Camp Facilitator Training

Hello Guys!

Gosh it is already September! How time flies, and guess what? We have new events coming up so it's going to be a real exciting and buzzing end of the year.

For now, We are looking for individuals who are passionate about orientation camps and are available to participate in them. Here is a question.

Are you keen on being camp facilitator with AFS?

Have you received formal training with us yet?

If not, then apply today for the next Camp Facilitator's Training!

It's at Quality Hotel, Shah Alam from the 23rd - 25th September, 2011.

What you can do is write to us at afs.returnees@volunteer.afs.org.my with a short motivation letter as to why you are interested to join. Hurry! We only have some 4 seats for the Alumni, so serious takers only!

Any questions please comment here or email it to us and we'll reply to you ASAP! :)


Good day all you lovelies.

How to Volunteer with AFS

I must admit, charts are my guilty pleasure. It's amazing stuff. It's straightforward, and looks nice!

So today, we have a chart for you who *wants to volunteer with AFS*. There has been so many questions from so many people who wants to jump into the AFS volunteering bandwagon that we are happily overwhelmed by the responses! So, we've made a special chart for you to follow :)

Just click to enlarge!

HELP WANTED

We are looking for fun-loving,

dedicated

TEAM-orientated
VOLUNTEERS

to join in our crew for the 53rd AFS Malaysia Gala Dinner / Farewell Dinner for YPnh 10 & SMsh 11. Job delegations will be briefed to you when you volunteer :) The Gala Dinner will be held on June 10th, 2011 at the prestigious Grand Season Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Currently, we're also looking for photographers and videographers for the event. You must have your own DSLR camera / video camera.

All who are interested to join in the adventure of making a night to remember for AFS Malaysia, are more than welcomed to email one of our Organizer Extraordinaire, Syant Alias at syant.alias@afs.org.my with details including: -

Your full name and contact number,
and if you are a returnee - your hosted country and year of exchange.

REMEMBER
spots are limited so hurry hurry with writing to us!

ADAPT Aftermath

AFS Malaysia Alumni and the core committee of the ADAPT movement would like to thank each and everyone of our participants for your kind and super-b-ly enthusiasm in joining/supporting the ADAPT flash mob that happened on 23rd January at e@Curve! The journey has been long, tiring but totally fulfilling cause it was just sooooooo muuuucccchhh ffffuuuuuuunnnn!

Now that that photos are up, we'll just let the pictures do the talking :)


after tonnes of meetings....

...came tonnes of practices. For dance...

...for formation (and loads of fun yelling and head bobbings!)

...to learning how to sign "Imagine" at the park

Miss Cheng Shae Nee woo-ed the crowd with her beautiful rendition of a CNY song

whoopsies make way, fireworks boys and gals coming througghhhhhhhhh....

first we did the point to the sky thing... cause we awesome like that,

then we did the star thing....

and the get together in a circle thing...

and the merry-a-go-go-round thing, cause we're "fireworks" :D

"Imagine" singing with our hands

Amalen was our charming host for the day after the performance.

Kudos to the dynamic duo that brought the performance together : Karen & Shu Fei

and lots of play time after the event :D


Watch the videos!



The ongoings on performance day



THE PERFORMANCE!

Of course, these are but a tiny, itsy bitsy, eeney weeney portion of all the pictures and videos that was taken over the course of this performance production. Check out more of the photo collections by clicking HERE (find & tag your friends and you!)

all photos are credited to our wonderful, heavyweight camera wielding superheroes Hsien Yew, Mark, Isaac Cheah, Jason Leong and many others!

YP & SP Volunteers Needed

Hello all,

It is time for the much anticipated annual Year Program Pre-departure Orientation Camp! So busy busy busy with preparations and organizations! We need help! Hence we are looking for willing, fun-minded, hotel food loving, great with crazy kids returnee-volunteers to join our camp facilitator bandwagon :)

We are in need for *facilitators that can stay for the whole duration as well as returnee with fresh experience to pass on to the next generation in the country orientation (2nd day of camp).

Send us an email at suyin.chia@volunteer.afs.org.my / chengyee.chong@volunteer.afs.org.my if you are able to join us with the following details:

Who:
All YEAR PROGRAM & SEMESTER PROGRAM returnees only

Camp Date:
14th - 16th January, 2011

Location:
Quality Hotel, Shah Alam

Stay required:
YES for main facilitators / NO only for country briefing volunteers

We will answer any inquiries ASAP! Your favorite student exchange organization thanks you :)



If you don't qualify this time around, don't feel bummed out! There's more events and activities happening REAL soon! Have you checked out our ADAPT page yet? :D


*New returnees / first time volunteers are highly encouraged to apply. Relive the memories. Pass on the experience!

Join us in Paradise!

HELLO DEAREST RETURNEE PEOPLE,

How does Paradise sound to you?

Cool breeze, straw hats, shady coconut trees as you listen to the gentle crashing of the waves against the sandy beach. Ohhhh YES. Now we're talking!

After a year-long worth of hard work, hectic schedules, stressful days and deadly deadlines. Paradise sounds exactly like what you need right now, don't you agree?

The time have come yet again for YOU, YES YOU, to be recognized and pampered for your efforts and contributions towards the AFS common goal. We are delighted to host the AFS Returnee and Volunteer Camp 2010 to give a chance for us to meet and bond again at the Corus Paradise Hotel, Port Dickson.

However, you have to be quick in confirmation as alas, we have only 40 spots available. Gasp!

This event is OPEN TO RETURNEES AND VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES in Malaysia, no age limit attached!

Given the sheer number of AFS volunteers, we suggest you email Kuhan at kuhan.chelvanathan@afs.org as soon as possible, and no later than 17^th November 2010! We predict the spots will go fast :)

Below is the information regarding the event:

Date : 10th - 12th December 2010

Venue : Corus Paradise Hotel, Port Dickson

Attendees : AFS Returnees & AFS Volunteers (no age limit)

Fee : RM 30.00

RSVP Date : By the 17th Nov 2010 (first come first serve basis!)

So how about it? Come join us in Paradise, party by the beach with your friends and let your hair down. Grab your swimming gear, cameras and your glamorous self and come on board for a fantabulously good time!

We've missed you so much! And sincerely hope to see you there :)

Regards from,

everyone of us in AFS Malaysia Alumni

p/s: Here's a sneak peak at what Corus Hotel looks like!

English Enrichment Programme with YES

Dear all, oh what exciting news awaits you!

In an effort to foster relationships between the AFS Returnee and the YES Alumni, SK Taman Keramat, Gombak has invited us to conduct an English Enrichment Program at their school this 3rd of November (Wednesday).

So here's your chance to give back to the society!

Drop your names and contact numbers to Jim Chua (jim91_dc@yesalumni.afs.org.my) or contact him via FB. He'd be very happy to hear from you and share further details with you :)



Then you can be like,




Ok. Just kidding.

AYA Awards Performance

Before you scroll down this post, there are some things you should probably know.

Firstly, what is the AYA?

AYA stands for the Asian Youth Ambassadors (AYA), a non-profit youth organization whose mission is to nurture young people to be the best that they can be and to be of service to others.

What about the Awards thingy?

The AYA Awards was set up back in 2005, to acknowledge, reward and further encourage good work and deeds by Malaysian Youth.

Okay...so what does it have to do with AFS Mas Alumni?

Wah! I can't believe you don't know this! Last year the AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia was awarded the Youth Friendly Company of 2009 by AYA.

Look look! That's us represented by Ms. Shazalyna (5th from right) and Kenneth Chin, founder of AYA (5th from left)

Why we won?

Because we're awesome-lah. What else?
(Okay so there IS much more depth to that answer, but it all boils down to because we're awesome to begin with :D)




Oraits! Now that we know what the background story is between AYA Awards and AFS Mas Alumni, lets talk about the important part of this blog-post. *drumroll please*


AFS Malaysia is invited to perform at the 6th AYA Awards Night at Malaysia's Heritage Building on the 7th November 2010 (Sunday)

Therefore, we are looking for YOU to be involved in the performances! The National Office would like to suggest that we returnees can collaborate with our hosted students to perform a combination of 5 Malaysian traditional dance: the Zapin Melayu, Indian Candle Dance, Chinese Fan Dance, Sabahan Bamboo Dance and the Sarawakian Ngajat Dance.

The Finale will be a sign language performance of the AFS Song.

Dance practice is scheduled to start on 24th October until 4th November 2010. So if you would like to be INVOLVED, please do send us a mail at suyin.chia@volunteer.afs.org.my


If you want to read more about the AYA Awards, log on to AYA Awards Website. And while you're there, browse around and send in your votes for THIS YEAR's 2010 finalist for all categories! Get involved today!

5th National Volunteer Conference CHINA

AFS Malaysia Alumni would like to congratulate our President Ms. Chong Cheng Yee, for attending the 5th National Volunteer Conference in Beijing, China from the 16 to 19 July 2010. Representing AFS Malaysia, Cheng Yee brought with her the experience of her volunteering days to the conference, meeting with key AFS colleagues, volunteers and representatives from the local chapters of China.

We are sure that her memorable trip has added unto her vast experience in leadership and faithful volunteering with AFS, especially as the helm of our AFS Malaysia Alumni ship, yet again.

Mission Zoopossible: Accomplished!

On 8th August, the mighty cleaning warriors from AFS Malaysia Alumni from all parts of Malaysia united and embarked on a brave journey to the Zoo Negara to fight of the evils that is giant poopies and dirty cages that plagued the animals living there.

At approximately 0830, the 46 Alumni warriors, armed with nothing but a bright orange volunteer sticker on their chests, puppy eyes, shovels, brushes and brooms spread out in groups of 5 to various stations to begin battle. Fighting the bleeding smell, the dust and dirt, sweat, sore body parts, pesky flies and raw fishes, the warriors cleaned away in the background whilst the wild animals entertained the paying crowd in the foreground to prevent suspicion of the grueling fight behind in the cages.

Some had to pick up poop and sweep the floor the whole day. Some hacked and chainsawed away in the kitchen to prepare basketful of food for the hungry animals. Some walked around and pretended to be busy Some had the privilege to work in extremely close proximity with the animals such as the stripy zebras, big-mouth hippopotamus, dancing deers, roaring bears, lazy camels, playful primates, various birds of flights and even with slithery pythons. They ventured into areas usually prohibited to the masses, and learned the ways of the zoo keepers.

Leading the warrior army at the front of the battlefield was Iron Lady Yelena Ramli, followed by Iron Lady Suraya and Iron Lady Cheng Yee, who united the warriors and made them work enthusiastically by providing direction and a scrumptious variety of food while lavishing each one with heaps of praises for jobs well done. They even broadcasted the backbreaking efforts of the Alumni warriors to the Malaysian world through THE STAR and NST (click on it!)

At exactly 1600 the Alumni warriors regrouped and declared victory over the Zoo Negara with zero casualties to both human and animals alike. There was a huge celebration of food eating and many a random photo-taking sessions followed by the Alumni Warriors being duly rewarded for their efforts with the presentation of certificates. Thus the fight had ended, the battle was won. Mission Zoopossible: Accomplished!

p/s more pictures coming your way really soon. Keep your tabs on this blog, people!

JENESYS Selection Camp

On 31st July, AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia held its first ever JENESYS Selection Camp in Hotel Maluri, Kuala Lumpur. The overnight camp, consisting of some 100 nervously excited student candidates was run by a dedicated team of 8 alumni members.

The alumni members did the camp module with the participants with activities such as Talent Time and Malaysia Through My Eyes presentations, fun energizer games like Untangle Me, My Bonnie, Big Fat Pony and Daruma-san ga Koronda. The campers also enjoyed the Commercial performances put up by the very creative bunch of students who displayed a multitude of talents and laughter inducing abilities. Everyone present had laughed so hard so much in this camp we had to wipe away tears.


However throughout the entire sessions on the other side of the fun door, was the solemn interviewers' room. One by one the candidates were pulled out of the fun door and waited patiently for their turn to enter the interviewer's room to be interrogated of their abilities, confidence, personality and credibility. Many of the student candidates displayed admirable graciousness as they wished each other good luck for the interview through hugs and handshakes.

This selection camp was also geared to be an avenue for the AFS Malaysia Alumni to help train up the younger volunteers in the ins and outs of running AFS camps. Young volunteers Marina Abdullah, Nina, Amanda and Haiqal were given responsibilities and full guidance under the watchful eyes of the older ones Suraya Zainuddin, Chia Suyin, Khoo Hsien Yew, Syant Alias and Eric Yoh. They proved to be able to stand their own ground (much to our joy!) and the Alumni would be looking forward to putting them to work more often! :D


At the end of the two days, camp commandant Suraya could not help but laud heaps of praises for the student candidates, saying, "Considering this is the first ever JENESYS Selection Camp, things counldn't have run more smoothly. The Form 3 and Form 4 kids were generally well-behaved and polite, and their excitement is obvious, its infections to all of us old timers. I was most surprised by the puntuality of it all. Despite the early hours, the hotel's infamous hard to find location, the number of students AND parents, no one was late for registration and sessions! It must be a first!"

Well done everybody! To the JENESYS Selection camp kids, we give you the best of lucks and are looking forward to seeing you at the pre-departure orientation in December. Till then, study hard and stop Facebooking so much =)

p/s. pictures will be up on the blog shortly. Keep tuning in!

Volunteer Training to Denmark

Dear all,

AMAZINGGG NEWS TO SHARE!



There will be a Volunteer Training in Denmark, home to Legoland, Little Mermaid and the Aarhus Cathedral in November 2010, and we're inviting YOU, fellow volunteers, to come apply for this rare chance of a lifetime to be a part of it and represent AFS Malaysia. So what do you need to know and what do you need to do? Read on below!

Basic Information:
The training is held from Nov 5th till Nov 7th 2010. The exact city where the training is not yet known for now. AFS Volunteers from all over the world is expected to participate in this training and each to bring fresh perspectives to the table. Further training information will be provided nearing the event itself.


Volunteer Requirements:
Firstly, you need to have been actively volunteering for at least 2 years. And when we say active, we mean really quite active in volunteering. Aside from that, it doesn't matter how old you are, what gender you are, or what anything else you are (:

To apply, you will need to contact AFS Malaysia for the application procedures. Look for Kuhan. The deadline is 30th April. From then on, all applicants will be subjected to an interview by a Selection Committee. The usual stuff lah, really (:



Costs
This is what must be on everyone's mind as they read this post. So I have taken the liberty of breaking it down into two parts for you : -

What you need to pay for :
Cost of traveling to and from Denmark only (for now)

What AFS Interkultur will cover:
1. Transport within Denmark (e.g public transport, domestic travels)

2. Room and board AFS Interkultur style, that means your lodging and yummy food is provided

3. If you arrive early, AFS Interkultur will arrange for you to stay with some volunteers and experience the warm welcoming of the Danish culture there.

4. Participation fee

What else should I know?
Upon returning from this training, the volunteer is required to conduct a nationwide training on what has been learnt from this Volunteer Training. In addition, a detailed report is required from the participant with photos and learning experiences.



So tuan-tuan dan puan-puan, you know whats the next step. Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity! Remember, the deadline to apply is April 30th!

Perdik Waterfalls : Not Your Average Sunday Afternoon

Imagine the sounds and sights of nature. To be protected by the shade of huge bamboo shoots, the cool stream touching your feet while the insects sing their songs. To reach this state of bliss in paradise, a group of AFS students had to go through more than ten soiled diapers, mountains of plastic bottles and endless piles of wasted plastic bags. This is the tale of how I and my fellow comrades,”MAJLIS PERBANDARAN AFS”, cleaned up the disgustingly filthy Perdik Waterfall of Ulu Langat.

We departed rather late thanks to my tardiness. As I entered the bus that would bring us to the destination of our cleanup mission, I was disappointed by the small number of AFSers. Although we were a small group it didn’t mean we didn’t get the job done, for we accomplished great heights on that eventful day. Once we arrived on Ulu Langat soil, we were briefed by the lovely Cheng Yee, AFS Alumni Committee President and her equally charming Vice President, Suraya. We started with a few ice breaking games before getting our hands dirty, literally of course. We were divided into groups of five, to scavenge for rubbish. The group with the highest amounts of rubbish would face the promise of a treat from Starbucks.

If I do recall accurately, we spent almost two hours searching high and low for all types of rubbish. Amongst the “treasures” uncovered were the usual plastic bags and plastic bottles, but what proved more surprising were a used up barbeque pit, car tires, stinky socks and the jackpot, soiled diapers collected mainly by the courageous Jon Wern. Judging by the way he collected those diapers fearlessly, proved that he sure is going to make one heck of a loving dad someday. Everyone did a decent job collecting rubbish and by the end of it we had filled out the twenty black huge garbage bags.

We didn’t travel all the way to Ulu Langat to just collect rubbish; we AFSer work hard as well as play hard. So of course we enjoyed a mesmerizing forty five minute hike to the waterfall. At first all I could concentrate on was reaching the waterfall quick enough to avoid being the victim of leeches, but halfway through I looked away from the leeches and fell in love with nature. We were so lucky to be in the very depths of Mother Nature’s territory. We enjoyed a relaxing picnic on the rocks by the waterfall, feasting on sandwiches, “keropok”, cake and fried chicken together with each other’s stories and shared lame jokes.

By the end of it all, we were exhausted but reluctant to leave the once filthily disgusting place. We looked at the twenty black garbage bags brimming with rubbish from our sheer sweat and blood. I mention blood not to be melodramatic ,but blood was involved as several of us couldn’t escape the wraths of those blasted leeches. All in all it was a joyful experience, yet no matter how much fun we had as a team, it saddens me that even today some people can be so ignorant and easily pollute and strip away the beauty and marvels that nature has offered to us. It’s time we made a change.

Written by: Arththi Sathananthar ( Italy IP 05/06 &YES programme 07)
Edited by: Suyin
Photo courtesy of CNU @ cnu-cama.blogspot.com