Montfort centre as the ideal choice
Published on: Thursday, June 30, 2016
KINARUT: What better place than the Montfort Youth Leadership Centre here as the venue for the just-concluded Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Kinabalu 2016, an annual event for Rotary International (RI) District 3310.This time around, the participation of 162 comprising secondary school students, facilitators and teacher-advisers from Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Labuan, Johor and Kuala Lumpur, was a record figure.Among them were the top 10 winners of the inaugural English Essay Writing Competition organised by the Rotary Club of Likas Bay (RCLB).ADVERTISEMENT RCLB was the host club for the three-day and two-night camp with Youth Service Chair Jason Ho as Organising Chairman, assisted by Vocational Service Chair Audrey Koh."The objective was to teach participants leadership skills and teambuilding as well as to identify and polish future leaders of tomorrow through hands-on activities and motivational seminars and workshops," said the duo.Sponsors included Yayasan Kelab-Kelab Rotary Malaysia and District 3310 Rotary Clubs.According to the organisers, Montfort was an excellent choice because the facilities were tip-top and the place was very clean and well-looked after. ADVERTISEMENT "They also provided full amenities for bush cooking activities," they added.Koh said they hoped to organise more of such camps in the near future to give more opportunities to the young to empower themselves and become more holistic individuals and successful future leaders.
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District 3310 RYLA Chairperson, Henny Goh from the Rotary Club of Bukit Timah, Singapore, officially opened and closed the event. Participants expressed their gratitude to the Rotarians for having shared their knowledge and life experiences with them. Among the speakers were District 3310 Assistant Governor Iskandar Ahmad and his daughter Fia Iskandar (True To Youth), Rotary Club Past President, Datuk Dr Johnson Tee (Volunteerism), District 3310 Past District Governor, Datuk Hj Zainie Abdul Aucasa (Rotary & The Community – Calling) and Rotarian Audrey Koh (Hacker Mentality).Also present were Regional RYLA Adviser, Frankie Fu, President of RCLB, Dato' Ir. John Chee and Camp Commander Chandran Pillay, a Rotarian from Singapore, who drew praises from the boys and girls for enlightening them on the Swag Move.The camp programme included project planning (example, project for ending polio), bush cooking with wood fire, a teambuilding telematch, the RYLA Got Talent Competition and Rotary Vocation Rotation Session.Feedback from Kingston Goh indicated that he understood more about how the Rotary Club is helping and transforming the society through good deeds. "Teamwork is crucial for creating a better environment and that is exactly what I have been taught at the RYLA Camp," said the thankful boy, adding it was the best camp he has ever joined.Saying RYLA 2016 has made him gain confidence in himself, Isaac Chua said it has taught him to be a hacker in life and to never stop trying to reach his goal. "I hope to attend more RYLAs in the future, and hopefully not only to share my experiences but also to gain more."If anything, Ho Li Vun has learned to become a better person from the meaningful camp, saying, "I know I am not perfect." He has benefited from the motivational speech, "telling us to never give up in our life no matter what has happened."It was the best leadership camp she had ever attended, according to Jessica Kong from SM Kian Kok. "I got to join this camp as one of the top 10 winners of the essay contest," she said. "I learnt to be a hacker and how to chop a chicken the correct way, and also how the Rotarians are helping people all around the world." She thinks the bush cooking activity is the best experience to enable survival in rural areas.Commented Austin Lkl: "RYLA is really a great camp for teens these days and I am so lucky to be part of it. Meeting new faces and making friends with them was fantastic. Really worth the time. "The lectures were most useful. 'Seed or flesh?' That was one of the most eye-opening lectures I have listened to."Sophia Chai, a KL participant, has this to say – "RYLA Kinabalu has left me speechless in terms of the people there, especially their unique culture. Honestly, the people in Sabah are much friendlier and open compared to here in KL. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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It's great. I admit I am a shy and quiet kid but you all Sabahans made me feel at home during the entire RYLA Camp. I have learned a lot, and I miss hearing your BM slang with the 'bah'."