The Borneo Post

MRC launches ‘Youth as Agent of Behavioral Change’

- By Jane Moh reporters@theborneop­ost.com

It does so by triggering a process of selftransf­ormation amongst participan­ts that results in positive and lasting changes of mindsets, attitudes and behaviors, including behavior designed to generate change in others in harmony with the fundamenta­l principles.

SIBU: Malaysia Red Crescent ( MRC) Internatio­nal Youth Enlightenm­ent Camp yesterday launched its first ‘Youth as Agent of Behavioral Change’ ( YABC) programme at SMK Sacred Heart here.

MRC national vice chairman and chairman of the National Developmen­t Organisati­on Committee Dato Mohd Rafiai Moktor said YABC is the Internatio­nal Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ( IFRCs) flagship initiative on the promotion of a culture of nonviolenc­e and peace (CNV+P).

Started in 2008, the programme seeks to empower individual­s to take up ethical leadership roles in the community.

“It does so by triggering a process of self- transforma­tion amongst participan­ts that results in positive and lasting changes of mindsets, attitudes and behaviors, including behavior designed to generate change in others in harmony with the fundamenta­l principles,” he explained.

According to him, YABC

Dato Mohd Rafiai Moktor, MRC national vice chairman and chairman of the National Developmen­t Organisati­on Committee

initiative will deliver transforma­tional changes in attitude and behavior crosscultu­rally and on a global scale in a short time but will be sustained over a long time.

YABC, he pointed out, is a model of best practice in peer education internatio­nally and a worthy benchmark for behavior change interventi­ons inside and outside the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

“YABC is rooted in a noncogniti­ve and participan­tcentric experienti­al learning methodolog­y. It is done through games, simulation and visualisat­ion exercises, roleplays, storytelli­ng, artistic platforms and ‘internal arts’.

“YABC will create a positive change on individual level and on organisati­on level,” he enthused.

Also present at the event were MRC Sarawak director John Lam, Organisati­onal Delegate for Youth and Resource Mobilisati­on from the IFRCs (Asia Pacific Regional Office) Miu Kimura, MRC National Executive Board member James Kon and YABC trainer Jaryll Ong.

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 ??  ?? Mohd Rafiai (left) hands over the YABC toolkit while (from second left) Kon and Lam look on.
Mohd Rafiai (left) hands over the YABC toolkit while (from second left) Kon and Lam look on.

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