Young changemakers to the fore
IN line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the recent Tuanku Bainun Young Changemakers Summit 2022 gathered young, impactful changemakers for a series of educational workshops and conferences.
Organised by Pusat Kreatif Kanak-kanak Tuanku Bainun (PKKTB) and Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kendiri Wanita Dan Gadis (Women:girls), the summit was aimed at nurturing a new generation of future changemakers.
Child participation is important and has proven to positively impact the development of children and youths.
It has also been proven that child participation increases the positive impact on community engagement, and enables them to acquire skills, build competencies and gain self-esteem.
The two-day event was held on Nov 8 and 10 at PKKTB in Kuala Lumpur.
Summit activities were based on three pillars, namely, sustainability of oneself where the youths learnt emotional regulation and the causes that they want to advocate for; sustainability of the environment, which is about environmental protection; and sustainable community and culture where the youths were taught how to improve and create better communities and culture around them.
Sustainability, said PKKTB chairman Raja Datuk Seri Azureen Sultan Azlan Shah, is the key as the journey of creating change is not a sprint but a marathon.
“And though our youths must run this race on their own, the best we can do is prepare all of you with a good pair of shoes,” she said.
During the event, Nur Afia Qistina Zamzuri, Thanuja Kumaran and Farah Aliya Othman were recognised for their efforts to help make their communities better.
Nur Afia Qistina had sewn personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontliners during the Covid19 pandemic; Thanuja had initiated the Digital Hope Project that provided refurbished digital devices to students struggling to access online learning during the pandemic; and Farah Aliya had kickstarted a project to help those who were affected by the terrible floods in 2020.
Plant Based Junior Advocates for Malaysia was also acknowledged for embarking on a mission to encourage others to adopt a plant-based lifestyle which includes changing one’s diet, caring for animals and protecting the environment.
The participating schools were SK Taman Tun Dr Ismail, SK Bandar Baru Seri Petaling, SK Putrajaya Presint 11, SK Convent Bukit Nanas, SK Taman Melati, Nobel International School, SK Kepis, SJK(C) Kuang, SMK Seksyen 10 Kota Damansara, SMK Seri Ampang, SMK Convent Sentul, SM Al-amin, SMK Convent Bukit Nanas, and SMK Bukit Rahman Putra.
Also present were attendees from Evergreen Learning Academy, REAL School Seri Cahaya, and Dignity for Children Foundation.