JCI Kuching to reach out to more youths via wider media presence
KUCHING: The local organisation ( LO) of Junior Chamber International (JCI) aims to widen its media presence to reach out to more youths.
According to JCI Kuching president Zelt Kueh, JCI is a global non-profit body run by young and active citizens aged between 18 and 40 who are committed to creating positive impact to their respective communities.
“Basically, those are the requirements – anyone who meets these requirements is more than welcome to join JCI.
“All this while, the majority of our publications and news releases have been in Mandarin. This year, we want to have a wider coverage by coming out with more programmes in English,” he told The Borneo Post when met at the Chinese New Year open house hosted by Kuching North City Commission ( DBKU) member Dato Wee Hong Seng at Jalan Chua Say Chat here recently.
Nevertheless, Kueh expressed his appreciation to the local media for their support and cooperation to JCI Kuching over the years.
“Having said this, I also believe that we should widen our presence in line with the core principle of JCI, which to groom today’s young citizens of the world into individuals who are responsible and committed to improving their communities,” he said.
On activities for this year, Kueh said his committee would want to continue with what they had conducted throughout last year such as the regular inhouse training for members.
“This year, JCI Kuching will be hosting the ‘JCI Malaysia Area Sarawak Convention’ from May 19 to 21, gathering JCI members from all over Malaysia.
“As the local president for 2017, I emphasise on individual and community developments in line with my presidential theme ‘ The Power of One’, which represents the core values of being obliging, noble and empathetic.
“We eye personal development and one of the ways to do this is by seeking help from both in-house and partnering trainers to help develop our members as well as local young entrepreneurs in many areas such as public speaking, management, meeting and parliamentary procedures, chairmanship of organisations; and also to groom them into becoming corporate trainers for local businesses,” he said, adding that the line-up of programmes for this year would be further discussed during the JCI Kuching board of directors meeting this Feb 15.
Meanwhile, Wee praised Kueh and his team for a successful year, adding that internationally, JCI is known as a solid platform for future leaders.
“I can see this in JCI Kuching. Not many people know that JCI Kuching has been around for 62 years and along the way, many former members have become highly productive members of society.
“I’m sure with the present office- bearers, JCI Kuching would be able to contribute more to the local communities.”
Wee, who is also India Street Merchants Association president, also expressed his appreciation to JCI for having awarded him with the ‘Outstanding Young Malaysian Award’ in 1995.
“Since then, I have seen the growth in JCI and feel very honoured that its members still maintain close relationship with me over the years. I assure them that they can always come to me for advice or to collaborate in projects that would benefit those in their respective communities,” he added.
JCI Kuching is among 13 LOs across the state, represented by more than 300 members. In Kuching, the membership number is around 40.