By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
BINTULU, September 16 - Exposed to community activities since childhood, Joyce Morris Kapong has successfully fostered her interest in continuing to contribute to the communities in the rural areas of Lundu, Bario, and Limbang, Sarawak.
Serving as a Language Teacher at CALC@UPMKB, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB), she said she is willing to traverse the land and forests for her passion for community activities.
"My parents introduced me to community activities. When I accompanied them on visits to communities in the rural areas of Lundu, Bario, and Limbang, I experienced the joy of it firsthand and helped the communities there as best as we could," she said.
She added that her involvement in community activities has taught her the importance of strengthening unity among ethnic groups in the Land of the Hornbills.
As a native of Kuching from the Kelabit ethnic group, she places great emphasis on unity among the people of Sarawak.
"Some may see unity as something cliché, but in reality, it motivates me to continue community activities here.
"We are open to learning and embracing each other's traditions and ways of life while striving to help each other progress in life."
She acknowledged that the more actively she engages in community activities, the more additional values she gains while exploring the treasure and cultural and ethnic diversity of Sarawak.
"I believe this unity exists because of the strong sense of respect ingrained in our identities. These core values allow us to live as a close-knit community," she said.
So far, she has not forgotten her experience conducting community activities at SK Ulu Lubai (High-Performance School, Cohort Two), Limbang, in 2012.
Sharing her experience of the journey to SK Ulu Lubai, she explained that it was not easy because, after a six-hour drive from Bintulu to Limbang, her team had to pass through Brunei and traverse the forest using dirt roads to reach the school.
"There, we stayed at the school for several days, conducted activities with students, teachers, and parents, and visited the surrounding longhouses to get to know the community better.
"We saw how the community provided a strong foundation for the success of their children attending SK Ulu Lubai," she said.
She emphasised that building friendships with the community is essential because trust and accountability can flourish.
She loves Malaysia wholeheartedly and hopes that every Malaysian, regardless of the state, can enjoy the diversity of ethnicities in the country.
"May the people of Malaysia continue to experience all the blessings God has bestowed upon our country so that no one is left behind in the current development. Happy 60th Malaysia Day!" she said. - UPM
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