Sarawak lives out the global values of peace, diversity, and environmental stewardship through everyday practices and celebrations.
The month of June is more than the sixth month of the year. In Sarawak, particularly, June represents harmony, shared identity, and deep-rooted connections to one another as a community and to nature.
As the world observes the International Day of Living Together in Peace (16 May), the World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (21 May), and the International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May), Sarawak offers a unique model of how global ideas can be and are already being lived.
Living in Peace, Every Day
In Sarawak, peace is not just a policy; it is a practice. In the longhouse and within urban neighbourhoods, people of diverse ethnicities and beliefs share common space, stories, and traditions. From shared meals to shared festivities, Sarawakians embrace the idea of coexistence as a way of life.
The International Day of Living Together in Peace encourages global unity, and Sarawak has shown the world that this can be real, and not just theoretical.
Our kopitiams, places of worship, and marketplaces are proof that peace and harmony thrive in these places and where people choose understanding over division.
Diversity as Strength Not Separation
The World Day of Cultural Diversity promotes dialogue and inclusion. Sarawak represents this through the kaleidoscope of its cultural practices – each unique, but none is in competition with the other.
This is amplified when young creatives blend heritage with modernity. From the ngajat and the traditional instrument sape, to the Orang Ulu beadwork in street fashion and fusion music, Sarawak’s culture is always evolving.
Above all, Sarawakians talk, share, and celebrate one another. Diversity in Sarawak is not just background; it takes center stage.
A Biodiversity Treasure We Call Home
Sarawak’s wealth lies in its forests, rivers, and rainforests. With over 60 protected areas, its biodiversity is both exceptional and endangered.
The International Day for Biological Diversity reminds us that stewardship towards nature matters. From orangutans to the rare Rafflesia flower, Sarawak’s ecosystem requires care. For generations, indigenous communities like the Ibans and Bidayuhs have lived in harmony with this environment. It also demonstrates that development and conservation must walk hand in hand.
A Celebration of Unity
As May makes way for June, Sarawak prepares for Gawai on 1 June, a festival that marks a bountiful harvest and powerful celebration that brings the Sarawak community together.
In longhouses and homes across Sarawak, people gather to honour tradition, family, and shared purpose. Tuak is poured, food is shared, and unity is renewed. Gawai reflects the very values that the UN seeks to promote – peaceful coexistence, cultural celebration, and sustainable living. All in one joyous occasion.
A lesson for the World
When our world is often divided by differences, Sarawak tells a different story – a story of collaboration, coexistence, and celebrations.
And as a globally recognized Australian university, we are proud to champion the values of peace, diversity, and sustainability that are so typical of Sarawak while shaping future-ready graduates who embody these ideals. With students representing more than 50 countries, including Malaysia, our campus community really does live together in the spirit of peace, diversity, and environmental stewardship.
In the spirit of the coming holidays, from all of us at Swinburne Sarawak, Selamat Gawai Dayak, gayu guru gera nyamai. May we all be blessed with long life, health, and prosperity.
