she never expected ‘Kedai Seringgit’ to be flooded with widespread support after the store’s Facebook post went viral in the Autism Malaysia group, where it received a great amount of positive feedback.
See the post here.
Parents, in particular, praised the initiative for its emphasis on providing a unique and valuable opportunity for children with special needs to learn how to be independent and be involved in business activities.
“I’m grateful for the tremendous support received from various quarters, including our neighbours who have shown unwavering positivity towards the venture.
“With Kedai Seringgit, I believe the experience Saiyidah gained from it will equip her with lifelong skills and allow her to be self-reliant even when I’m not around,” she said.
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