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New Year Message: Welcoming a New Generation of Global Citizens Back into Schools By Daniel Obst, President & CEO of AFS
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elcome to the new school year to students and teachers in many countries around the world.
The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time for AFS: In almost 100 countries around the world, thousands of AFS exchange students are starting their journeys to becoming active global citizens in a new classroom, new country, and with a new family. At the same time, AFS volunteers and staff reinforce their efforts to support schools and educators in globalizing their curricula and infusing their practices with global competence. However, a new school year also offers some sobering truths: educators, NGOs and others in the international education community still have a lot of work to do to make sure that everyone has access to intercultural learning opportunities. We all need to double down on our efforts to empower young people with the skills they need to thrive in the increasingly interconnected—and far too often polarized— communities. Schools are an ideal place for fostering intercultural learning, helping young people learn to work across difference and appreciate insights from different perspectives. We encourage teachers think broadly about fostering inclusion through their teaching practices, using the rich diversity that is already present in every classroom worldwide. We know that this requires support from school administrators and policymakers. Please know that AFS and other organizations like ours are always available to offer resources, skills and insights into how to best infuse a global mindset into local curricula. It is for the good of the world to ensure we all work together on educating the next 4
generation of active global citizens. For example, together we must make sure that international and intercultural experiences are available to more and more young people as a regular part of their education. We must help schools reach their full potential in preparing future-ready global citizens. Most importantly, a new school year is an opportunity to reaffirm our core mission: to provide intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. We wish a great school year to everyone!
Educators Exchange to India: A Whole New World
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AI Partners Malaysia and India held a two-week Educators Exchange recently to share their experiences and expertise in an intercultural context and environment. AFS Club guidance counsellors from two schools were selected for the programme. They were Lee Kim Yong of SMK KGV Seremban and Siththira Thevi Ivavoo of SMK Bukit Mewah. The teachers were exposed to many experiences with educators A visit to S.M Shetty High School and students in India, including their school system and efforts towards achieving UN SDGs where students were working on projects like Solar Speaker, Go Green, Innovation with Waste and IT Innovation in Education. They also attended a huge science exhibition participated by schools in Mumbai, an annual affair organised by the local education department. AFS India arranged for both to attend a workshop, “Attending Visit to Gopal Sharma Memorial School Your Own Classroom� presented by Dr David Turner from the University of South Wales as well as visits to kindergartens and schools with special needs students where they had productive sessions with other counsellors. They were also special guests at a school football tournament. Local volunteers, including two exchange students from Malaysia, took them on sightseeing tours and shopping towards the end of their intensive programme. AFS Mumbai, Farewell Dinner
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Volunteering to Make A Difference
By Wan Mustaqim, YES 15’
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he day I filled in an application form to volunteer for a Pre – Departure Orientation (PDO), I was not expecting to be called up as usually the dates would clash with final exams. But since this time, I had only two final papers, I decided to go for it. The email notification I received from AFS Office got me so excited that I left the lab I was working at in a hurry. We had a month to go through the mastersheet, plan out the session and prepare for the camp. This time, it was to be a six-day camp. The longest ever. The planning and discussions displayed great teamwork among us, with the team having to plan out everything virtually as the camp leader was in a different time zone, some 13 hours apart! That was a challenge, but we managed to make it work. The team consisted of 11 returnees, from YES 15 till YES 19.
Introductions had already been made by then but as Shelby had only briefly mentioned about me in my absence, I decided to do an impromptu prank on the participants. With support from Faza, I quickly put on my best act and introduced myself as a YES Alum from Indonesia who was volunteering for the Malaysian YES PDO. I put on my best Indonesian accent (thanks to three months of internship there!) and even managed to deceive the Indonesians in the group as well. We started off our day early and ended our night early too which proved to be a good move as both volunteers and participants were not too drained out by the end of the day.
The third day was the highlight of the camp. Mentor Sophie facilitated a team building exercise for the YES 20 students. On their first trial, they failed the exercise as they were lacking in the bonding, teamwork and trust. Sophie dared them to try again and on their second attempt, they succeeded. After that session, we could see their growth, their bond and fondness I missed out on preparation day and the first day for each other. They were more connecting and of the camp due to having to sit for a final paper. collaborative. 6
The last day of PDO was mainly airport runs and group photos before the kids were handed over to a dance performance committee. After a break of a few years, the performance aspect was back. More YES Alumni helped to facilitate the dance practices. At the airport on Monday, seeing the kids saying goodbye to their families really brought back memories of when I was being sent off on the program five years ago. Looking at this YES 20 batch really reminded me of my own excitement mixed with trepidation all those years ago as I was about to embark on my own journey of discovery. I could see the old me reflected in many of them. I hope they will learn as much from the program, build life-long connections with their host family and community and grow to be the best version of themselves. I also found that volunteering with fellow returnees and helping out at camp really reignited my passion to make a difference in the world, starting right here at home.
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Forging Sisterhood Through EVA Exchange
By Rohaya Md Yusoff and Datin Noorliza Leow Abdullah
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even of us from Kedah and Penang Chapters had the opportunity to go on a one-week EVA program to Adana Chapter in Turkey recently. EVA is a volunteer based AFS exchange program, and as its name suggests, strictly for the ladies! Participants can be chapter volunteers, host mothers or host-school teachers. The EVA program offers an opportunity to female volunteers who are past the age for traditional AFS programmes to have their own intercultural exchange experience. We were very fortunate to be hosted in Adana Chapter. Adana is a beautiful, organised, and clean city with orange trees lining the streets. Being hosted by our Turkish counterparts in their homes and in Adana city enabled us to have a better understanding of the Turkish way of life. Besides the home stay with our host sisters, we were also taken to visit schools, the Mufti’s office, the Mayor’s office, explore Adana city and 8
went on a special trip to Cappadocia. It was truly an eye-opening experience for us. Turkey is a progressive Muslim country so there are similarities as well as differences in our practice. Beautiful mosques are everywhere, and we had the opportunity to pray in some of them. Salad, bread and cheese are the main food staples. Yes, Adanians eat healthy! Adana kebab is very famous not only in Turkey but all over the world. Turkey is also one of the countries with a tea drinking culture although their Turkish coffee comes a close second. Our Welcome and Farewell dinners were served like state banquets with beautiful table setting, fancy crockery and fine cutlery laid out in the two very beautiful homes of our host sisters. It was held in the typical AFS way of ‘potluck’ but everybody brought exotic dishes in generous portions, so we were not left wanting. The ladies introduced us to each dish and explained its significance in their culture.
The Turkish Eva sisters were a group of spirited, vibrant ladies. We enjoyed our activities together. They were caring, hospitable and did their best to ensure we had a memorable time. Many of them have limited English proficiency except for Deniz who an English language teacher is. However, that did not in any way limit our communication, friendship and the joy of being in each other’s company. Courtesy visits to the Mufti and Mayor’s Offices were arranged for us but due to the language barrier, we did not have much exchange of information. However, we were honoured to receive gifts from both departments (a Koran and a box of Turkish delights). The Cappadocia trip and Turkish Night entertainment were a bonus for which we are very grateful to our EVA Adana Chapter sisters for the treat. A big thank you to all of them: Funda, Pinar, Deniz, Elife, Hatice, Nida, Sevgi and Irem for their friendship and the memorable experience. We are now planning a similar reciprocal exchange when we meet our EVA sisters again in Malaysia in 2021!
Had the famous Adana kebab, trip to Cappadocia, attended Turkish Night performance
Visited a private school in Adana
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Domestic Exchange as a Final Year Project
By Mdm Ong Bee Bee
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iTM’s Instructional Communication and Training department approached AFS Malaysia late last year for assistance in conducting an intercultural exchange as part of its final year project for fifth semester students. Since AFS Festive Domestic Exchanges fitted in with their objective, the students sought help to place three participants to live with families of a different race for two days. The purpose of the project was to gauge the levels of acceptance and understanding between races who live together and to find common ground for nurturing unity and harmony among Malaysians. Klang Chapter was entrusted with the task of finding the host families and two were selected from SK Seksyen 13 school. Teachers Madam Ong hosted a Malay girl called Farra Waheeda and Mr Thipanth hosted a Chinese boy. Visit to Chinatown
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During her stay with the Ong family, Farra learned how to write Chinese/Korean calligraphy and was brought to the Tien Hou Cong (Chinese Temple) to get to know the culture and practices of Buddhism. It was Farra’s first visit to a Chinese Temple and she was in awe of the architecture. After the temple visit, the family took Farra to Central Market for shopping and visited Chinatown. There they tried Chinese muachi, a soya toufa dish. Later, they visited MaTic which proved Farra’s first time there as well. Everyone enjoyed the cultural dances of the Watching cultural performances at MaTic many races in Malaysia. Back at home, it was a cooking session next for Farra who helped to cook all the vegetarian dishes. It was her first attempt at cooking Chinese food, and she found it interesting and easy. Dinner consisted of the entire Ong family and took a few hours to finish as it was a Pre-Chinese New Year celebration. Farra ended her short intercultural experience with positive takeaways, firmly stating that it was the most memorable she has had in her life so far.
Learning Chinese and Korean Caligraphy
Dinner time with host family
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Effect+ Workshop: Empowering Global Citizens through Local Workshops
By Sophie Ismail
AFS Malaysia is taking a step further to multiply our effect as a leading international educational NGO committed to using intercultural learning to help build a more just and peaceful world. With this in mind, AFS is continuously expanding the way we prepare and activate global citizens of all ages and backgrounds. Therefore, we are proud to announce that we are now offering Effect+ Workshop as a form of support of the global movement to advance intercultural learning and global citizenship education. Effect+ Workshop is a global citizenship education workshop that introduces 12
Icebreaker session
teenagers to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how they can work together to help advance these goals in their communities. The program also helps teens take their first steps to becoming active global citizens by including ICL and discussions of global issues. On 14 December 2019, we held our first-ever Effect+ workshop with 30 participants from all over the country. Over two days, the participants were able to explore their own role as global citizens and changemakers. AFS Malaysia is now offering this workshop to be conducted in any school around Malaysia. If you are interested or would like to receive more information about this workshop, please contact sophie.ismail@afs.org Three heads are better than one in a brainstorming session
Presenting their findings
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CHAPTER CHATS
Kedah Chapter Kedah Chapter conducted a house visit together with officials from the US Embassy to get to know host families better. Kedah chapter also conducted an AFS roadshow to promote AFS Programs to all high school students in the Kedah area. Some of the schools were SMK Sultanah Asma, Alor Setar, SMJK Sin Min, Sg Petani, SM Sains Tahfiz, Alor Setar, SM Sultan Abdul Halim, Jitra, and Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Alor Setar. Another activity conducted was a roadshow visit to Perpuskaan Awam Negeri Kedah (American Corner) to promote YES Program to students. Kedah Chapter students, Ellen, Kate, Savannah and Clara, volunteered at the Program Sehari Bersama Perpustakaan (A Day at the Library) to promote reading at Wisma Darul Aman.
Bangi Chapter Bangi Chapter is hosting an 18+ participant from Germany, Jannis Hake. He is placed at Biji-Biji Initiative, one of the Community Service Placements in Bangi.
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Ampang Chapter During arrival camp this early January, Ampang Chapter conducted a brief arrival training for their committee members, Liaison Person, Host Students and Host Family. Ampang Chapter is hosting 3 participants from Japan. In early February, Hayato, Gakuto and Chitose had their first day in school. Sri Utama International School Kuala Lumpur launched an AFS Intercultural Club. This is the first ICL club launch for 2020.
Terengganu Chapter An ICL workshop for Sri Utama International School teachers was held at Setapak campus which was attended by 53 teachers and school administrators. The workshop was conducted by AFS trained staff and volunteers. It was also the first session for the year 2020 with AFS intercultural Club members.
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CHAPTER CHATS
Penang Chapter Last Thaipusam, Clara Ghirardo and Mattia D’Antuono both from Italy spent their time celebrating the occasion in Penang. They also had an opportunity to attend an Indian wedding on the same weekend. Penang Chapter students had their Chinese New Year homestay with host families in Penang. They participated in a lot of activities such as watching a lion dance show, visiting their extended family, had a reunion steamboat dinner, visiting a Chinese temple, Yee Sang tossing and helping to cook ‘top hats’ (Pie Tee) for Chinese New Year. Clara won first place for the under 17s conducted by her host school. She also participating in the school’s gotong-royong project. Mattia went Hill Hiking in Penang as part of her school’s outdoor activity.
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Damansara Chapter Damansara’s hosted student, Jerry Nohr, spent his Chinese New Year at Damansara with family and friends. He also had an opportunity to experience rural life and paddy fields during Chinese New Year.
Pahang Chapter An AFS Club was launched at SMK Sultan Abdul Bakar Kuantan on 12 February. This school is the first in Kuantan to have an Intercultural Club in their curriculum activities. With help from AFS office staff and volunteers, a mini ICL workshop also took place to give the students a brief idea on what AFS and intercultural learning is all about.
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ALUMNI IN ACTION
Dining in The Dark: What We Don’t See
By Azim Syahimi, YES’19
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hen talking about visual impairment, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Someone who is fully blind and cannot see a thing? Someone who cannot fulfil his or her daily needs without assistance? Someone who is not as skilful or reliable compared to the public at large? If these thoughts ever crossed your mind, then it is time to set things straight. I was able to attend a Dining In The Dark event hosted by YES Alumni Malaysia recently. Held at Dewan Gemilang, University Malaya, Dining In The Dark was an event organised with the aim of raising awareness on the visually impaired community. The event kickstarted with attendees given the time to move around the hall. There were a few booths present. The first booth that I went was a booth where a YES alumni explained to us devices and software that are created to aid visually impaired people. I knew these tools existed but never bothered to check how it works. For instance, the preinstalled voice aid in iPhones which reads out loud whatever texts are on the screen. 18
Another booth that I remembered going to was one where I got to learn how to write in Braille. It was surprisingly easy and simple to understand and to use! Some of us decorated it with ribbons and use as bookmarks. I still keep mine with my name in Braille engraved on it. The event continued with food. It was time for dinner! However, as the name of the event implied, we were going to be dining in the dark. Before the emcees let us go to the food tray, the lights were all switched off. To grasp how the visually impaired would experience their daily lives, we are expected to eat in the dark. No vision, we have to figure out what we wanted and how to eat using our other senses. A few YES alumni were present at the food tray to guide us on what food were available. It was dark but we were still able to see a bit so I remember getting confused over papaya and orange. They were both in the same tray and looked the same without proper light. While eating, we were illuminated with dim electric candles on our table and entertained with a performance of Christmas songs by our YES alumni Shaun (YES’18) and Nabila (YES’17). A video screening was next. It was about Ernest Teoh, a YES alum who is visually impaired and how he does his daily activities. Ernest talked about how he manages to do things like any other ‘normal’ kids. What opened my eyes was that, despite his lack of sight, Ernest is a musical
talent. He plays violin really well. And the highlight of the video was Ernest and Shaun’s rendition of You Raise Me Up. What truly moved me was that Shaun put blindfolds on while playing the piano to get a feel of how Ernest was feeling as he played the violin. It was really beautiful and touching. Ernest also talked about himself in the video, how his exchange journey went, the challenges and the highlights, about Braille and many other things. There was also one part where Ernest touched on visual impairments. Not everyone who is visually impaired is totally blind. Different people have different degrees of vision. The one thing that stood out for me was when Ernest urged us not to see people like him with pity. Treat them like how we would treat a normal person because they are just as capable. “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are,” -Anais Nin. A quote that I will always remember. They are equal to us only if we see them as equal. Through this event, I learned that disability does not make someone less of a person. Instead it is an ability. But that is what we don’t see. We put low expectations. Many pity them. But they are just like us, if not better, for their other senses are heightened and well-honed. I hope things can change in our society. And the first step towards change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.
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HERE & THERE
Sri Utama International Schools and the AFS Connection
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FS Malaysia received an invitation to discuss potential collaborations with Sri Utama International Schools from its CEO Dato’ Fawziah Abdul Karim. Atty Sulaiman, National Director and Annie Yap from Chapter & Volunteer Development Dept. attended on behalf of AFS Malaysia. Madam Paulin, School Coordinator of Sri Utama Kuala Terengganu, was also in attendance. It proved a fruitful session with discussions focusing on the possibility of running ICL workshops for several groupings within the school, beginning with teachers. AFS Malaysia also shared with Dato’ Fawziah on how intercultural learning could benefit the schools which has campuses in Setapak, Johor Bahru and Kuala Terengganu. As all teachers were
AFS Reaches Out To KYUEM
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FS Malaysia recently met with KYUEM, a premier residential college that specializes in providing pre-university education to prepare students for successful entry to the world’s best universities and colleges. AFS were told that the college wanted its students to be equipped with intercultural knowledge and understanding that would stand them in good stead when they went abroad for further studies. AFS Malaysia welcomed the potential collaboration and have submitted a comprehensive ICL proposal to the top management of KYUEM.
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at an in-house centralized leadership event in KL over one weekend in January, AFS Malaysia took the opportunity to conduct an ICL workshop for around 60 of the school’s teaching staff. An AFS Club has already been established at the school’s Kuala Terengganu campus in August 2019, and Dato’ Fawziah revealed that plans are already underway to launch more clubs at the other two branches before the middle of the year.
Japanese Students Ready for A Malaysian Experience
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our Japanese students arrived in Malaysia recently and have embarked on their journey as young ambassadors of Japan on a one-year intercultural exchange. These students are currently placed in Ampang and Johor Chapters. An Arrival Orientation Camp led by a Japanese speaking facilitator, Michelle Tan, eased the students into the Malaysian way of life. They learned about local culture, life in school, the community, Bahasa Malaysia language and the reality of living under a Malaysian roof. The students also had an opportunity to visit KLCC during a budget exercise activity. On the last day of the camp, Ampang Chapter organized an introductory session with their host families before officially handing them over to the families. There was also a short meetand-greet between the host students and their liaison person during lunch. All the Japanese students will start school on 3 February 2020, after the Chinese New Year Celebration. Budget Exercise Activity inside KLCC
From left: Michelle Tan, Hayato Kishimoto, Shuya Sato, Gakuto Katada and Chitose Motoya
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SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS Here are some highlights from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts over the past months. For January and February, AFS Malaysia social media sites are focusing on the recruitement for YES, Effect+ and AFS programs.
Instagram Insights The main highlight for Instagram was a post calling for Malaysian youth to apply for the next batch of YES Program got the most like and comment from audiences. The post about ICL Level W also got the most hits from the audiences. Follow us on Instagram @AFSMalaysia to get the latest update on what AFS Malaysia has been up to. #afsmalaysia
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Facebook Facts The main highlight for AFS Malaysia Facebook was the post about the 2020 YES Program particpants departing for the U.S. It attracting a lot of attentions from the audiences. The promotional post regarding AFS Program got the most hits and reactions in AFS Malaysia Facebook Page. Like AFS Malaysia Facebook to get the latest update on what AFS Malaysia has been up to. #afsmalaysia #studyabroad #AFS
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One world. 17 goals to save it. In 2015, countries of the United Nations set the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs or Global Goals) “to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.” AFS supports the Global Goals and we’re focusing more of our programs on them to amplify, and encourage action toward, their ambitious vision for a sustainable, peaceful world.
Education liberates the intellect, unlocks the imagination and is fundamental for self-respect. It is the key to prosperity and opens a world of opportunities, making it possible for each of us to contribute to a progressive, healthy society. Learning benefits every human being and should be available to all.
Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization. The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across the globe.
Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society. Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.
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YAYASAN AFS ANTARABUDAYA MALAYSIA