by Datu Aloysius Dris :
The recently concluded Sarawak Cultural Symposium, the fifth in the Series of Symposia organized since its inauguration in 1988, brought in a new and refreshing dimension to this State’s pioneering efforts in bringing about cultural understanding and appreciation among the people of Sarawak.
Dancers performing during recent Sarawak Fifth Cultural Symposium
This move brought about a new dimension to this pioneering effort in the State’s Social Development. Although prior to this the youths were involved in so many areas of the process of organizing and implementing the Series they were never accorded the needed slot for them to articulate their views, opinions, sentiments or vision for them and for the future of the State.
The State Ministry of Social Development and Urbanization together with the Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) put together a special Youth Cultural Forum (YCF) of their own for the various representatives from the youth fraternities and organizations including the institutions of higher learning and senior secondary students and young people who are starting or about to start their career after completing their studies. 104 participants representing the youths of Sarawak with some participants from Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Foreign students studying in our local Institutions of Higher Learning attended.
Participants attending the Intercultural Youth Forum at Camp Pueh, Sematan
Programmes included various activities such as planned cultural games with explanations, motivational sessions, talks and discussions on the State’s Development programmes such as RECODA and SCORE as well as presentations from the various groups of participants.
Youth are seen playing cultural game during the evening activity
The forum was successful in getting the participants to appreciate the efforts of bringing them to the main State Symposium as an important forum to air and articulate their views. In some ways the involvement of the youths in the Symposium has been able to narrow certain gaps in perceptions of both the youths and the various symposium representatives especially in socio-cultural development of the State.
To really engage the youth, the policy-makers and implementers need to have the political will. Just look at the kind of money spent on social programmes including cultural programmes. Same approach, same kind of concept and ideas year in, year out. The public is getting the sense that the implementers would just want to rush programmes to spend the budgeted allocations before the accounting year is out. Too little attention is focused on the quality of programmes, and even on what happened to the target groups after the programmes. It’s laughable that too often activities scramble to get participants just to make up the crowd which defeats the very purpose of a programme – to have impact on the target groups. As in many things, this sad state of affairs is not the fault of a single party/quarter. The whole system is at fault somewhere and various dynamics are at play. Easy to blame the gov’t, but what constructive things are other sectors of society doing about it?
Great effort in engaging our youth.Hopefully,this forum or its kind could help our youth and future generations to appreciate not only the presence of each other but also the multitude of cultures that we are so fortunate to have in Malaysia or Sarawak in particular.If I could be best friends with a Bidayuh,Iban,Kayan,Chinese and Malay,I believe it is not impossible for others to do the same.
Agreed with Glambert… To me the implementation of such programmes are only been done by politically driven hearts. Maybe they should come out with more exciting and new ideas for the activities for the said target group. Young hearts are deprived for something else and we ought to cater their hunger for an impact from the activities and programmes done- not just for the sake of carrying out programmes to meet the budget given.
I think that young generations should be given more chances to express their views on culture and communities issues. Let us hear their say and stop ignoring them.After all, they will be the one shaping the future of our children.
Most people especially youths are attracted and fascinated by the uniqueness of RMWF because of the music that they bring in to us.
If we organise similar event highlighting the local music such as “Bermukun”, “Ghazal”… How many would turn up?
I am one of the participants of this forum.
1st of all I would like to thank SDI and AZAM for organizing this effective and useful event.
This event, when you just read in the papers, the 1st thing that would come into your mind will be Boring. The people around you who ever attended this kind of events back then would tell you its boring and do not understand what the event is organized about.
Here, the WORD OF MOUTH is important. Actually, I didn’t really register to join in this forum, my mum registered for me as i was not interested when I heard about it. But what to do? so i went and the rest was history. haha!
This forum opened my eyes to a lot of things especially regarding all the other races or communities that is in Sarawak and Sabah respectively.
With this, all the participants can widened their network and contacts where they can get to know and keep in touch with each other or perhaps Work together in the near future.
Now, most of us who attended the forum still keeping in touch with each other and can just talk about anything-sharing ideas etc.
All I can say is the event is well-organized, but just a little bit lacking in the presentations slot where we were slightly briefed on RECODA and SCORE.
Youths today are very different from youths back then, today we dare to voice out and demand what can we have or what we should have. So it is not easy to cater to youths today on their needs and wants.
For example, the presentations, I dare to say that MOST participants are NOT listening and do not understand what the speakers are talking about in front.
There are a few factors which affects this, language barrier, standard of language usage, boring and unattractive power point slides.
Events can be organize by anyone, it all depends on HOW you run the event and HOW you cater to your target audiences.
If you want to organize events for the youths, make sure the event is run “Youthfully”.
For traditional music concerts, find ways or ideas to make the youths WANT to come and perhaps go outside of the box to organize the concerts.
Like what Cadbury said, “who would want to turn up for local music such as Ghazal or Bermukun?” – I would not want to attend if there is no specific purpose because in my mind i can just get the CD if i want to enjoy the music.
So, we need to challenge our target audiences to come or organize the event somewhere they would not expect. Concerts can be anywhere you want, there’s outdoor and indoor.
Give more chances to our young generations to voice out what is in their mind. Not everyone especially youths nowadays understand what is the meaning of culture but if give chances to say it out maybe there is a varieties opinion from them.
Emmanuel, if I give u the “bermukun” CD.. I still don’t guarantee that u will listen to it anyway.. hehehe..
When I was a kid, my parents used to listen to this Sarawak FM and listen to this “bermukun” live in the radio. Grown up in the city, I hardly understand why senior people like my parents are so attracted to it.
I only know that “bermukun” is something Sarawakian should be proud of. Other states can be proud of Mak Yong, wayang kulit… we do have our own uniqueness.
The interest in this “bermukun” only slow grows in me after attending several Kaul festivals, public functions and weddings. I am telling you these people who are in the business are making good money. Why? Because not many can “bermukun”… It’s not a talent that people can simply pick up along the way.
It is sad though because those who are very much involve in this are the “old school” people..
Bermukun time Kaul, Nguguoh time Gawai Sowa, Malu Gong time Gawai…actually all these could engage the interest of the young ones to embrace others’ culture and their own. WE love to be around with many people sometimes. How about the events like skits, dramas, theatres and so…? These could attract them to get involved and gain true experience in interacting and working with other types of individuals. Please don’t go much with conventional approaches to inculcate national solidarity and cultural awareness like seminars and more workshops..we need to save the papers from being much used for paper presentations and discussions. Perhaps we could start with drama scripts to convey intended messages.
Too much discussions on how youth should appreciate culture also.. memeningkan. Some may get confused. Worst.. Don’t understand at all.
Involving them to do activities that involve cultural elements will slowly create interest among our youths.
we should be grateful that there are people from the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanization together with the Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) who are willing to spend their precious time and efforts to make this event a very successful ones…HIGH 5 to them!!! its not an easy tasks thats for sure..
based on his comments, EMMANUEL DAVID seems to be a very outspoken person about what he thinks. i would like to quote his words, “Events can be organize by anyone, it all depends on HOW you run the event and HOW you cater to your target audiences.If you want to organize events for the youths, make sure the event is run “Youthfully”.” SINCE HE IS ONE OF THE FORMER PARTICIPANTS FOR THIS YEAR EVENT, THE ORGANIZER SHOULD LET HIM BE THE PROJECT MANAGER TO ORGANIZE THIS EVENT NEXT YEAR….let see how he could make the events a successfully and youthful events….some people know how to critic but don’t actually know how to do it (implement it)…. SO LET EMMANUEL”S ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS for next year Sarawak Cultural Symposium…
Wah, EmoB…! Surely emo-fied by the issue eh? We’re not condemning the event just thought that by getting the youths to get involved with the process of carrying out the programme would have been an impact to them – experience worth and leadership training. Also, a more ‘youthful’ manner of activities should have taken charge by now. Who knows what might bring to something…
Interesting to hear what people say and comment.
Indeed, if you give me the bermukun CDs, i might listen to it and might not listen to it. But there is stil no confirmation that i mite notlisten to it.
I listened to pantun iban til now as my grandfather is one of those who wrote it, so theres no way that i will listen to bermukun and understand it.
Indeed ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS.
But, if just jump into action without any discussion or experience, it is like going down a cliff without safety gear and experience. Who knows what can happen then.
Voices are there to help to help and guide and teach.
Well, i would like to ask whether those who challenge it can do it themselves too?
Well if im selected to be the project manager, would you like to work with me, emob? since challenging people is fun. haha!
To conclude critics are there to help to improve and some are born to do it. Some are born to lead, some are born to follow, and someare born to challenge people including challenging themselvs..
I agree!
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.