KUCHING: At the bustling ‘Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum’ (SAREF) 4.0 community market, one booth stood out with bracelets glittering in shades of brown, red and blue.
To the unknowing eye, they looked like polished stones, but in reality, each bead was cut, rolled, glued and polished from recycled magazines and paper bags.
Behind the initiative is Kampung Haji Baki Residents’ Association, led by its chairperson, Penghulu Sabtuyah Yusuf.
What started as a small experiment in recycling has grown into a project that empowers single mothers, B40 households and schoolchildren.
“We cut the paper and give it to them. They roll the beads, and we pay them a token,” Sabtuyah explained.
“They go for four months of training with a tutor, and after that they can produce their own.”
The process is simple yet meticulous. Paper strips are cut with a penknife, rolled tightly, glued, and coated with a special polish.
After a short drying session in a small oven, the beads are strung together with accessories to form bracelets, lanyards, or necklaces.
“It takes me one day to make a bracelet. Each bead is different in size and pattern because it’s all handmade. That’s the beauty of it,” said the 67-year-old.
The initiative is not limited to adults. Sabtuyah said around 40 primary school students, both boys and girls, have also joined in.
“It’s to occupy their time better than doing nothing. Some boys are very good at it, they really enjoy it,” she said with a laugh.
“At home, they can continue making beads instead of getting involved in unhealthy activities.”
Participants range from as young as 10 to as old as 68, proving that age is no barrier to creativity.
Sabtuyah stressed that even those who are not educated can generate income for their families.
“That’s what matters most, lifting up the community economy,” she said.
The project has already attracted buyers.
Sabtuyah shared that the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) ordered 1,300 lanyards for the recent Rainforest World Music Festival.
She added that Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) had also bought pieces as souvenirs during the SAREF event.
During such events, each participant can earn up to RM30.
“We always encourage participation, whether from single mothers, the elderly, or the youth. It gives everyone an opportunity,” Sabtuyah said.
“I hope more people will recognise our work and support us by buying these products.”
For Sabtuyah and her community, every bead tells a story – of resourcefulness, resilience, and the will to turn scraps into something that shines.
