NEWS
PUPIAN JOINS ASEAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AMIDST PANDEMIC
Words: Yevgeny Menk P. Monarquia
Photos: Student Volunteers Foundation Malaysia
Raising awareness and developing leadership among the youth is just as equally important as volunteering and contributing a positive impact to the community. And even with the scare of the COVID-19, we should not be stopped from taking up space in society because we are catalysts of change.
For two consecutive years, I have been attending the Volunteers Leadership Development Program in Malaysia but since COVID-19 pandemic, the organizing foundation--Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (Student Volunteer Foundation) Malaysia, decided to bring the program into the digital platform.
The Volunteers Leadership Development Program is an annual event organized by Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS) Malaysia or Student Volunteer Foundation. Those who attended were YSS Alumni who have participated in at least one of YSS's Volunteer Missions held either in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, or Lao PDR. The program's goal is to enrich the volunteers' interests and motivations for continuing their volunteering efforts by inviting key speakers tackling relevant societal and humanitarian topics.
Held on November 26 until December 5, 2020, with the theme "Progress to 2030: Of Digitalization and COVID-19", the virtual VLDP discussed topics that concern volunteering in times of a pandemic and social crisis.
Just like from prior years, the conference included dialogues on the United Nations Development Programme - Sustainable Development Goals (UNDP - SDGs).
The foundation's projects are built around and in line with contributing to the SDGs. And although the SDGs contain 17 goals, the program focused on the Goals that are immensely impacted by the pandemic. Among the SDGs that were discussed was SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
Doctor Norashikin Ibrahim, the Director and Head of Mental Health Unit in the Ministry of Malaysia talked about how COVID-19 is affecting the mental health of individuals, especially the most vulnerable ones i.e., women and children who live in abusive environments, persons with disabilities, people who have existing or had a history of mental illnesses, etc. She explained that it takes conscious efforts to cope and deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.
Another topic was the SDG 4: Quality Education by the Filipino speaker, Mr. Chris Millora, a Research Associate and UNESCO Chair for Adult Literacy. Millora talked about how Quality Education does not only deal with formal education but also focuses in utilizing and improving informal education. He stated that in this time of pandemic, adults who did not have access to formal education were among the most vulnerable when it comes to misinformation. Thus, the reason why in some rural and indigenous countries like Ethiopia and Nepal, informal education is practiced in the dissemination of information and responses to COVID-19.
In summary, volunteerism and humanitarian efforts continue, no matter what crisis or circumstances arise. Although the youth may be hindered from physically attending volunteer programs, numerous organizations are utilizing the available digital platforms to equip those who might be willing to jump-start their programs. Volunteering is not all about which programs one will choose to attend, but how willing and motivated an individual is to make an impactful change to the community and society.
In my experience, programs geared toward leadership development of the youth transform the competitive nature of innovation and social development. It helps the youth become aware of the realities we are facing, and it equips us with skills to acknowledge and solve the recurring and arising problems of our society.
Ms. Manon Bernier (UNDP Representative of Malaysia) encouraged us, the participants of the program, to continue advocating and volunteering for our causes. After all, these Sustainable Development Goals may only be achieved through the collective efforts of everyone.