MAKING the connection between youth and heritage. That’s the call of Digi’s Amazing Malaysians, a corporate social responsibility programme launched last year.
The programme rests on the rational that to preserve tradition, it is vital that people are able to practise it.
And how better to connect past, present and future than by having individuals who are passionate about the country’s natural, social, art, cultural or built heritage share what they know with children, particularly those living in rural areas.
Each year, Digi identifies five “ordinary people who do extraordinary things” and provides them the resources to work with select groups of children on different aspects of our heritage.
In 2005, the Amazing Malaysians and their projects were Balu Perumal (The Wetland Restorer of Perak); Raja Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Shah (The Architect of Terengganu); Siow Ho Phiew (The Lion Dancer of Johor): Diana Rose (The Knowledge Keeper of Sarawak), and Romli Mahmud (The Storyteller of Perlis).
On the roll call this year are Bishan Singh (The Champion of Pahang’s Lake Chini); Janet Pillai (Madame “Heritage Heboh” of Penang); Rashid Esa (The Woodcraft Warrior of Selangor); Laurence Loh (The Heritage Architect of Kedah), and Eddin Khoo (The Shadow Player of Kelantan).
For details, visit digi.com.my/aboutdigi/community/cm_about_amazing2006.do.
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