MIRI: A Penan Children Empowerment Workshop has opened new horizons for children from Kampung Penan Eastwood by giving them first-hand exposure beyond their village while building confidence and self-belief.
The educational and social exposure programme is organised by Bantu Sarawak, with support from TapangTree Bookhouse and Lepak Miri, and is held at the MYY Learning Hub in MYY Mall.
In a statement, the Persatuan Kebajikan Bantu Sarawak (PKBKTS) said the programme marks its first implementation outside Kampung Penan Eastwood, following its initial run within the village in 2024.
“Among the key highlights of the programme were the meaningful “first-time” experiences for the Penan children — some boarded a bus for the first time, visited a shopping mall for the first time, used an escalator for the first time, and for some, it was their first time leaving their home village.
“These experiences were not merely visits, but an important social learning process that helped foster courage and self-belief,” it said today (Dec 31).
It added that throughout the programme, participants took part in interactive workshop sessions, group activities, and visits within MYY Mall, including a trip to the library.
“They also attended a motivational session by Elia Bit, which emphasised self-potential, education, and pride in their identity as Penan children.
“At the end of the programme, certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants, along with the distribution of pre-loved clothing to help ease their daily needs,” it added.
Bantu Sarawak founder Jeffery Ngui said the programme was not just a one-day event, but a long-term investment in the future of Penan children.
“We want these children to dare to dream, to be confident in themselves, and to know that their background does not limit their potential. Early exposure like this is crucial in breaking the cycle of marginalisation,” he added.
