You may be aware (or not) that the Penans are one of Borneo’s indigenous tribes. Until very recently they have all been nomadic hunter-gatherers, never remaining in one place for long. Now, due to economic circumstances, many Penans have had to embrace the modern world, living in resettlement communities, while others still call remote regions of the rainforest home.

Many Penans have had to learn new skills to sustain themselves. Men are now venturing out of their comfort zones into neighboring towns, farms and factories in order to earn a living, while the women must remain behind with their children and elders. These women are totally reliant on their husbands to provide for the family. But not every man is lucky enough to nd work outside of the rainforest. In those cases, the women must step up in an attempt to generate enough income for the household to have a better life and for the children to receive a sound education.

With the help of The Penan Women Project, a non-prot organisation set up to empower Penan women to utilise their natural skills as weavers, the women have now adapted themselves to producing sustainable, original, long-lasting items that are not only practical but also very beautiful; items that lend themselves to being an integral part of a meaningful Corporate Gifting program. Unlike the predictable, often cheap, mass-produced imported items that inevitably surface at Christmas, Gawai, Raya and Chinese New Year, these locally crafted, superb handwoven gifts represent quality that can only be achieved through exceptional skill, care and love.

Thoughtful businesspeople like Rewi Hamid Bugo, Managing Director of Petra Jaya Properties, and on the board of several other rms including the non-prot organisation, World Wildlife Fund, place great value in supporting local communities. The Penan Women Project is particularly close to Rewi’s heart. And the lucky recipients of his meaningful gifts look forward every year to receiving them.

“At Petra Jaya Properties, we are not in the habit of sending gifts to people we’re trying to impress, or from whom we seek favour. Our gifts are carefully curated, meaningful and ethical and are given only to those with whom we have already established a positive relationship. Handwoven baskets, hampers, platters and boxes, made with love and care by The Penan Women Project, and then lled with local goodies, are the perfect expression of the respect and fondness we have for our clients, suppliers and friends of the company. They also reect our desire to support a group of hard-working people who we hope will benet from our small contribution. They too deserve our respect. Combining our regular Corporate Gifting with our CSR initiatives has worked perfectly. Everyone, all along the line, is happy!”

Like Rewi Bugo and Petra Jaya Properties, many other companies are realising that giving back not only makes the world a better place, it’s also good for business. The practice of ethical and social sustainability raises a company’s prole and also provides an uplifting experience for employees. Knowing that they work for a conscientious , caring company gives employees a profound sense of pride and their loyalty to that company becomes a given.

Combining the practice of CSR with Corporate Gifting makes perfect sense and The Penan Women Project is an evocative expression of goodwill, gratitude, friendship and pride. Certainly, these exquisite handmade gifts, woven with love, will resonate much more than any run-of-the-mill, meaningless tokens of appreciation. And the range is extensive. In fact, The Penan Women Project catchphrase says it all, “What your mind can conceive, we can weave.”