For Chef Imelda Harris, empowering women begins with bringing together knowledge, experience and opportunity. Through Keringkam Kenyalang, she hopes to weave stronger connections among Sarawak women and create pathways for them to grow and succeed.
When women rise, communities rise
What can a single thread do?
On its own, perhaps very little. But woven together, threads can become something beautiful, strong and lasting.
Imelda Maya Harris, better known as Chef Imelda Harris, sees the same potential in the women of Sarawak.
The programme director of Keringkam Kenyalang 2026 and recipient of the Wanita Ikon Sarawak 2026/2027 award believes women do not lack talent. What they need are the knowledge, networks, confidence and opportunities to turn what they already have into something greater.
That belief lies at the heart of Keringkam Kenyalang, a movement that brings women from different ethnicities, cultures and generations together through shared knowledge, skills and support.
“I don’t want to succeed for myself. I want my knowledge and experience to become a pathway for more women to rise and succeed.
“Because when a woman rises, her family rises with her, and when women support one another, the community becomes stronger,” she said when met at a recent Keringkam Kenyalang event.
For Imelda, the movement is about more than teaching new skills. It is about creating a space where women can ask questions, learn from one another, build connections and gain the confidence to take their next step.
A name woven with purpose
The name Keringkam Kenyalang reflects the journey Imelda envisions for women.
Keringkam, a traditional form of Sarawak embroidery, embodies the care, patience and perseverance needed to create something meaningful, with fine threads carefully woven into an intricate and enduring piece.
For Imelda, a woman’s journey is much the same.
Individual skills and experiences may seem small on their own, but when brought together, they can create opportunities and open doors for others.
“If you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask. We need a good support system. When we make friends and surround ourselves with the right people, we are also encouraged to become better people,” she said.
That support, she believes, is central to empowerment — giving women the confidence to use what they already know, the courage to learn and the connections to move forward.
Taking the movement beyond Kuching
Keringkam Kenyalang is designed to reach communities beyond Kuching, giving women in rural and interior areas opportunities to gain knowledge and build networks.
“Sarawak is a vast state, and our main challenge is distance and location. If a programme is held only in Kuching, women in remote or interior areas may not have the opportunity to attend.
“So, we are taking the programme to different locations so more women can benefit, while also giving more experts and experienced individuals the opportunity to share their knowledge,” she said.
The programme combines sharing sessions, showcases and interaction, but Imelda hopes each gathering will also become a place where women form meaningful connections.
For a woman running a home-based business, cooking, sewing, making handicrafts or developing a skill, the right connection could be the beginning of a new opportunity.
From the kitchen to the world
“The kitchen is not just a place for cooking. From Sarawak’s kitchens, we can bring something to the world stage.
“Through food, skills, knowledge and entrepreneurship, women can be inspired and empowered,” she said, echoing her aspiration: Dari Dapur Sarawak ke Pentas Dunia, Memperkasa Wanita, Aspirasi Malaysia.
As a Sarawakian, culinary personality, food consultant and community advocate, Imelda draws on experience in culinary arts, entrepreneurship, humanitarian work and community development.
Her roles as deputy president of ANSARA Malaysia and a Humanitarian Icon with Islamic Relief Malaysia have also given her platforms that she hopes to use to create more opportunities for Sarawak’s women.
For Kelab Wanita Ikon Malaysia (KWIM) president Datuk Normaziah Sheikh Mohamed, building women’s economic capability is an important part of helping them become more self-reliant.
“We want women to have economic capability. We will help and teach women how to generate income, including through business.
“In empowering women, we should not compete with or pull one another down. Instead, we should lift one another up and walk together,” she said.
She added that women recognised as icons should see their role as extending beyond an award by continuing their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and supporting initiatives that benefit women and the wider community.
Different threads, one Sarawak
For Imelda, another strength of the movement is the diversity of the women it brings together.
Women from Iban, Malay, Kelabit, Melanau, Bidayuh and other communities are part of a wider network built around a shared desire to learn, grow and contribute.
“Our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is our strength. Although we are different in race and religion, we are still one as Sarawakians,” she said.
She describes Keringkam Kenyalang as a “glue” that can bring Sarawak’s communities together, connecting women who may otherwise never have met.
Several follow-up programmes are planned, including initiatives focusing on the economy, young women’s development and the welfare of senior citizens.
Recognition with a bigger purpose
For Imelda, the work of empowering women should not end with an award.
Reflecting on her recognition as Wanita Ikon Sarawak 2026/2027, she described it as a meaningful honour, particularly because it represents a state close to her heart.
“This award is very close to my heart because it is about Sarawak, a state that is very close to my soul.
“I see this recognition as an opportunity to open a wider path to help Sarawak’s women and younger generation grow and become better,” she said.
Her previous involvement in NGO work, she added, had laid the foundation for the wider efforts she hopes to pursue.
Over the next five years, Imelda hopes to bring women from across Sarawak together at an international women’s conference in the state.
She also hopes Sarawak can become a destination for women from around the world to share knowledge and experiences while learning from the strengths of its communities.
“Our dream is for the world to see Sarawak as an example of how people of different races and religions can live together in harmony.
“When we bring the right people together, share knowledge and support one another, Insya-Allah, we can achieve something greater,” she said.
Perhaps that is the heart of Imelda’s mission — not simply to see one woman succeed, but to ensure her success opens a path for others.
From one skill to one opportunity, and from one meeting to one network, every small step can become part of something greater.
Like threads carefully woven together, women can grow stronger when they share, support one another and move forward together.
For Imelda, a legacy is not about what one person achieves alone, but what she leaves behind so the next generation also has the space to rise and succeed.
