All Women's Action Society (AWAM)

What All Women's Action Society (AWAM) does

All Women's Action Society (AWAM) is an independent Malaysian feminist nonprofit founded in 1985, registered as a society under registration PPM-006-10-02041988 and headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Its primary product is the Telenita Helpline—a multi-channel crisis support platform accessible via phone, WhatsApp, and email that delivers free legal information and well-being counseling to survivors of gender-based violence, supplemented by a nationwide Directory of Services that connects callers to shelters, legal aid, hospitals, and police accompaniment. The organization has served more than 15,000 survivors cumulatively and delivers 43 fee-based corporate and institutional training sessions annually on topics such as workplace sexual harassment, gender equality, and safeguarding.

AWAM operates a hybrid revenue model. Direct survivor services are provided free of charge, with no subscription or transactional fees. The organization's income is sourced from four streams: individual donations and public fundraising campaigns, corporate sponsorships (Maybank, Watsons, REISE Digital), foundation and institutional grants (European Commission, Women's Fund Asia, High Commission of Canada in Malaysia), and fee-based training services delivered to corporates, government agencies, and educational institutions. The training arm is positioned as a paid professional services line, while the helpline and survivor services function as a free public good funded by the other three streams.

The organization is governed by an elected Council (2026-2028 term) led by President Dr. Lai Suat Yan and Deputy President Eve Lim, with a staff team of approximately 15—including a Programme Coordinator, Services Officer, Senior Advocacy Officer, Capacity Building Director, Admin & Operations Officer, and Assistant Advocacy Officer. AWAM maintains strategic MoUs with the Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW, 2022), the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM, 2020), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ, 2024), and a broader network of NGO collaborators including the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Tenaganita, Sisters in Islam, and BERSIH.

Name

All Women's Action Society (AWAM)

Legal name

All Women's Action Society (AWAM)

Website

https://awam.org.my

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

All Women's Action Society (AWAM) is a Malaysian feminist nonprofit founded in 1985 that provides free legal information and counseling to survivors of gender-based violence via its Telenita Helpline, while generating supplementary revenue through fee-based corporate and institutional training and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gender-Based Violence Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH), Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

Keywords

• Gender violence support
• Women rights advocacy
• Crisis counseling services
• Sexual harassment training
• Gender equality education

Headquarters

HQ city

Petaling Jaya

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Public donations and fundraising campaigns to support AWAM's advocacy, public education, and free counseling and legal information services.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Support from corporate partners including Maybank, Watsons, and other contributors. Digital marketing and creative support from partners like REISE Digital.
3. Training Services: Fee-based training programs for corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions on topics including safeguarding against sexual harassment, gender-based violence prevention, and gender equality.
4. Foundation and Institutional Grants: Funding support from international organizations such as European Commission and Women's Fund Asia for specific campaigns and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AWAM provides free legal information, well-being counseling, and referrals to survivors of gender-based violence through its Telenita Helpline accessible via phone, WhatsApp, and email. The organization also offers fee-based training and development programs covering safeguarding against sexual harassment, gender equality, and period poverty to corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions.

Product overview

AWAM (All Women's Action Society) is a non-profit organization providing a unified suite of support services for survivors of gender-based violence, consisting of the Telenita Helpline (core crisis support), legal information services, well-being counseling, and a directory of referral services. Complementing direct services, AWAM offers Training and Development Programs for organizations on workplace safety and gender equality, while awareness campaigns including the Tabung Telenita fundraising initiative, SHARP Program, White Ribbon Campaign, and #MediaToo Campaign mobilize public action and funding for the cause.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Telenita Helpline Free helpline providing well-being counseling and legal information for survivors of gender-based violence in Malaysia. Accessible via phone (016-2374 221 / 016-2284 221), WhatsApp, and email ([email protected]), Monday-Friday 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM, connecting survivors with support services across Malaysia.
• Legal Information Services Free legal information services provided through collaboration with Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Legal Aid Centre. Legal pupils provide guidance on relevant laws and court procedures for survivors of gender-based violence.
• Well-Being Counseling Free counseling services for survivors of gender-based violence, provided by intern counselors undergoing Master's in Counseling. Individual sessions available; couple and family sessions offered upon request.
• Training and Development Programs Corporate and institutional training programs covering safeguarding against sexual harassment, women's empowerment, gender equality, and period poverty. Includes talks, workshops, Training of Trainers (TOT), and academic collaborations on gender-based violence topics; 43 trainings were delivered in 2023.
• Directory of Services Comprehensive referral directory connecting survivors outside Klang Valley with service providers for legal aid, crisis intervention, and mental health support across Malaysia.
• SHARP Program (Sexual Harassment Awareness Redress & Prevention) Training program providing free awareness and prevention training on sexual harassment for individuals and organizations who cannot afford them.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ survivors helped over the years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2024Partner in #MediaToo campaign launched November 25, 2024 to highlight gender-based violence in the media industry. Campaign aims to challenge harmful narratives and promote gender-sensitive journalism.
• REISE Digital Sdn. Bhd.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 November 2024Digital marketing agency partnership formalized through MOU signed November 7, 2024. REISE provides creative design, content creation, and strategic communications support for AWAM's 16 Days of Activism campaign, rebranding efforts, and 40th Anniversary event. They help amplify AWAM's voice through digital storytelling and optimize digital fundraising strategies.
• Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2022MoU signed January 10, 2022 for cooperation to better support survivors of gender-based violence. MASW provides volunteer social workers who accompany clients and link them to relevant service providers such as hospitals, shelters, and police stations. AWAM provides legal information to social workers and arranges counseling sessions. 12 social workers have signed up to provide support.
• Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2020MoU signed September 8, 2020 as strategic partners in addressing issues of gender-based violence including sexual harassment, rape, and workplace discrimination against persons with disabilities.
• Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of women's rights organizations working together on gender equality advocacy, policy reform, and coordinated responses to GBV issues in Malaysia.
• Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner NGO for shelter referrals and coordinated GBV response. AWAM refers survivors needing shelter to WAO.
• TenaganitasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on migrant rights and gender-based violence issues.
• KRYSS NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge and resource sharing on gender issues and violence prevention.
• Sisters in IslamsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIslamic feminist organization partner for advocacy on gender justice from Islamic perspective.
• BERSIHsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectoral reform coalition partner for democracy and human rights advocacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Largest US anti-sexual violence organization operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Analogous to AWAM's Telenita Helpline model but at significantly larger scale and with broader national reach.

Emerging players

• Breakthrough (India): South Asian human rights organization working on gender-based violence, early marriage, and patriarchy. Comparable in combining direct service, public campaigns, and corporate training in the South Asian context.
• Refuge (UK): UK-based largest single provider of specialist domestic violence services for women and children. Comparable in mission and service model (helpline, advocacy, shelter referrals) but operates at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG): Coalition of 11 Malaysian women's rights organizations including AWAM. Operates as a policy advocacy coalition on gender equality, representing a higher-order peer in coordinated advocacy.
• Sisters in Islam: Malaysian Islamic feminist organization focused on policy advocacy and gender justice from an Islamic perspective. Listed as an AWAM partner and operates in adjacent women's rights advocacy space.
• Women's Aid Organisation (WAO): Malaysia's primary GBV shelter and crisis-response organization, founded in 1982. AWAM explicitly refers survivors needing shelter to WAO, making it the closest direct peer in Malaysia's gender-based violence service ecosystem.
• Tenaganita: Malaysian NGO focused on migrant worker and refugee rights with a gender-based violence component. Listed as an AWAM partner and serves overlapping vulnerable populations.

Others

• KRYSS Network: Malaysian-based knowledge and resource network on gender issues. Listed as an AWAM partner and provides knowledge-sharing and networking rather than direct survivor services.

Regional players

• Women's Centre for Change (WCC): Penang-based GBV support and advocacy organization providing crisis support, counseling, and shelter referrals. Comparable to AWAM in service model but focused on northern Malaysia rather than Klang Valley.
• MARUAH (Singapore): Singapore-based human rights organization advocating for civil liberties and women's rights. Comparable in regional human rights advocacy mission but operates in a different regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/awammalaysia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about All Women's Action Society (AWAM)