Florence (seated centre) together with the participants proudly show their handmade rattan trays after the course.
SRI AMAN: A total of 25 members from the Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) from Rumah Batang, Entawa Undop, attended a two-day rattan handicraft course at the longhouse recently.
Led by the Sri Aman SIDS branch assistant secretary Florence Briku, the course is aimed to improve the socio economy of the women folk at the longhouse by selling handmade handicrafts.
“When the participants have fully mastered their handicrafts skills they would be able to come up with their own designs,” said Florence who is also the chief instructor of the course.
Raw materials used for the handicrafts she said, comes from the nearby jungle.
She also said that the jungle have several types of vines besides rattan which can be used to make intricate handicraft items.
“I believe that this course will be able to benefit the women folk as well as their families in the near future,” she added.
Prior to the handicraft session, the participants were also taught to weave mats as well as other items made out of rattan.