Sarawak's keringkam initiative gives vulnerable youths a chance to rebuild their lives

The fabric is stretched over a frame and the embroiderer threads fine gold or silver ribbon through a flat double-eyed needle. Photo: Brooke Museums

For vulnerable young people, a second chance and an opportunity to learn new skills that can rebuild their future are what they need the most.

Through the Aspire Programme, Kuching-based non-profit organisation Brooke Museums and Yayasan Hasanah (YH) have opened that door by pairing heritage preservation with youth rehabilitation.

The initiative offers incarcerated and at-risk youths the chance to discover purpose, confidence and a craft they can carry into adulthood.

Salliza (right) explaining the craft to fashion designer Melinda Looi (left). Photo: Yayasan Hasanah

“Aspire addresses two key issues facing our local society today – the potential loss of an intangible cultural heritage and life’s challenges facing our youth.

“The project converged the preservation and conservation of traditional skills (in this case, the art of Sarawak’s keringkam embroidery) with the capacity development of disadvantaged youths, upskilling them in the essential preservation and conservation of heritage textiles,” says Brooke Museums head of museums and education Salliza Sideni, in an interview from Kuching.

The participants under the Aspire Programme: A Heritage Programme To Address Textile Preservation & Youth Skills in Sarawak were trained between 2023 and early 2025.

They included 50 incarcerated trainees from Sekolah Henry Gurney Puncak Borneo Kuching, Sekolah Tunas Bakti and Taman Seri Puteri.

Salliza hopes the programme will help safeguard Sarawak’s traditional arts and crafts while also empowering institutionalised youth to become productive members of the society.

The Aspire Programme brought together traditional skills and the energies of youth in need of grounding and focus, producing tangible outcomes such as arts and crafts, and offering long-term personal enrichment.

Artisans Salbiah Muhi (left) and her sister Zainap stitching the keringkam, a traditional Sarawak Malay handiwork, on headscarves. Photo: The Star/Zulazhar Sheblee

“The programme took two years to complete, and 34 trainees received full certification in heritage craft training. Beyond their school-based sessions, we also delivered workshops and seminars to deepen their understanding of keringkam and help them network with practitioners and experts in the field.”

Salliza had nothing but positive comments about one of the programme graduates, Amran Abdullah, a former SHGPBK student who has learning disability.

“Amran was a top three trainee in the whole programme. Despite his learning disability, he aced the keringkam embroidery training... I think he’s gifted.”

To help him progress towards independence by developing his embroidery skills to earn a living, Amran is currently doing his internship with BM as a keringkam crafter.

He receives extended training to ensure high-quality work, with continuous guidance from trainers Cikgu Ros and Cikgu Faruq to help him ‘up his game,’” Salliza says.

As an intern, Amran also receives a monthly allowance with EPF and SOCSO contributions, alongside additional payment for commissioned work.

The museum has also received several selayah (veil) orders. This gives Amran the opportunity to work on real pieces for sale.

Thanks to this initiative, Amran is finally able to put his skills to good use and begin building a brighter future for himself, one stitch at a time.