The Classic Stories in Kajang: A publication Project
Arts & Culture
In the current era of globalization as generation is continuously passed on by people, people might not vividly remember how the past used to be like. Kajang is located in the southeast part of Selangor and exist since our ancestor days, it is also a hundred years old town full of stories. Nowadays, traditional wisdom and handmade occupations are slowly replaced by modern techniques. The new generation is also very ambitious to become someone more respected such as a doctor or lawyer. This had caused the skills of traditional watches repairing hardly seen nowadays as the replacement of digital technique and the new generation does not choose it as their profession. All these stories and cultural heritage will be lost after the old generation pass away, therefore it should be collected and recorded through a tangible books, and passed on to future generations for memory, learning and reflective turn in future life, we name this book as “ The Classic Stories of Kajang”.In “The Classic Stories of Kajang: A Publication Project”, elders with traditional handmade occupation, craft art and skills, distinctive life experience and others culture heritage from Kajang area are interviewed and their stories will be recorded, written and edited in a book. These stories always carry a lot of valuable life lessons, knowledge and wisdom that should be preserved and shared to the world.“The Classic Stories of Kajang” is a collection of many stories that presented in words, photos and drawing form. We hope to share it with the public and encourage more people to join us and preserve the cultural heritage of the old Kajang together. "The Classic Stories of Kajang" is a book about all the hard work that the elders had contributed to the country development and collective memory of the past era.
Overview of Issue / Background
In the current era of globalization as generation is continuously passed on by people, people might not vividly remember how the past used to be like. Kajang is located in the southeast part of Selangor and exist since our ancestor days, it is also a hundred years old town full of stories. Nowadays, traditional wisdom and handmade occupations are slowly replaced by modern techniques. The new generation is also very ambitious to become someone more respected such as a doctor or lawyer. This had caused the skills of traditional watches repairing hardly seen nowadays as the replacement of digital technique and the new generation does not choose it as their profession. All these stories and cultural heritage will be lost after the old generation pass away, therefore it should be collected and recorded through a tangible books, and passed on to future generations for memory, learning and reflective turn in future life, we name this book as “ The Classic Stories of Kajang”.
In “The Classic Stories of Kajang: A Publication Project”, elders with traditional handmade occupation, craft art and skills, distinctive life experience and others culture heritage from Kajang area are interviewed and their stories will be recorded, written and edited in a book. These stories always carry a lot of valuable life lessons, knowledge and wisdom that should be preserved and shared to the world.
“The Classic Stories of Kajang” is a collection of many stories that presented in words, photos and drawing form. We hope to share it with the public and encourage more people to join us and preserve the cultural heritage of the old Kajang together. "The Classic Stories of Kajang" is a book about all the hard work that the elders had contributed to the country development and collective memory of the past era.
Project Objectives (Vision & Mission)
1. To identify and record the stories of Kajang elders.
2. To preserve valuable history and culture heritage of Kajang.
3. To recall the memories and recognize the contribution of Kajang elders.
4. To exalt and pass on the traditional wisdom of Kajang elders to future generation.
5. To share stories of Kajang elders with public and encourage more people to join in the protection of cultural heritage of old Kajang.
Project Details (Activities and Tasks)
Implementating
We will recruit at least 10 volunteers that are currently studying in New Era College to participate in our project to implement tasks below:
1. Literatures review: we will read newspaper, books, academic journal and others documents first to identify target interviewees.
2. Expert interview: interview with historical and cultural studies experts to understand history and development of Kajang town and situation of traditional heritage today.
3. Field trip: step into Kajang town to investigate location like shops, buildings, organizations and houses of traditional heritage in Kajang, and mapping related spots.
4. Interview, writing and drawing: we will carry out interview with Kajang elders, record their stories in words and take photos, and write out in article form with 1000- words for each elder, and draw their special hand on craft or products.
5. Edit: editing into form of books that presented in articles, photos and draws.
6. Print: print 1000 copies.
Marketing
In order to contribute to the community, allowing the elders an opportunity to share their stories and bringing communities together to witness their historical treasures and richness of Kajang value, we will held a book launching ceremony by inviting the interviewees, historians and residents of community to
The event details are shown below:
Theme: Launching Ceremony of CLASSIC STORIES IN KAJANG
Date: 15th December 2015, Sunday
Time: 10:00a.m. – 12:30p.m.
Venue: Association of Kwang Tung, Ulu Langat Kajang
Activities:
1. Play video during the admission time which is showing about the stories of Kajang, the process of interviewing people and the preparation of this project behind the scenes.
2. Committees perform drama which linked the stories in Kajang, also convey the message of the importance to preserve valuable history and culture heritage.
3. Invite interviewees and historian to share their stories, opinions, thoughts and knowledge to the people.
4. Invite some interviewees to show their traditional handcraft skills.
5. Invite honored guest to give a speech.
6. Invite the representative of New Era College Kajang, the head of Media Studies Department to give a speech.
7. Tea time. Before fold up the ceremony, we will prepare some refreshments made by traditional restaurant to attendants.
Distribution Strategy:
We are going to set up a counter for selling our books on site to the attendants and residents of Kajang or public, also will distribute our books by handseling to interviewees, school libraries, the Kajang committees and schools.
We expect we can handsell 200 books to interviewees and elders, also will sell out 50 books to residents of Kajang. Our profit will be contributed to New Era College Kajang for carrying forward the Chinese Education.
Expected Project Result & Outcomes
We expect we can record at least 40 stories of traditional heritage of Kajang. Through the book publication form, the valuable history and culture heritage of Kajang can be preserve and pass on to future generation continuously, and Kajang heritage will be known in public and encourage them to join in culture heritage protection action in Kajang and others historical communities.
0% of RM1.00 Goal
Project Information
University name | : | New Era College |
Project leader name | : | Lee Jia Hui , Chong Kah Yee |
Section I
Before we start our interview sections, we estimated to write at least 40 stories which included categories of old shops, traditional occupations, traditional restaurants, and cultural associations. Yet, we were lack of time and human resources so we were not able to complete 40 stories within one year. Furthermore, we took longer than we expected on stories gathering and writing stage, thus by meeting, we decided to change our strategy: focused more on deepness of several stories rather than quantities! After adjusting book structure and decided collect 15 stories in total instead of separate in categories finally.
In the proposal, the completion date of “15 Classic Stories in Kajang Publication Project” was 31 December 2015. In fact, we completed this project included documentary and book launching ceremony by 23 August 2015. This achievement depend on all the efforts and cooperation of committees, volunteers, project advisors, interviewees, sponsorships and Kajang community. The positive attitude and spirit of all committees made this project was completed on time and this vitality should be retained as it will be an advantage for the next project.
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