KUCHING: The recent Third Youth Leadership & Communication Development Camp 2014 at Kem Belia Pueh, Sematan, ended on a high note with participants requesting for more to be held.
Abdul Karim (seated centre with raised fist) in a group photo with the participants and organising members after the closing ceremony.
Throughout the three-day-two-night camp, educational and developmental programmes including public speaking, impromptu speech, judging and speech coaching workshops were conducted to equip participants with the basics and dynamics of public speaking.
Despite the intense programme, knowledge and skills were still imparted in a humorous, fun and entertaining manner by principal facilitator Mike Lim, aided by a team of seasoned Toastmasters and volunteers from local and abroad, thus making the learning process not only more enjoyable but more effective as a whole.
Apart from educational programmes, participants utilised the power of teamwork in the obstacle course and ‘night walk’ jungle trekking while ‘Oscar Night’ provided a platform for the young participants to showcase their many talents.
In the ‘Prepared Speech Contest’, Keith Bryan Ling Song Sheng from SMK Sungai Maong emerged as the champion with his winning speech entitled ‘My Life Changing Experience’ while Torrance Chen Yun Chien from SM Lodge ranked second followed by third placed winner Nor Atikah bt Abdul Rahman from Kolej DPAH Abdillah.
In the ‘Impromptu Speech Contest’, Eugenius Then Ji Xuan from SMK Sungai Maong outshone the others to emerge as the champion while Esther Chai Wuen and Edrea Lee Yian Huay from St Theresa clinched the second and third places respectively.
The closing ceremony was officiated at by the camp patron, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development cum Assistant Housing of Minister, who was delighted to note the overwhelming response for the camp and assured the grant for the next camp will be increased.
Jointly organised by Kuching Toastmasters Club and STIDC Toastmasters Club under the leadership of organising chairman Stanley Ngu and co-chairman Salbiah Majidi for the third consecutive year, it marked another eventful year in the history of the clubs impacting the lives of some 150 students in the state to echo the theme ‘Get a life, live the dream’.
In his closing address, Ngu paid tribute to all who helped in one way or another behind the scene in making the camp successful. He expressed his hope that the circle of friendship and solidarity in lighting up the lives of these future leaders may not only be unbroken but enhanced, to reach out to more.