Listening to Communities: Understanding Families’ Needs and Strengths

Following our engagement with community leaders yesterday, the OAPTAR team visited Long Sebulu and Purusia on 15 August 2026 to conduct needs assessments for the Family Strengthening Programme.

The sessions provided a valuable opportunity to listen directly to community members and better understand their experiences, concerns, existing strengths and aspirations for their families. Their perspectives will help ensure that the programme is shaped by local realities and responds meaningfully to the needs of participating families.

Reaching Long Sebulu required us to cross a long suspension bridge—a memorable part of today’s journey and a meaningful reminder that genuine community work begins by going to where people are.

A needs assessment planned for the third community was respectfully rescheduled following a bereavement in the village. We extend our condolences to the family and community during this time.

We sincerely appreciate the Ketua Kampung and community members of Long Sebulu and Purusia for their warm welcome, openness and willingness to share with us. We were also delighted to see the children joining the group photographs - a beautiful reminder of why strengthening families and building resilient communities matter.

The Family Strengthening Programme forms part of OAPTAR’s Building a Resilient Community initiative, supported by Yayasan MySDG.