THE Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia) has embarked on initiatives to empower and generate income for diverse communities through its Community Skills Development Project.
Kraftangan Malaysia, an agency under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, is focusing its efforts on youths, the underprivileged (asnaf), persons with disabilities, the B40 group in rural areas and townships, single mothers and housewives and the Sabah and Sarawak indigenous ethnic community in specific areas or districts to participate in the project, which is known as Projek Pembangunan Kemahiran Komuniti or PPKK.
Under the PPKK project, participants are encouraged to create craft products using textile, metal, and forest- and Earth-based materials.
Its objective is to cultivate and establish new craft communities who engage directly with craft enterprises to generate both primary and supplementary income.
This project is implemented through a "train and place" approach, where participants are trained in technical skills and entrepreneurship by Kraftangan Malaysia, based on designated craft fields.
This project enhances the employability of the target groups, enabling them to secure jobs or pursue craft enterprises as full-time or part-time careers.
To ensure the project achieves its objectives, Kraftangan Malaysia has outlined three main activities: the Craft Product Development and Production, Entrepreneurship Courses, and the Business Simulation.
Initially, participants are trained in technical skill development under the Craft Product Development and Production to provide exposure and enhance their skills in creating appealing and high-quality craft products for the market and income generation.
Participants will then undergo phased training that will focus on skill enhancement in accordance with the predefined modules.
Then, participants will undergo Entrepreneurship Courses to get insight into business management aspects, including finance, operations, marketing, information technology, and communication skills.
These courses aim to prepare the participants or new communities to become successful craft entrepreneurs.
Moreover, participants also learn how to directly market their crafted products to customers through the Business Simulation activities during promotions organised by Kraftangan Malaysia.
In December, Kraftangan Malaysia organised two craft promotional festivals.
Among them are the ongoing Johor Craft Festival 2023, which is being held at Padang Akasia in Angsana Johor Baru Mall until tomorrow, and "Kraf Borneo Kita" in conjunction with the Motac@ Bintulu programme, at Lasar Kenyalang Bintulu (old airport site) in Sarawak, until Jan 7.
Various activities are being held such as Craft Sales, Craft Demonstrations, Craft Interactives, Exhibitions of New Craft Products, Cultural Performances, Visitor Attraction Activities and many more.
Kraftangan Malaysia invites members of the public to attend these festivals and support the new craft communities' efforts.
