Indigenous Women Unite in Solidarity for Annual Empowerment Workshop
MIRI – SAVE Rivers and Keruan, two NGOs based in Miri recently held their Third (3rd) Women Empowerment Workshop on 19th-22nd June at Dynasty Hotel and it successfully drew 60 participants from Upper Baram. The theme this year was ‘Resilience in Every Woman’ that aims to build stronger camaraderie and support of each other as leaders, cultural keepers and community organizers.
Some of the notable speakers were Rukmini Paata Toheke, recipient of the 2024 Kalpataru Award – Indonesia’s highest environmental honour; Jessica Akang from Health, Counselling and Disability Services Curtin University Malaysia; trainers from PACOS Trust – a community-based organization dedicated to supporting indigenous communities in Sabah and a recipient of the 2023 Star Golden Hearts Award; Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN); Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) and Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM).
The workshop topics ranged from Resilience in Mental Health, Resilience in Finance, Women as Cultural Keepers, Women Livelihood and Leadership Development, Vocational Education Pathways and Women as Climate Solution Leaders.
The 3 days event also brought together women from the Kenyah, Saban, Ngorek and Penan communities in Upper Baram, most of whom travelled 6-10 hours on logging roads from the interiors of Baram to participate in this event.
”I am inspired and strengthened by the sharing and experience of the women that participated in this workshop because we have so much shared-experiences and their stories give me hope. As an Indigenous woman living in the village, I want to be able to sustain our family livelihood and still practice our customs and culture. This workshop has given me more ideas and ways to move forward in this direction,” Devong Juk from Long Semiyang shared.
The workshop was also an opportunity for inter-generational exchange as the young and older participants bonded in the 3-days workshop.
Vevianna Jurya Stephen, a young Penan woman said, “My friend invited me to this workshop because she said it is fun. I joined and it was not only fun but as a Penan woman who has been living in the city since I was young, I am so touched and inspired through the workshops to connect back to my Adat (customs) and my culture as this is where my identity is rooted.”
Celine Lim, the Managing Director of SAVE Rivers explained, “We look forward to the Women Empowerment workshop every year as many women play crucial roles in our project landscapes in Upper Baram. We hope this annual workshop will continue to equip the Indigenous women with the tools and approaches they need to exercise their rights and to sustain a healthy, safe and thriving environment for themselves, their communities and their territories.”
