ONE YOUTH: Aidan (seated second left), Ronnie (far left, front) and programme participants give the 1Malaysia gesture.
KUCHING: Saberkas will entrust members, aged 45 and below, with events and programmes for year 2013, which marks 50 years of Sarawak’s progress in Malaysia.
Its secretary-general Datuk Aidan Wing said the organisation would give more chances to young members to shine in society.
“In Saberkas, we try to change with time. For next year, 70 per cent of young members will have the opportunity to organise activities for youths.
“2013 is important to all of us in Sarawak as it enters 50 years of Sarawak joining to form Malaysia. Sarawak needs the help of youths to see continued progress,” he said when closing the state-level youth leadership competency programme 2012 at the Youth and Sport Complex here yesterday.
Aidan called on youths to rationalise before taking other’s words for things, given that they live in an era of information overload.
“Young people need to be nurtured, and they will achieve success if led on the right path.”
He was glad the young generation of today was provided with facilities to sharpen their leadership skills.
“People of my generation 30 to 40 years ago did not have the opportunities of today’s youths. I wanted to be active in social activities, but the environment did not grant it.
“You are fortunate the Youth and Sport Department collaborates with Saberkas to carry out youth programmes.”
Meanwhile, state assistant director of Youth and Sport Department Ronnie Boniface Nugi said the government had set 2013 as ‘Volunteer Year’ to recruit youths to launch activities for them.
In Sarawak, 15 youths would be needed from each of the 31 parliamentary seats.
“In 2013, we will see all youth programmes handled by youths, which means they will be involved in planning, executing and managing activities for youths.”
Ronnie said the department was still in the midst of getting 15 volunteer youths in every parliamentary constituency.
“We hope more youths will come forward to register with us. Among others, they will be expected to help other government agencies such as reaching out to victims of natural disasters.”
Forty-one individuals aged 18 to 27 took part in the three-day event organised by the state Youth and Sports Department.