Penan Women Project
Empowering Women from the Penan Tribes of Sarawak
In Their Own Words
Country: Sarawak, Malaysia
Year Founded: 2016
Who do they help? MWWA was set up to help needy nomadic and semi-nomadic Penans in Limbang and Miri divisions of Sarawak. Some 14 villages in Limbang and Miri divisions of Sarawak have benefited from the weaving project and other projects carried out by MWWA.
Our project focuses on helping the women of the Penan tribe with earning regular incomes from crafting handmade bags. This project also ensures the continuity of their heritage, such as weaving, as the Penan women are expert weavers despite having no formal education.
100% of the proceeds from the sale of these indigenous handcrafted bags are channelled back to the Penan community. PWP buys the bags from the Penan women and helps to market them.
How do they help? The weaving project has injected optimism into their lives. Families now get together to weave bags and baskets. Earning an income has given the Penan woman a sense of dignity and self-worth. She is slowly becoming independent and is learning that she too has a voice and an important role to play in the Penan community.
Besides the weaving project, MWWA also helps with medical and maternity care such as paying medical bills, providing milk, food and clothes for Penan mothers and babies. Other projects that the MWWA are carrying out include teaching the Penan families to grow vegetables (supplying them with seeds and farming tools).
Special Thanks To: Ann, for changing the trajectory of my life, and being the inspiration behind Handprint Alliance.
“Being generous of spirit is a wonderful way to live”
Pete Seeger
Retail Therapy With Heart
