MIRI: A group of Bidayuh youth in Tudan have taken their first steps into the digital world with a mission to preserve their cultural identity for posterity.
All secondary school students, they joined university students from the Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences for a dynamic exchange of skills and stories during a Digital Empowerment Workshop hosted by Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia).
The initiative, supported by Pasukan Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Bahagian Miri (PKKK) and the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Miri, focused on teaching young participants how to harness popular platforms such as Canva, CapCut, and metaverse tools to tell their community’s story online.
One of the day’s standout moments involved the creation of promotional digital content featuring Pogang, a traditional Bidayuh dish, crafted through collaboration between the youth and village elders. It was a project that not only whetted appetites but deepened cultural pride.
Officiating the event, Miri Deputy Mayor Ariffin Mohamad commended the effort as a meaningful way to fuse ancestral wisdom with 21st-century capability.
“This workshop is a testament to how tradition can thrive when paired with respectful and creative learning,”he said.
The students participated in digital tutorials, team challenges, and mini content creation competitions.
Curtin Malaysia students, acting as facilitators, guided the youth through each creative activity, fostering both technical confidence and cultural connection.
“This initiative unlocks their creativity and gives them a voice in the digital age,” said Farahezza Hairon Nizar, PKKK Treasurer and a Curtin academic who helped coordinate the workshop.
“We want them to view digital tools not merely as forms of entertainment, but as instruments of meaningful expression.”
Valerie Velina Anaelechi, Head of General Studies at the Faculty and academic adviser for the project, echoed this sentiment
“Digital literacy is more than a modern skill; it is a tool for cultural resilience. By helping young people tell their stories online, we are enabling them to protect and promote their heritage.”
For Bidayuh student and project team member Audrey Serani Lawrence Bong, the experience was deeply personal.
“Seeing the excitement on the faces of our local youth as they shared and celebrated our traditions online was unforgettable. It is a proud moment for our community,” she said.
