Venue: Rumah Panjang Selindong Ulu, Tr. Rimong

The Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA)’s Cultural Preservation and Handicraft Empowerment programme has entered its third week, continuing its efforts to strengthen community-based skills while preserving cultural heritage in rural areas.

Held at Rumah Panjang Selindong Ulu, Tr. Rimong, this week’s Heritage Handicrafts and Garment Crafting Empowerment workshop was led by SDGA member and EXCO Jacob, together with trainers from Stinablis. The session introduced participants to innovative and sustainable techniques for repurposing discarded plastic bags into creative and practical products.

Through hands-on guidance, participants learned how to safely and cost-effectively craft handmade bags using recycled plastic as the main material. Facilitators also demonstrated other items that can be produced using the same technique, including wallets, watch straps and small pouches, expanding participants’ understanding of product possibilities.

Each participant received stencils to support continued practice at home, with all participants successfully completing at least one bag during the session. Several participants were able to produce up to three bags, reflecting strong engagement and skill uptake.

As part of the programme’s environmental education component, the hosting longhouse also received two bags of organic fertiliser produced using Black Soldier Flies. The initiative demonstrated how household food waste can be transformed into useful agricultural inputs, reinforcing practical sustainability at the community level.

The programme reflects SDGA’s ongoing commitment to cultural preservation, environmental sustainability and grassroots empowerment, while equipping rural communities with skills that support both creativity and resilience.