Harvesting Hope 🌱: How Borneo Bags Supports the Penan People of Borneo

The Penan people are a semi-nomadic indigenous tribe in Borneo who rely heavily on the forest for their way of life. Their culture and traditions face many challenges from logging and modern development. An artist named Wei Keng Tan has worked for many years to help the Penan preserve their culture and support their communities. With help from Borneo Bags, Jacky's business, his important work is now growing and reaching more people than ever before.

A Journey of Connection

While working in Brunei, Jacky often travelled across the border into Sarawak, Malaysia, where she met Wei Keng Tan. A talented artist and caring humanitarian, Wei Keng had formed a deep connection with the Penan people. Through his work, he became a bridge between their world and ours—helping to provide education, transport, and essential supplies.

One of the biggest challenges the Penan face is the safe transportation of their children to school. Without secure travel, many children are left vulnerable, facing risks that range from separation and exploitation to violence from those who seek to take advantage of their isolation. To combat this, we helped Wei Keng purchase a four-wheel-drive vehicle that allows him to transport Penan children safely between their homes and school.

But the need does not end there.

Empowering the Penan Through Sustainable Support

Recently, Jacky decided to expand her efforts beyond just working with the incredible weavers of her business, Borneo Bags. The idea was simple: if some of the profits from the bags could be funnelled directly into grassroots initiatives, she could extend her impact beyond employment for weavers to broader community support.

A few weeks ago, she sent $1,000 to Wei Keng, asking him to identify the most urgent needs. His answer? A rice thresher for a settlement in Ba Marong, located on the Upper Tutoh River.

The Rice Thresher: A Simple Machine with a Huge Impact

The Penan people rely on rice as a staple food, but their harvesting process is incredibly labour-intensive. Currently, villagers pick the rice ears by hand, tie them in small bundles using grass or leaves, and transport them in handmade shoulder bags. With no local threshing machine, they either manually separate the rice grains or travel to another village—a journey that involves navigating treacherous rivers that are constantly shifting due to rain, hidden rocks, and fallen logs.

Thanks to the donation, the villagers now have a rice thresher, making their work easier and significantly reducing the labour required to prepare their food. Additionally, we provided enough funds to cover fuel costs for operating the machine for the foreseeable future.

Protecting a Culture on the Brink

Beyond providing equipment, this initiative is about preserving a way of life. As modern industry encroaches on the rainforest, much of the Penan's ancestral land has been destroyed by logging companies, leaving them with fewer resources and harsher living conditions. Their language, which has no written form, is at risk of being lost as younger generations are forced to integrate into the modern world. Every piece of support—whether it's a machine, a vehicle, or simply a listening ear—helps them maintain their identity while adapting to change.

What's Next?

The work doesn't stop here. With ongoing donations, Jacky will continue supporting the Penan people where they need it most. Future funds will go toward critical community projects, identified by Wei Keng Tan, whose deep understanding of the tribe ensures that every dollar makes the greatest possible impact.

At Borneo Bags, Jacky believes that ethical fashion is more than just beautiful craftsmanship—it's about creating real change. Every purchase from her collection directly contributes to initiatives like this, supporting indigenous artisans and their communities in tangible, meaningful ways.

Join her on this journey. When you carry a Borneo Bag, you carry a story—a story of resilience, tradition, and hope.