Hidden Gems of the Next Generation
“Omok pekalai?” (“Want to study?” in Penan), I asked. “OMOK!!!” (“WANT!”), came the thunderous reply of a group of children aged between 6-12 years, followed by their roaring laughter. I smiled at their enthusiasm as I looked around the village. In my heart, I wondered, “Is education important to them?”
What About the Future?
“These are my grandchild and great-grandchild. They are not in school; they just want to play,” the former Ketua Kampung Kayan said while introducing us to two children. Sipping on a cup of coffee, the old man sighed, heavy-hearted, as he struggled to find the right words to describe his worries for the next generation. He continued, “The village is far from town. Economic constraints, lack of infrastructure and connectivity are just some of the challenges the community has to face. Many of the children are not in school, and I am concerned. What about their future?”
Photo credit: Rural Mission Committee
Pastor Labo, a young pastor, shared with us that although many in the village face personal challenges and lack confidence, they have hopes for the next generation to do better. He sees the potential in the younger generation and encourages them to study well and explore better opportunities in the future. Pastor Labo emphasised the importance of training children from an early age and reiterated that the establishment of a local school in the village will help parents realise the importance of education and allow children to explore their opportunities.
Hidden Gems Illuminated
In 2024, the Malaysian CARE Borneo team began our mission to the Penan in Kampung Long Adang. After an arduous journey, our arrival was greeted with smiles, and we were met with curiosity about our purpose there. We saw for ourselves the dire needs of the village and experienced a glimpse into their community life.
As we spent more time with the people of Long Adang, we realised that they were eager to learn new things. Although the written word is foreign to most adults and children there, that did not stop their curious minds from asking questions when they saw pictures in the books and posters we had brought.
When the team conducted community mapping, we were amazed as four generations came together to map out their village—the older generation telling stories orally, and the younger ones taking notes and drawing it out. This demonstrated the essence of the older generation imparting their knowledge to the younger generation, ensuring the continuation of their community’s legacy. After all, the rich history and legacy of this community are in the hands of today’s children.
In Proverbs 22:6 (ESV), we read, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This verse is a reminder to us as we collaborate with the community in setting up the school in the village. The school serves as a platform for children and adults alike to explore their potential and to lay the foundation for their knowledge and skills. This is just the beginning of their journey, and although still in its early days, we have seen so much potential in these children as they are given the opportunity to learn, explore and indulge their natural curiosity.
The older generations are instrumental in passing the baton and encouraging the younger generations to take up key leadership roles in the community. Through this, we are blessed to work together with young leaders who are slowly opening their hearts to development, beginning with education. Through these community leaders, we have seen young teachers stepping up to nurture young minds, and many parents sending their young children to receive an education.
The days ahead are long, and the journey is far from over, but there are hidden gems in the younger generations. All they need is the opportunity to be shaped, developed and released to shine for Christ.
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Story written by Iriene Balan and Sharon Cheong - Pusat CARE Miri.
Taken from Malaysian CARE's quarterly newsletter - Care Contact, July 2024 Edition.