Agriculture Department, Home Demonstrators

The Agriculture Department of Sarawak saw a new development when the US Peace Corps came to Sarawak in 1963.

A group of volunteers attached to the Agriculture Deparment introduced the Home Demonstrators' Program for the rural communities.

Photo from Borneo Post. 4H Club in Rural Sarawak.

These home demonstrators helped rural women with activities at home and family life. The home demonstrators were understanding and sympathetic as they had to ensure that family life was improved. Children learned to "develop good personal characteristics like honesty, courage, initiative, common sense and good judgment." The 4 H club initiated by home demonstrators and the US Peace Corps also enhanced the building of good charactor.

One of the students of SMK Limbang Elizabeth Dato joined the Agriculture Department as a Home Demonstrator. Today she is still very helpful . A happy mother with excellent family.

Rural midwives, Baun Merang and Asong Lenjau also attested to the value of home demonstrators who also worked alongside them in the longhouses in the Baram.

For many years the positions of the home demonstrators were enviable but as time goes by, Sarawak lost interest in the important roles of the Home Domeonstrators. It is rather sad actually.