OVER the past nine days, 38 passionate young delegates from across Southeast Asia took part in the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP) 2025, a regional initiative that promotes volunteerism, cross-cultural understanding, and youth leadership.
Hosted in Sarawak, this year’s programme welcomed delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.
Immersed in the rural community of Kampung Pueh in Sematan, the youths engaged in meaningful community projects, from repainting public toilets and longhouses to learning traditional dances and crafts, all while building friendships and strengthening regional solidarity.
In an interview with Sarawak Tribune, several delegates shared their experiences volunteering in Kampung Pueh, Sematan.
Nurin Atiqah Amran, 24, Singapore
“At Kampung Pueh, we repainted the public toilets, and I was in charge of scraping, cleaning, and painting to improve hygiene. Other teams focused on the garbage disposal area and repainting the longhouse exterior.
One of the most memorable moments was the cultural night, where we performed the Salako dance for the local community after learning it a few days earlier.
I also spent time with my homestay host, a kind lady who taught me the art of weaving. Although it takes years to master, I truly admire her skills and the community’s dedication to preserving their cultural traditions.
Their dance, art, and heritage are incredibly beautiful, but I realise now that many of these traditions are slowly fading.
We hope our involvement helps to preserve them for future generations in Sarawak. Coming from multicultural Singapore, I was struck by the strong sense of community in Sarawak.
In Singapore, we live in Housing Development Board flats and see our neighbours daily.
In the longhouse, although people may not live very close to one another, they come together with warmth and familiarity.
During the cultural night, it felt like they were reconnecting with long-lost friends. That really moved me.
I hope we can foster this same spirit in Singapore, where even if we are physically apart, our hearts remain close.”
Muhammad Dzahiruddin, 24, Brunei
“My experience here in Sarawak has been very good and wonderful. The families, the environment, and the hospitality were all very warm and welcoming.
It allowed me to truly enjoy my time here. At night, we held cross-cultural sharing sessions where each country presented a programme from their homeland.
What really intrigued me was how each country, despite their differences, shared the same goal that is to nurture the spirit of volunteerism among youth and encourage active involvement in their communities.
This is actually my first time in Sarawak. During our time in Kampung Pueh, we stayed in the longhouse for one night and took part in many activities.
We repainted the walls and toilets, built a new waste management area, and painted murals. We also had fun playing telematch games with the children.
At night, we danced poco-poco together in the longhouse. Even though it was night time, it felt like morning because the energy and excitement never faded. It was an amazing experience.”
Eny Prahmawati, 25, Indonesia
“I wanted to join this volunteering programme because I felt it would be a good challenge for me. I wanted to push myself to take part in volunteer activities and communicate with people from different backgrounds and languages.
This is actually my first time joining a volunteering programme and also my first time flying abroad, so it’s a big step for me. Before coming here, I was really excited.
I’ve worked at the Ministry of Health and Sports in Indonesia and have been involved in organising programmes there as part of the committee, so when I heard about this, I wanted to experience something similar in a new environment.
Coming to Sarawak has been amazing. I was very excited before arriving, and now that I’m here, I really want to show myself, my parents, and others that I can do this, that I can be part of something meaningful.
What I love most about Sarawak is the people. They are so peaceful, friendly, and welcoming. I truly enjoy the calm and beautiful vibes here.”
