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YSS-ASEAN Student Volunteers
Proud volunteers of YSS – ASEAN 2018 at Kampung Gelam village
Credit: Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS)
ASEAN considers the youth as an important sector in carving the path of the region—as changemakers and trailblazers in various aspects of the region’s journey to community building. Thus, ASEAN undertakes various opportunities such as projects on youth volunteerism to advance youth development in cooperation with external partners.
Joseph, Aminah, Edwardus, Tinh, and Channa participated in the 2018 project. Along with their fellow participants, they spent two weeks at 11 locations in Sarawak, Malaysia. They initiated a total of 201 projects focusing on six areas: education, community development, medical and health, agribio and environment, information technology and social entrepreneurship, and crisis and disaster management. More importantly, some volunteers like Channa carried on with more volunteer projects upon their return to their respective countries.
Their time in Sarawak, Malaysia was brief, but it sure was enough to keep lasting memories and the spark of volunteerism burning in their hearts. These are their reflections:
Group passport photo YSS-ASEAN volunteers in SK Sebuah
Credit: Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS)
Outside my comfort zone
Joseph Mariuz Belen Rosales, Philippines
Beach clean-up with children of Kampung Gerigat,
Credit: Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS)
They say that “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” It was no different from my first full day in Kampung Gerigat. Waking up filled with mixed emotions of anxiety and excitement was unexpectedly a very good feeling to have. Not knowing what is going to happen for the rest of the day and the rest of our stay would leave us with no choice but to just feel hopeful. Waking up in a stranger’s bed weirdly also felt both unfamiliar and familiar: unfamiliar because you are not in your bed in your house but familiar, at the same time, because you feel like you were meant to be there at that exact moment. It makes you feel like your presence there has a genuine purpose.
We spent most of the day going around the community and interacting with the locals. Seeing the people of Kampung Gerigat and talking with them gave us a glimpse of their usual daily living. I saw how relaxed their life is. I also came to appreciate the closely knit ties within their families just like in Filipino families.
First week as the team leader is done!
Aminah Faizah Kaharuddin, Brunei
One thing that I wanted to reflect on today is the time I spent in the PPKI (Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi) or the special education class… The more I listened, the more I understand the tough life of living in the remote areas, especially for children with disabilities. The school is doing their best to ensure children will receive basic education… The poverty is prevalent, in the remote parts of the village. This is what this mission is about, getting exposure and understanding the communities living in Kampong Sebauh.
Basic hygiene for healthy teeth with students from SK Kampung Seberang
Credit: Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS)
Farewell, Sebauh
Edwardus Xaverius, Indonesia
Final selfie with the students and volunteers in SK Sebuah
Credit: Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS)
The night is young. All the faces are already worn out from waiting the schedule of departure. Some working [sic] their presentation, and some rest [sic]. I think that all of these experiences that I have been through had given me so many things to learn. It is about team work, it is about being mature, it is about being discipline [sic], it is about being humble, it is about appreciating, and it is about giving your best self to the community. I know, maybe all the things that I did for the school is far from perfect, but I already give all my best to them. I hope that someday, all of our projects that we put our hearts will give the school, the teachers, staffs and of course the students, motivations to be their best self.
Every journey has an end
Vo Thi Tinh, Viet Nam
I am a Vietnamese girl. I am a student of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. But now, I am very proud to say, more than that, I am a volunteer of YSS-ASEAN 2018 at Kampung Gelam! From the beginning until now, I have been trying my best to do voluntary work in this village. Every moment here, as the fun learning activities, motivation day, ASEAN Day, agribio garden, painting the mural, ICT class, health care activities, making the cement. I will not forget anything at all, in the whole of my life.
After being a volunteer of YSS ASEAN
…I have friends from many different countries which can pave the way for me to build up networking among those countries in ASEAN very well… From that day, I become a people person and glad to communicate with new people and foreigners. Since I’ve backed [sic] to Cambodia, I’ve continued my destination by participating in many events like doing volunteer for IYF and IDP, participating in cleaning up campaign in Phnom Penh city, and volunteer for university’s events and control some parts of the event.
Constituting one-third of the Southeast Asian population, an empowered ASEAN youth translates to multiple benefits for the region. Being socially and politically active through volunteerism activities, Joseph, Aminah, Edwardus, Tinh, Channa, and the rest of the YSS-ASEAN youth volunteers have the potential to offer innovative ideas and a fresh outlook in addressing the ever-evolving and multi-faceted challenges of our times.
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