Exploring Young Children's Leadership Narratives via Cultural Drawing and Storytelling in Mari-Mari Cultural Village, Sabah

Published November 6, 2025 | Version v1

Journal article Open

This study explores young children’s leadership narratives through culturally

grounded drawing and storytelling activities conducted at Mari Mari Cultural Village in

Sabah, Malaysia. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, the research

investigates how children aged four to seven represent leadership concepts within

their cultural contexts. Data were collected through visual and oral methods—

children’s drawings depicting leadership scenes and accompanying storytelling

sessions that revealed their perceptions of community roles, cooperation, and

identity. Thematic and narrative analyses were employed to interpret symbolic

elements and story structures, highlighting how cultural traditions and indigenous

values influence young children’s understandings of leadership. Findings suggest that

participatory visual storytelling enables children to articulate agency, empathy, and

collective responsibility, emphasizing the importance of culturally responsive

pedagogy in early childhood leadership education.

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