A thousand new stories for Belawai’s young readers

Len Talif (sixth left) handing over the book contributions to Kampung Rajang community library represented by librarian Jennifer Jemat (fifth left). Also seen are DayakDaily director Lian Cheng (fourth left) as well as community leaders and village heads.

By Yvonne T

DARO, Feb 20: DayakDaily’s D’Drift team today delivered 1,000 books to communities in the Belawai constituency, as part of its annual “Bless Rural Children with Your Books” initiative.

The programme is supported by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) and Pertubuhan Wartawan Bebas Kuching (Pewarta), whose contributions have helped sustain this annual outreach effort.

Len Talif (seated centre) at the “Bless Rural Children with Your Books” handover ceremony at Kampung Rajang community library in Tanjung Manis.

The handover ceremony was held at the Kampung Rajang community library in Tanjung Manis. Present were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Len Talif Salleh, along with village heads and community leaders from across the Belawai constituency.

“These 1,000 books are expected to benefit the community libraries for Kampung Jerijeh, Belawai and Kampung Rajang. These books will be for our young generation, to encourage our children to read, instead of spending their time on their phones, it is to help them with their literature as well,” Len Talif, who is also Kuala Rajang assemblyman, said.

“On behalf of the communities in Kampung Jerijih, Belawai, and Rajang, we are grateful. We are happy that Belawai has been chosen for this round and we hope that we can continue this collaboration and expand this partnership further in the years to come,” he added.

Books at Kampung Rajang community library in Tanjung Manis.

The books, transported from Kuching, were made possible through a collaboration with BESarawak, a long standing supporter of the programme through its “Books Build Legacy” corporate social responsibility initiative, as well as Pewarta.

More than just a donation of secondhand books, the initiative aims to nurture a culture of reading and lifelong learning, especially among children in rural areas where access to reading materials can be limited. By travelling directly to these communities, the D’Drift team hopes to contribute meaningfully to improving educational opportunities on the ground.

Since its launch in 2022, the programme has reached several rural communities across Sarawak. During its first year, over 1,000 books were delivered to SK Lusong Laku for the Penan children, while in 2023, more than 1,000 storybooks and two large bags of soft toys reached the Orang Ulu community in Ulu Belaga.

The books being loaded onto a truck at DayakDaily’s office in Kuching. 1,000 books have been delivered to community libraries in Kampung Jerijeh, Rajang, and Belawai on Feb 20, 2026.

During D’Drift’s 2024 expedition to Ulu Baram, the team transported 1,340 second-hand books and three boxes of soft toys to the Reading Corner at the Long Latei Penan Service Centre.

Last year, another batch of more than 1,000 books and 10 large bags of soft toys was delivered to Tarat under the expanded “Bless Rural Children with Books and Soft Toys” initiative.

Each contribution has strengthened rural libraries, community centres and reading corners, helping foster a culture of learning in communities where resources are often scarce.

By combining travel, storytelling and community outreach, D’Drift continues to reflect DayakDaily’s commitment to education, cultural preservation and social responsibility, proving that every journey can open new chapters of opportunity for rural children. – DayakDaily