The Power of Persistence: A Guide for Women Determined to Rise

SIDS was set up by a group of women in Kuching in the 1950s. As a result of the rural-urban Iban migration, there were many groups of Iban women in Kuching. They came from different parts of Sarawak – Lundu, Lubok Anto, Betong and Simanggang. Naturally, there were a lot of regional differences, and this created a barrier for all the women groups amidst difficult times. Many of the rural immigrants had little education and adapting to a familiar environment of urban living was not easy. There was no common ground other than being an Iban community. Sarakup’s founder members realized that these Iban women needed to be trained to survive and to live in urban surrounding. Led by Madam Barbara Bay, they were determined to bring the different groups together with the aim of getting to know and help each other.