RYTHM FOUNDATION EMPOWERS INDIGENOUS DUSUN COMMUNITY IN KIULU

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- RYTHM Foundation, an award-winning social impact arm of international conglomerate QI Group, recently concluded its inaugural Community Adoption Programme in Sabah (CAP Sabah), which focused on educational advancement, economic empowerment and overall community development.

The milestone was reached over the project’s three-year duration through several initiatives in the adopted villages of Kampung Lokub, Kampung Talantang and Kampung Ratau, located in the sub-district of Kiulu, Tuaran, Sabah.

In collaboration with a non-governmental organisation, Good Shepherd Services (GSS), CAP Sabah focused on three main components -- providing academic support to primary school children, guiding youths in establishing eco-tourism ventures and empowering women to operate micro-enterprises.

"The initiatives under CAP Sabah not only resulted in significant improvements within the targeted communities but also had a positive ripple effect on nearby communities," RYTHM Foundation said in a statement.

The foundation said that since its establishment in 2021, CAP Sabah has benefited 165 individuals, especially 100 children who have experienced significant academic progress since joining the tuition classes.

"The students also included children from the neighbouring villages of Tapatau Linasadan, Sinansag, Sinopukan, Rungus Panansawa and Gayaratau," it said.

It said the youth and women empowerment initiatives have also produced remarkable outcomes with 21 young entrepreneurs and 23 women now actively engaged in hiking trails, farming and food ventures following their training through CAP Sabah's Youth Connect Circle (YCC) and Women in Small Enterprises (WISE) elements, respectively.

Meanwhile, RYTHM Foundation chairman Datin Seri Umayal Eswaran emphasised that the CAP initiatives empowered local communities to be self-sufficient and self-funded to ensure a lasting impact.

She said the foundation’s approach also respected the agency of indigenous communities as they are the experts in natural resources.

"We want indigenous communities to take pride in their way of life and also explore ways to economically benefit from preserving the natural resources they are blessed with," she said.

She also attributed CAP Sabah’s success to the beneficiaries, who are eager to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

"The true heroes of CAP Sabah are the highly dedicated villagers reaping the fruits of their labour. They have inspired us to continue raising ourselves to keep serving underprivileged and Indigenous communities, in line with our RYTHM mantra 'Raise Yourself to Help Mankind'," she said.

GSS director Datuk Petrus Gimbad said the organisation will ensure the continuity of the initiatives in these villages through capacity-building programmes, business plans and various entrepreneurship training sessions.

Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said his hope is that CAP Sabah’s achievements would inspire and facilitate the expansion of similar projects beyond the beneficiary villages.

"CAP Sabah has shown what is achievable through unity and collaboration. Let us continue to work together for even greater success and replicate this model to benefit more communities in the future," he said.

The project’s closing ceremony was held in Kampung Lokub, which is located 60 km from Tuaran, Sabah, town last Saturday.

Also present at the event were the QI Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Vijay Eswaran, members of the board of directors of QI Group, RYTHM Foundation head Santhi Periasamy and GSS executive director Dr Janie Liew.

-- BERNAMA