KUCHING: Sarawak's rich cultural heritage offers opportunities for women to create unique products and generate revenue, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said this was a way for women to showcase their creativity while becoming financially independent.
"When women generate an income, they not only help their families but also contribute to the nation's revenue.
"This is our aim in assisting women, so that they don't become dependent on others," she told reporters after closing the Dayung Warisan young heritage leaders programme here on Monday (Feb 9).
Nancy said her ministry offered various initiatives to support and empower women, such as grants for small enterprises under the Wanita Dinamik programme.
"Women can be involved in business opportunities, for example in art and crafts.
"We want to encourage women to learn how to monetise their skills and knowledge to earn a living," she said.
In her speech earlier, Nancy said the Dayung Warisan programme aimed to equip women with the skills, resources and confidence to research, document and share their cultural heritage, not just to preserve the past but to make heritage accessible and meaningful for the present and future.
During the two-month programme, which commenced in December, 27 women from across Sarawak completed 18 heritage projects ranging from documentaries and podcasts to digital archives, craft workshops and interactive installations.
"Each project is different but they share one common purpose - to tell our stories in our own voices.
"This is powerful because culture is strongest when it comes from the community itself," Nancy said.
According to her, initiatives like Dayung Warisan were important to ensure that Sarawak's heritage was interpreted and shared by Sarawakians themselves.
She said women in particular played a key role as the keepers of family and community knowledge.
"From the ministry's perspective, empowerment is not only about financial support. It is about giving women opportunities, platforms, networks and confidence.
"Dayung Warisan has shown that when women are trusted and supported, they produce work that benefits the whole society," she added.
Programme director Steffany Raymond Landong said the Dayung Warisan projects reflected a wide range of Sarawak's traditions and community practices.
"These women have taken their knowledge and ideas and turned them into projects that resonate with our communities today," she said.
