Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Human Development and Empowerment Association (Sahdea) will be launching a young women’s leadership development program – dubbed Tunas Srikandi – aimed at helping 40 young women in Sabah recognise their leadership potential, build confidence and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Funded under the Perantis Program of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), the program is open to Malaysian women aged 18 to 30 who are residing or studying in Sabah.
The programme will be carried out for five days from Sept 7 to 11, followed by three months of mentoring and implementation of at least one community impact project.
Sahdea Youth Division Head Adelina Adna Adenan said that the programme aims to give young women guidance and supportive environment to explore different approaches to leadership, including collaborative, servant and human-centred leadership, while developing the capabilities needed to turn ideas into meaningful action.
“We believed that when young women are given the space, guidance and encouragement to explore different forms of leadership, more leaders can emerge and thrive, bringing diverse perspectives, strengths and approaches that can contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“There are many young women with the potential to lead, but they may not yet see themselves as leaders nor had the opportunity to develop that potential. We hope this programme provides that opportunity by giving them support, guidance and confidence to take their next step,” she said.
Through the programme, Adelina said participants will learn through a combination of experiential leadership development, collaboration and engagement with experienced leaders and practitioners such as Tokoh Wanita Datuk Dr Tarsiah TZ Taman – a prominent leader with extensive experience across the corporate, government and non-governmental organisations sectors.
The Tunas Srikandi Programme Director also said the three-month mentoring period will allow participants to continue developing their leadership capabilities while working towards their community impact projects, taking leadership beyond the training environment and into the communities they serve.
“We want to recognise that leadership can happen at different levels and in different forms. It can be found in a community initiative, a workplace, a social organisation or simply in the way someone brings people together to address a need.
“Collaboration, empathy, emotional intelligence and service are not alternatives to capability and results, but they are part of what can make leadership more responsive and relevant to the people and communities we serve,” she added.
SAHDEA welcomes young women in Sabah within the Kota Kinabalu and its surrounding areas, who are ready to learn, challenge themselves, collaborate and explore their potential as leaders to apply.
Applications close on 23 August 2026, with 40 participants to be selected through a screening process and for those interested can contact Adelina at 017 – 810 0102.
