KOTA KINABALU: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are urged to develop more programme initiatives aimed at empowering rural women, particularly in the tourism sector.

       Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said skills-building projects or courses to enhance women's roles were vital to help enhance the economy and uplift the well-being of the rural communities.

       “In this day and age, there is a universal sentiment of gender equality and empowerment, especially in the workplace.

       “Women have the status of 'matriarchs' in some societies, including our own. This means that women or mothers are positioned as the household head.

       "Women's involvement in leadership can be seen clearly in the community when women actively participate in the community's economic activities,” he said at the closing ceremony of the “I have A Dream" programme at Kampung Mantob in Tuaran on Friday (March 25) organised by the Borneo Ecotourism Solutions & Technologies (BEST) Society.

       He said many women have become craft entrepreneurs and explore business options in the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

       At the tourism level, he said his Ministry and the Sabah Tourism Board were ready to introduce and highlight products produced by rural women.

       The programme organised by Borneo Eco Tours, MUKEST, and Mind Vistas focuses on the empowerment of young women and a collaboration programme with the Hilton Kota Kinabalu Hotel for women who run homestay businesses.

       “There are many development projects that can be pursued to educate rural women and equip them with skills and knowledge that they may not have the access to. This ‘I Have a Dream' is one of them.

       “Hopefully this will encourage more NGOs to come up with more projects to help other rural communities in developing their own abilities," Bangkuai added.