Sarawak Children's Festival 2022
Well as the Melbourne winter dragged on and on and on, I was warmly surprised by an invitation to the Sarawak Children’s Festival.
It was easy to say yes, once I understood the vision for the storytelling and saw the team I would be working with. Working with people who are genuinely interested in children, storytelling, languages and all that these things can be, is pure delight.
Welcomed by staff at the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri with Ariyo, Hong Jie Jie and Uncle Nai.
The festival took place in two cities: Miri and Kuching in the State Libraries (the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak) both fabulous buildings set in big green spaces. The storytelling was a component of a bigger program that included performances by children and a zillion workshops - everything from cake decorating, balloon twisting, soap making, learning about Braille, sign languages and embroidery … just to list a few!
This was the first live festival for 2 years and the energy was popping!
I’m in there somewhere. The team and some - on the library stairs - Miri.
Tay Yit Ping (the story teller organiser andwrangler) had our team delivering stories from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm over two days, as well as workshops. As part of the core team, I worked in both cities and in addition to the festival program, visited a school and ran workshops for teachers and librarians.
Well that was a thing! Over 500 students! L - R Ping, Ng Kok Keong, me, Ariyo.
The multilingual and storytelling skill and energy displayed by my fellows was sparking. The respect we were afforded by the festival, and the care and hospitality provided by Ping, made the task easier. Having travelled from very cold, wet Melbourne to the heat and humidity of Sarawak, I had to take things slowly. By about the tenth day, I could feel myself acclimatising and by then it was almost time to return home.
Ng Kok Keong and Kak Sue rockin’ it!
The international community of storytellers found many ways to connect during the isolation we all endured during the worst of Covid. We visited each other around the world via Zoom and Facebook streaming, supported programs for children and adults - all of us working hard to stay on the right side of OK. The warmth and relationships seeded during this time remain strong.
Dinner hosted by the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Kuching - flavours and textures new to me and delicious.
Big grateful hugs to Ping and Grace Rongrong who not only looked after us during the working hours but made time to show us something of the National Parks, Museums, Nature reserves, restaurants and sunsets.
In Miri, after the long days, we recharged by the sea.