AIESEC in Malaysia, Curtin University and international AIESEC volunteers impact local communities

Miri – 29 August 2017 – 40 international AIESEC student volunteers from 18 countries had an unforgettable experience taking part in the Incoming Global Volunteer (IGV) projects championed by AIESEC in Malaysia, Curtin University here in Miri recently.

The volunteers from South Korea, Japan, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Pakistan, Ghana, Oman, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, India, China, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam spent a few weeks in Miri in July to August to work on social projects that culminated in a one-day project showcase, Youth Impact, at the Curtin Malaysia campus.

IGV provides the opportunity for youth across the world to develop their leadership qualities by having a cross-cultural experience abroad. Based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda supported by the United Nations, IGV volunteers participated in social projects that can have positive impacts on the people of East Malaysia.

At Youth Impact, officiated by Curtin Malaysia’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, the AIESEC volunteers showcased their accomplishments under five different sub-projects, namely ‘Adventure in BorneoLand’, ‘Educate Borneo 2.0’, ‘Explore Borneo’, ‘Light of Borneo 2.0’ and ‘Speak Up 2.0’.

Volunteers for the ‘Adventure in BorneoLand’ project were required to live in a local village community for cultural exchange and document their daily activities through filming and writing articles.

Those involved in Educate Borneo 2.0, meanwhile, facilitated soft skills workshops for village students aged 11 to 15 and learned how to weave baskets and other traditional handicrafts from the villagers.

‘Explore Borneo’ involved designing interactive learning tools and engaging teaching methods to encourage students to express their thoughts and opinions, while the objectives of ‘Light Up Borneo 2.0’ were to raise awareness of green and renewable energy by providing solar lamps to villagers.

‘Speak Up 2.0’ saw volunteers conducting basic English and soft skill workshops for students, in addition to cultural sharing sessions with villagers to gain a better understanding of the various ethnic communities in Sarawak.

Among the parties involved in IGV were the Curtin Agriculture Club, Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Curtin Malaysia Student Branch, the Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) and the villagers of Kampung Long Puak and Kampung Api-Api.

12 schools were also involved, namely SJK (C) Cheen Mung, SMK Lutong, SJK (C) Chung Hua Sibuti, SJK (C) Chin Nam, SJK (C) Chung Hua Bakam, SJK (C) Chung Hua Miri, SJK (C) Chung Hua Krokop, SJK (C) Chung San, SMK Marudi, SMK Pujut, SMK St. Columba Miri and SMK St. Joseph.

The projects received sponsorships from Excell Enterprise, Dessert Master, Yummy Yang Miri, Kang Fung Trading, HTM Hardware, Koffeebrick and Kang Fung Trading.

‘Adventure in BorneoLand’ volunteer Yang Qian Ying from China commented that the best way to appreciate village life is to take part in its daily routines. Yang said the villagers here are very welcoming and village children are more accepting of strangers compared to in his country.

According to a teacher Adzrul Syafiq of SMK Lutong, his students gained valuable knowledge from their interactions with the volunteers from all over the world.

Dubah, a villager at Kampung Api-Api involved in the ‘Light Up Borneo 2.0’ project, said she was immensely grateful to the volunteers for helping to light up the village using innovative solar lamps.

AIESEC is an international non-governmental, not-for-profit global youth leadership organisation that provides young people with leadership development, cross-cultural global internship and volunteer exchange experiences. The AIESEC network comprises approximately 70,000 members that span across 127 countries and territories.

AIESEC in Malaysia, Curtin University was established in August 2011 and was the first AIESEC student chapter to be formed in East Malaysia. With the vision to empower youth of East Malaysia in the area of sustainable community development, it has been providing youth leadership opportunities for Miri youth through AIESEC programmes such as Global Volunteer (volunteering abroad), Global Entrepreneur and Global Talent (internship abroad).

To find out more about AIESEC in Malaysia, Curtin University, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AIESECinCurtinMalaysia/.

’Explore Borneo’ volunteers in a group photo with student participants.

’Educate Borneo’ project took volunteers to Penan village in Long Sayan.

At Uma Sembop, ‘Adventure in BorneoLand’ volunteers were taught a cultural dance.

Photo of Long Puak villagers and ‘Light Up Borneo 2.0’ volunteers following solar lamp distribution ceremony.

Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan (seated, 2nd left) with volunteers at Youth Impact.

Part of the project showcase that helped to promote the United Nations’ SDG agenda.