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Our Solidarity and Commitment to Responsible Actions for Sustainable Development
Community Programme 4
Responsible Tourism and Education for Sustainable Development Module Workshop
NICHOLAS TIONG, LEO TANG and SHARON ESTHER
15th February 2022
On 12th February 2022, the committee members of Sarawak Research Society (SRS), Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Kuching, Responsible Borneo (REBORN), and UCSI University hosted a workshop on Responsible Community Engagement Program. The workshop was held at UCSI University Sarawak Campus from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This workshop is a collaboration with these said institutions together with Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Sarawak, and SJK Chung Hua Taiton and SJK Chung Hua Paku in Bau District. This workshop serves as a community engagement initiative which aims at educating teachers and students in rural areas about responsible tourism through education.
This workshop addressed two agendas: (1) Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which was delivered by Chairperson of the RCE Kuching Mdm Mukvinder Kaur Sandhu, and (2) Responsible Tourism Module, which was presented by the RCE fellows. The first agenda, ESD, aims to promote awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as educate teachers on how to apply the SDGs through education. The second agenda, Responsible Tourism, seeks to familiarise teachers with the idea of responsible tourism as well as the 5R concepts (Refuse, Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose). The participants were also exposed to an interactive e-learning module using the online portal ‘PANDei e-Pelancongan’.
This half-day workshop was attended by members of the RCE Kuching, REBORN, as well as principals and teachers from two said primary schools in Taiton and Paku Towns. Participants from RCE Kuching were Ms Adlin Baizura Binti Ariffin, Ms Genevie Ruran Mikal, Ms Sherrymina Kiching, Ms Ida Ingko, and Ms Franscesca Enchang. Participants from the SRS was SRS Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr Hiram Ting together with the members of REBORN, including Mr Nicholas Tiong, Ms Andrea Le, Ms Magdalyn Chan Wan Ting, Ms Sharon Esther Donny, Mr Wang Hanyu, Ms Mandy Chen Wei Xing, as well as Treasurer of the Hwa Gong Bau Historical Society Mr Lucas Lim Tee Kiat. Representatives from SJK Chung Hua Taiton were school board member Mr Henry Liew, Principal Mr Pui Poh Chong, and schoolteachers Ms Wong Ling Nee, Mr Liew Show Jin, Ms Then Chin Fah, and Mr James Chin Fah. Representatives from SJK Chung Hua Paku were Principal Mr Choo Nyit Shin, and two teachers Mr Bong Kok Sin and Ms Voon Yit Sam.
With this opportunity, we would like to express our gratitude to the Education Department of Sarawak (JPN) for allowing us to conduct this program and workshop.
Another great day. More to come.
Community Programme 3
“Gotong Royong” to Kickstart the First Communal Activity at Paku Rock Maze Garden
NICHOLAS TIONG and LEO TANG
16th November 2021
On 14th November 2021, under the lead of the local communities and Sarawak Research Society (SRS), a communal activity was conducted at Paku Rock Maze Garden. The purpose is to create clear pathways inside the garden, clean up the surroundings, discover trekking spots and incredible natural heritage, and to discover a whole new natural tourism spot.
The participants gathered at the Shak Bong Kung Temple beside Paku Rock Maze Garden at 8:30 AM. Everyone had their breakfast prepared by the local communities before starting the assigned task at 9:00 AM. Everyone played their roles well while helping one another to complete the communal activity. While the Responsible Borneo (REBORN)members were doing map sketching of the Paku Rock Maze Garden, we were impressed by the discovery that the area could be more than 3km2, which is larger than we expected. Since we could not see the entire area clearly using Google Map Satellite view, it became a real hidden gem to all of us.
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We also discovered that there were several stones which resembled faces or figures, for example T-Rex, Rock Eyes, Stone Face and Gorilla. We were impressed to know that all of these stones were naturally formed and could be more than 140 million years old. We almost believed that all these stones were carved by some “alien technology”, but it turned out that this whole area used to be under the sea. As time passed, the sea level fell, which leaves these stones formed naturally by the wave erosion. Hence, never underestimate the power of mother nature.
The participants of the communal activity included Pemanca Bong Jong Long, Kapitan Pui Shak Sin, the community members of Paku Town, the members of Hwa Gong Bau Historical Society, SRS as well as the staff of Majlis Daerah Bau (Bau District Council).
Community Programme 2
Listening to them and Earning their Trust being the Way Forward with Community Members in Paku
NICHOLAS TIONG and LEO TANG
31st October 2021
A fruitful session of sharing and listening to community members in Paku Town
On 28th October 2021, we had a fruitful session under the lead of Pemanca Bong Jong Long, Paku Kapitan Pui Shak Sin and Sarawak Research Society (SRS) with the community members who teach at schools and run small businesses in Paku Town, Bau District. Chairman of SRS, Assoc. Prof. Dr Hiram Ting shared about responsible tourism and the importance of community engagement. The audience seemed to receive the sharing well.
The attendees included Chairperson of Persatuan Penganut Shak Bong Kung Paku Kapitan Pui Shak Sin, Chairman of Hwa Gong Bau Historical Society Pemanca Bong Jong Long, Principal of SJK Chung Hua Paku Mr Choo Nyit Shin, Chairman of SRS Assoc. Prof. Dr Hiram Ting, Nicholas Tiong, 6 community leaders (JKKK) and 8 stall traders in Paku Town
The session started at 1:30 PM and ended at 3:00 PM. We hope to gather some useful data before coming up with a proposal to discuss with the local authorities. More importantly, this session helped break the ice between us and the community members. We listened to their concerns in order to know them and their works better. We believe that earning their trust is an important step to move forward. This is another milestone of a long but exciting journey.
Community Programme 1
Introducing ESD to Schools at Bau District to Realise Responsible Tourism
NICHOLAS TIONG and LEO TANG
18th October 2021
SRS, RCE Kuching and community leaders meeting with school principal and teachers in Bau
On 15th October 2021, Sarawak Research Society (SRS) and the community leaders of Bau, work together to hold the first community programme exchange meeting and discuss about the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Bau District.
Attendees include Chairman of Hwa Gong Bau Historical Society Pemanca Bong Jong Long, Treasurer Mr Lucas Lim Tee Kiat, Taiton Kapitan Phang Nyat Kiaw, Paku Kapitan Pui Shak Sin, Owner of Borneo Keranji Farm Mr Ho King Wong and Ms Amber Ho, SJK Chung Hua Taiton Director Mr Henry Liew, Principal Mr Pui Poh Chong and the teachers, Chairperson of Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Kuching Mdm Mukvinder Kaur Sandhu and the fellows, together with Chairman of SRS Assoc. Prof. Dr Hiram Ting and his research members.
The purpose of the session is to discuss opportunities and avenues between Responsible Borneo (REBORN), RCE Kuching and SRS on how to educate and empower students in Bau District on sustainable tourism and environmental awareness through education.
During our last visit to Bau led by REBORN committee, RCE Kuching Chairperson and Project leader for Responsible Tourism working group of RCE Kuching introduced the Responsible Tourism e-module to the principal and schoolteachers of SJK Chung Hua Taiton. The school was the first school in Bau District approached by RCE Kuching team to kick start the community programme in 2022. RCE Kuching team planned to facilitate and conduct the e-module programme at the school’s computer lab for the teachers and students. Besides, RCE Kuching team also encouraged the school to embed SDG elements as an integral part in all teaching subjects and introduced ESD as a key enabler of SDGs and how it raises the knowledge, awareness, values and most importantly action on sustainability issues. With this, RCE Kuching aimed to expand these programmes and initiatives to other primary and secondary schools as well as higher education institutions within Bau District in order to promote Responsible Tourism and ESD amongst the local community.