Barefoot Mercy

It takes almost a full day to reach the Penan jungle preschool of Long Lamam. A journey that winds through rivers, mud tracks and silence - to a place that does not even exist on Google Maps. But it exists. For the Penan children, it exists as their first glimpse of education. Their first encounter with structure, routine and possibility. Long before classrooms, there were only forests. Yet in 2017, hope took root - a proper school was built in the heart of the jungle, offering these children not just lessons, but a foretaste of a different future. By 2020, this vision grew into a complete learning sanctuary - with a boarding facility, dining hall, kitchen and proper toilets. A space where children could sleep safely, eat and learn. This is not just a school. This is a bridge between isolation and opportunity. A quiet declaration that every child, no matter how remote, matters. Long Lamam may not appear on the world’s digital maps, but it is deeply etched in the lives of the Penan children who now dare to dream. This is where, one of WOI’s speakers, Lim Siok Hong has poured herself into - education for the Penan children. This was not achieved alone. It was born from alignment, collaboration and shared belief between passionate individuals and another NGO who understood one simple truth. That is - to truly uplift communities, we must learn to walk, build and grow together. We do better together than alone. #woi #speakers #bettertogether #upliftothers #jungleschool #penans #preschool

Crossing the mighty Baram river (water level was on the low side when we were there in June) on the Long San bridge is a marker point of our journeys to and from Long Lamam.

We note that a high-level government delegation visited the bridge as part of a tour to assess existing road conditions shortly after our visit. Looking forward to swift improvements to be made for the well-being of our rural communities.