KOTA KINABALU: The Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Women Council will hold its inaugural women’s day celebration dubbed “Tadau Koonduan” on Oct 29 and 30.
Its Chairperson Joanna Datuk Kitingan said a few programmes would be held over the two-day event, including the “Tamu Tamu” market, a forum as well as a charity dinner.
The fundraising dinner will be held on Oct 29 at the Hilton Hotel here, which will see a special appearance by seven Unduk Ngadau queens, a fashion design competition as well as an auction for a contemporary evening wear collection to be worn by the beauty queens.
The council aims to raise RM150,000 for the Huguan Siou Education and Charitable Foundation and Tadika Ceria Kadazan Dusun Tiong Monggis.
Joanna said the traditional fashion design competition during the dinner would be participated by local designers and tailors as an effort to appreciate and highlight their craftsmanship.
“This will be the first time that the designers and tailors will model their creations themselves. This is to give them recognition as they usually work behind the scenes,” she explained.
The “Tamu Tamu” market will be held on Oct 29 and 30 at the Open Stage in Koisaan Cultural Village, which will see the participation of 24 booths.
“We want to give opportunities especially for rural council members to sell their products. We urge the public to come visit the booths,” Joanna told a press conference at Hilton Hotel, here, Tuesday. A half-day forum will be held at the same venue on Oct 29 with the theme “The Role of Indigenous Women in Preserving Local Wisdom” from 9am to 12.30pm.
Four speakers will each present their topics, namely Dr Rosalyn Gelunu, Dr Mary Gambidau and Muliaka Priscilla Ruth Marcus from the Central KDCA Women Council as well as 2022 State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan winner Frenerietta Sobitun.
The topics are “Local Wisdom and Kadazan Dusun Women”, “Kadazan Dusun Women: The Way Forward”, “Child Marriages — its relationship with Religion, Culture and Patriarch” and “Challenges in Living The Spirit of Huminodun”.
The forum aims to preserve local wisdom and raise awareness on women’s role in ensuring the local wisdom is passed on effectively to the next generation.
Joanna said the “Tadau Koonduan” programme was aimed at uniting native women and district council members in Sabah while providing a platform for women empowerment.
“The objective is for us to get together and get to know each other.“We have nine district-level KDCA women councils — Penampang merged with Putatan, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Tamparuli, Kiulu, Tuaran, Membakut, Tambunan, Keningau and soon Labuan.
“There are about 24,000 members. We want to get to know all these women from other districts, so this is a start,” she said.
In addition, Joanna said the participation of rural women in the programme could empower them to speak up on issues they would like to highlight.
“There are many women out there whom we do not hear of. We would like to focus on rural women issues and help them.
“They also have a lot of small businesses and skills that we can harness together,” she said.
— EDITOR
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