BY SUFIAN MOHIDIN
KUCHING: Step into the lush greenery of Kampung Long Tuma, nestled in the heart of Lawas, and you will find a community rich in tradition and heritage.
Recently, the village played host to a two-day event that showcased the best of the local community’s creativity and ingenuity.
Organised by Semarak Kreatif, the Unimas Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Faculty of Applied & Creative Arts together with 9Lives Kuching, the event aimed to promote the beads produced by Long Tuma’s ceramic bead centre.
The event which also encouraged social entrepreneurship and provided education on digital and local product marketing was made possible with the support of Yayasan TM under its Social Impact Grant 2022.
Last week, the team flew from Kuching to the heart of the Lun Bawang community, where a group of 13 individuals, ranging from 12 to 58 years old, gathered to participate in a DIY workshop for ceramic beads jewellery.
Six attendees were housewives; one private sector worker; two university undergraduates; three high school students; and one primary school student.
The aim was to promote innovation and provide marketing training to empower the Lun Bawang community and increase their socio-economic status.
The workshop consisted of four sub-activities, each designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants.
The first sub-activity was hands-on training in a workshop conducted by Amy Amin,co-founder of the 9Lives Arts Club. Here, participants created their DIY kit of ceramic beads and jewellery and learned about the different motifs and accessories for bracelets and necklaces.
In the second sub-activity, Dr Mazdan Ali Amaran from Unimas introduced participants to social enterprise, the basics of financial management, and how to innovate Lun Bawang’s ceramic bead as an income-generating activity.
Participants were divided into groups to calculate the modal and profit for their DIY kit products, which they presented by the end of the session.
The third sub-activity focused on digital marketing and was conducted by PeDI and Rakan Digital Staff. Participants learned how to market their local products online and utilised the Shopee platform for promoting the product.
The final sub-activity was a sharing session between SEDC and the participants.
SEDC highlighted the importance of storytelling in selling local products, as only locals understand the speciality of their products.
Participants involved in the craft business shared their stories and why they were involved in this field.
SEDC also shared their programmes that assist local entrepreneurs with financial aspects or assets.
This workshop not only provided participants with new skills but also created a sense of community and empowerment.
The Lun Bawang community can now showcase their unique ceramic bead jewellery, tell their stories, and increase their income through the knowledge and training gained in this workshop.
Local children had the opportunity to join in the festivities with a colouring activity and an exploration of the Telekom Museum using Virtual Reality technology.
The workshops, led by experts in their fields, offered valuable skills and techniques for local artisans, youths of the Lun Bawang community, and entrepreneurs.
Dr Farah Zaini, the Project Director, stressed the importance of preserving the cultural heritage involved in the craft of making ceramic beads.
She believes that by studying this craft, young people can gain a deeper appreciation for cultural traditions.
Muhammad Azri Ali, the CEO of Semarak Kreatif, expressed excitement over the potential to promote the ceramic beads craft in the community.
He believes that it is a good platform to share the story of the people in Lawas, especially the Lun Bawang ethnic group, who fought for their beads.
Anissa Abdul Aziz, a lecturer in the Faculty of Applied & Creative Arts, hopes that the community development programme can help the residents of Kampung Long Tuma work together to generate income and profits.
Overall, the event was a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives in promoting sustainable development and economic growth.
Next up will be the second phase for the Lun Bawang community to learn and adopt a social enterprise approach to the art of bead production.
The workshop that is scheduled for this May is aimed at empowering the Lun Bawang people to develop and market their local products.
Participants in the upcoming Knowledge Transfer workshop will gain hands-on experience with the ceramic bead-making process, which is expected to inspire and motivate the community to innovate and develop their unique products.
If you’re interested in participating or would like more information, contact Dr Farah Zaini at 019-7270309.
