BEM Sarawak to launch first Festival of Youth in Miri

MIRI (July 19): The Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) Sarawak Youth Service (PPP) will be launching its first-ever Festival of Youth (FoY), a monumental celebration dedicated to empowering the next generation, this July 26.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Telang Usan assemblyman and festival advisor Dato Dennis Ngau said the main objective of FoY is to enable PPP BEM Sarawak to contribute back to the community by providing a centralised problem-solving platform that covers three aspects, namely education, career and health.

He said the event, themed ‘Go Beyond’, is also held in conjunction with the coming International Youth Day celebration in August and organised in partnership with Persatuan Belia Kristian Rhema (PBKR), an association registered under the Youths and Sports Ministry.

“The Festival of Youth is an avenue to building bridges of unity and harmony among youths of different background, race and faith through inter-faith programmes,” he said.

According to Dennis, the festival is also a good way to attract youths to be involved in positive activities, given that problems concerning youths are global and affect all races and faiths in the community here.

The festival will kick off with a Youth Explosion Concert at Miri City Fan on July 26 at 7.30pm, which will be officiated by Dennis.

The concert in collaboration with the Youth Explosion movement from BEM On The Rock will also include a praise and worship session by Pastor Dedy Zega from Glow Community Medan.

On July 27, there will be a Zumba session at Miri City Fan starting at 7am and a FoY Night Concert featuring Malaysian idol and Gegar Vaganza All Star winner Jaclyn Victor at 7pm.

The concert will be graced by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

Other activities to be held at Miri Civic Centre on the same day include a sign language talk by Sarawak Society for the Deaf at 9am; a mental health talk by Mentari Malaysia at 10.30am; entrepreneur talk by Borneo MA Smart Vending Machine at 1pm; and ‘An Evening with YB Hannah Teo’ programme at 2pm.

There will also be job exhibition booths at the Civic Centre and job seekers are encouraged to come with their latest resumes and certificates to meet job recruiters from Sarawak e-Recruitment, Socso as well as private sectors.

Apart from that, there will be booths by education groups, where parents who are looking to send their children to further their studies are welcomed to get consultations.

Those looking to know more about their health can also visit booths by Miri Health Office, KPJ Miri and Teratak Kasih Tok Nan for free health screening along with a free HPV vaccination programme by Malaysia Cancer Society.

Another Youth Explosion Concert with a praise and worship session will be held at Miri City Fan on July 28, starting 7.30pm, to mark the closing of the festival.

The public is also invited to throng a Food Fiesta, which will take place at the ground of Miri City Fan.

Dennis said despite it being a Christian-centric event, it is open to all members of the public as its objectives were for youths to be impacted, benefited, as well as instilled with a beacon of hope for a brighter future.

“FoY is a whole-day event anticipated to have numerous education line groups, career recruitment agencies, government agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) participate to educate and guide youths and their needs,” he said further.

Also present at the press conference were BEM Sarawak vice-president Rev Dr Henry Padin, honorary treasurer Mat Amat and PPP BEM Sarawak chairlady Grace Rantai.