Youth camp seeks to nurture holistic growth of young

KUCHING: A Youth Camp was held here last month to nurture the intellectual and holistic growth of young minds.

Coordinated  by the Youth Empowerment Society Sarawak (YESSarawak) it aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

The camp was held from Aug 23-25 at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Singai, Bau.

“The camp, coordinated by YESSarawak and funded by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG), featured a series of modules designed to fully support participants in realising their potential by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge, with support from the Sarawak Education Department (JPNS),”it said in a statement today (Sept 18).

The programme kicked off with an introduction by the Programme Director, Walter Sanggai, who outlined the camp’s objectives and set expectations for the students.

The initial modules included ‘Who Am I?’, which encouraged self-reflection and ‘Respective Diversity’, exploring inclusion, exclusion and the challenges of diversity. ‘Responsibilities as a Malaysian’ followed, focusing on promoting multiculturalism, citizen rights and personal liberties.

On the second day, a leadership development workshop provided insights into effective leadership, followed by the ‘Alternate Education Pathway module, which highlighted higher education opportunities in Sarawak and financial support from Yayasan Sarawak, among others.

The final day featured ‘Multicultural Celebration’ and ‘Our Journey to Build Back Better, emphasising youth’s role in Malaysia’s development.

At the event’s closing SML Singai principal Peliman Gendang highlighted the institution’s dedication to embracing progressive initiatives that support students’ academic, personal and professional growth.

 “Based on the objectives of this programme, I believe it can be further organised to support our existing learning system and adopt new, effective methods,” he said.

He also emphasised the need for continued collaboration with government and private sector agencies to maximise impact and advance the organisation’s mission.

YESSarawak is committed to its mission of empowering youth and will continue to launch a series of major initiatives focused on advancing educational opportunities and promoting sustainable development in Sarawak.

Building on its achievements, the non-governmental organisation received recognition in the Sustainable Community Impact category at the Malaysian Sustainability Awards 2024.

The award was presented during the 3rd edition of the Malaysian Sustainability Leadership Summit (MSLS) on Aug 29 in Kuala Lumpur, where YESSarawak was one of 16 recipients honoured across various categories.

This recognition is a testament to YESSarawak’s leadership and its commitment to sustainability, particularly in advancing sustainable development initiatives within the community in Sarawak.

Also present were Mathew Apok, Deputy District Education Officer for Bau and Francisca Sandra Andrew, Assistant Deputy District Education Officer for Bau, along with representatives from APPGM-SDG and YESSarawak.