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Kota Kinabalu: A Sabahan from Pitas who has built a successful career in the nation’s capital through her educational business is helping to uncover her roots. Her mission is to help reduce poverty in Sabah by uncovering local talents and equipping them to meet the demands of various industries.

For Paulina Henry, 42, it is about creating opportunities that allow young people to transform their potential into meaningful careers.

She took the initiative through her NGO, RiseBah, to organise forums and workshops aimed at helping young people in Sabah discover their paths across different industries.

She said Sabah has never been short of talent. What is often missing are the exposure and opportunities that allow young Sabahans to fully showcase and develop their abilities. 

“Without these, many gifted individuals are unable to move forward and flourish despite their potential,” she said.

By integrating JPK (Department of Skills Development) certified courses into the seminary’s ecosystem, the initiative provides a direct pathway for youth in Sabah to enter high-demand industries such as beauty, hospitality, and event management.

She said  approach reduces reliance on traditional academic degrees and focuses instead on "skills that pay," ensuring young Sabahans can secure livelihoods immediately.

The partnership seeks to empower rural communities, particularly in Kudat and Kota Marudu, where access to quality TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) programmes has traditionally been limited. 

Their recent programme in Kudat drew hundreds of youths eager to explore the opportunities being offered. The event sparked curiosity and broadened perspectives, opening young minds to the possibilities ahead. 

Many left inspired and motivated, expressing interest in joining future programs that could help shape their career paths.

She said that by decentralising education, the collaboration would bring opportunities closer to home, turning rural districts into focal points for skill-based learning and reducing the brain drain that forces youth to leave their hometowns for training.

Inspired by the biblical “Parable of Talents,” the initiative views Sabahan youth as talents that must be nurtured and multiplied rather than left untapped. 

She highlighted how this move demonstrates how religious institutions such as the Protestant Church in Sabah (PCS) and private entities like RiseBah can co-invest in the socio-economic upliftment of the people.

The programme also aligns with the Sabah State Government’s Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap, which emphasises human capital development and prosperity for all Sabahans.

“This is a call for more community-based organizations to look at TVET as a tool for social transformation.”

At RiseBah, our tagline is “Menjana Aspirasi Pendidikan Anak-Anak Sabah”  (Fulfilling the Educational Aspirations of Sabah’s Children). Through this MoA with Luther Seminary, we are moving beyond theory. 

“We are giving our youth the ‘Steps’ (skills) and the ‘Faith’ (character) they need to build a better Sabah. We don’t want any talent in this state to be left buried in the ground; we want to see them multiplied for the prosperity of our community,” said Paulina, CEO of RiseBah.

RiseBah, a local entity founded by Paulina, was born out of her early exposure to education and work opportunities in Peninsular Malaysia. 

Having achieved success in the nation’s capital, she realised that Sabah needed greater support to unlock its full potential. 

With that vision, she founded RiseBah, hoping to spark a ripple effect that would uncover more local talents and give them the opportunities they deserve.

Her ultimate goal is to help elevate communities and reduce poverty in Sabah by turning hidden potential into real progress.