Building Local Community Skills

16 local community members from Dabong, Jelawang, Gua Musang attended an absolutely free of charge, “no frills” “Basic Entrepreneurship” course in July 2007 aimed at improving their skills to help make them more effective at their nature-based jobs. This course was just one of several from WWF-Malaysia’s Gunung Stong State Park (GSSP) conservation project’s capacity building component, where we organise various courses for local communities at no charge.

A certified trainer who specialises in a particular subject is brought in to teach the course, which comprises a “theory day” in a classroom and a “field day” when participants convert theory to practice. Many of the participants are currently independent guides but lack the diversity of skills that nature guides should ideally posses; they should not only be good at guiding, but also an outdoor leader and naturalist.

The main aim of this project is to build the capacity of local community members, especially the existing nature guides, by teaching them a board range of skills, including how to read maps, use compass, kayak and perform outdoor rescues using simple rope work. Interest has picked up among the local guides, mostly because they see this as a platform where they can improve themselves and upgrade their professionalism. Moreover, the Kelantan State Forestry Department (KSFD) has informally endorsed the WWF-Malaysia capacity building courses by insisting that those who want to register with KSPD as a GSSP guide must first attend the courses.

The project also strives to create awareness ion the improved economic opportunities for local opportunities upon the gazettement of GSSP, from operating backpackers inns and restaurants to selling camping supplies and local handicraft. Future courses will include advanced caving, advanced entrepreneurship, CPR and emergency first aid, basic ecology and birding.