Yearbook 2014

Year Book

Humanitarian Affairs

Connecting People with Communities in Need

Year Book

Humanitarian Affairs

Connecting People with Communities in Need

Contents PART ONE OUR STRUCTURE • Our Vision • Our Goals • Our Purpose • Our Values • Our Mission

2 3 5 7 9 11

PART TWO DREAMING IT • Message from Prime-Minister, Cambodia • Message from Minister of Education, Cambodia • Message from Regional Director, Humanitarian Affairs • Fulfilling Dreams • Journey of Transformation: Finding Yourself

12 14 16 18 20 22

PART THREE PLANNING IT • Youth Ambassador Program • Nurturing Youth • Outstanding Youth Awards • Leadership in Social Change Program • A Voice In Social Change

24 26 28 30 32 34

PART FOUR DOING IT • Learning Exchange Program • Engaging the Community • Touching Lives • Festival of Water • Media Conference • National Day Celebration • Exploring Culture • Team Training • SEAMEO Congress • Asia-Pacific Forum • Fostering Relationships • The Women Symposium • Education For All • Aiming High • Connecting with Communities in Need • The Courage to Believe • Change for Good: Testimonials • Academic Partner

36 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 56 58 60

Do we have the courage to believe that we are able to make a difference in this world and build a sustainable future for mankind?

In order to believe, we require faith - faith that makes us conďŹ dent in pursuing our dreams and assurance that we are moving in a positive direction.

YearBook 2014 / 1

PART ONE

OUR STRUCTURE

YearBook 2014 / 2

OUR VISION W

e Seek a World where Every Young Person has

• A Sense of Compassion for the Less Fortunate in our Society • A Sense of Social Responsibility • An Opportunity to Initiate Sustainable Development Programs • And the Opportunity to Learn Entrepreneurial and Leadership Skills

By connecting young people to communities in need, we can ensure that they develop fully as competent, confident individuals with a strong sense of character.

YearBook 2014 / 3

YearBook 2014 / 4

OUR GOALS T

o nurture youth to be responsible, competent and compassionate global citizens by providing them with training opportunities and imparting life-skills lesson through our mentorship program. engage youth to become more involved in the world’s battle against poverty through our volunteer placement program.

To engage youth to become more involved in the world’s battle against poverty through our volunteer placement program.

YearBook 2014 / 5

YearBook 2014 / 6

OUR PURPOSE H

umanitarian Affairs aims to provide youth with the opportunity to engage in humanitarian services, strengthen their awareness about diverse cultures, and develop a lifelong commitment to helping others. This can be done by participating in relief efforts that beneďŹ t impoverished communities in poverty-stricken countries.

Encountering different cultures and providing aid to those suffering abroad facilitates both intellectual and emotional development. Most importantly, this process helps to bring education, relief and warmth to the lives of those suffering throughout the world. helping others. This can be done by participating in relief efforts that beneďŹ t impoverished communities in poverty-stricken countries.

Encountering different cultures and providing aid to those suffering abroad facilitates both intellectual and emotional development. Most importantly, this process helps to bring education, relief and warmth to the lives of those suffering throughout the world.

YearBook 2014 / 7

8

YearBook 2014 / 8

OUR VALUES W

e Seek to instil the Right Values in Our Youth

• COMPASSION - Empathising with the plight of the needy and the underprivileged to the point of wanting to make a difference in their lives • DETERMINATION - Having the resolution to stay focused in spite of the obstacles and challenges that come with achieving a goal • INTERGRITY - Being courageous enough to defend sound moral principles and then take action to do the right thing • RESPECT - Recognising and acknowledging the inherent worth and rights of every person, ethnic group and nationality, whether you agree with them or not • THOUGHTFULNESS - Always being attentive, showing concern and consideration, attending to the interests of others before oneself • KINDNESS - To give encouragement by offering moral support and gestures of goodwill to others not only in good moments, but also in difficult times • RESPONSIBILITIES - Accepting what is required, honouring the role which one has been entrusted with, and performing conscien conscientiously right to the very end

YearBook 2014 / 9

YearBook 2014 / 10

OUR MISSION T

he mission of Humanitarian Affairs is to empower young people and facilitate those youth who are passionate about positive social change. The organisation was established with a vision to set an action based example for young people interested in making a difference to those less fortunate than themselves. It aims to translate their intention and ideas into action, and provide comprehensive exposure for the development of well-rounded future leaders.

Humanitarian Affairs seeks to create a drive and sense of purpose in young leaders by equipping them with the rights skills and tools to spark a generation of dynamic individuals paving the way for the larger social good.

YearBook 2014 / 11

PART TWO

DREAMING IT YearBook 2014 / 12

Dreams, if they're any good, are always a little bit crazy.

- Ray Charles

YearBook 2014 / 13

Message from

the Prime-Minister of Cambodia I

would like to express my sincere thanks to Humanitarian Affairs UK for supporting and choosing Cambodia as the host country for this 5th USL Symposium. It is with great pride that the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Cambodian people host this momentous event for the first time in Phnom Penh, our capital city.

I would also like to congratulate the good collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia and Humanitarian Affairs UK in co-organizing this significant Symposium that will unite promising young leaders from leading universities around the world to start meaningful conversations and develop a global network between young people of all nations.

I do believe that this Symposium will serve as another platform to engage the young generation in social, humanitarian and environmental activities, contributing to a sustainable and responsible development at local and global level.

The power of direct experience can have a profound influence on youth’s perspectives and ideas of humanity and life. As a delegate to this inspiring symposium, you will hear first-hand from people who were once in the same position you were in, at university, and wondering what to devote their working career towards. You will see the progress they have made to the lives of children, of families, and of the community that is our world.

You will be given the inspiration and tools to truly take control of your life’s decisions, and to realize that your personal destiny is as much in your control as your ability to commit to and make social development your major career goal. Motivational speakers at the symposium will present material devoted to opening your mind to the opportunities the world has for compassionate, hard-working, resilient young leaders.

You will see, hear, meet and exchange with the people at a one-day humanitarian journey, you are going to experience and I assure you that the way of your thinking and your attitude will be changed because of this experience. I hope you challenge the limits of your comfort zone, and broaden your moral perspective of who you consider to be humanly equal to you.

I strongly hope that this glorious symposium will provide a great opportunity for all participating delegates to integrate new ideas, exchange experiences and establish key strategies and platform for the development of humanitarian initiatives and volunteer activities for the sake of sustainable, responsible and inclusive development.

As Prime Minister of this wonderful land, I would like to humbly encourage you to discover that you have the power to build a superior individual identity that will in the future transpose into the rest of the world in reducing poverty and creating global peace, contributing to the achievement for a sustainable future for all.

I wish you a great success in your future endeavors.

Samdech HUN SEN YearBook 2014 / 14

YearBook 2014 / 15

Message from

Minister of Education, Cambodia E

ducation is among the most essential tools one can possess to eradicate poverty both individually Message and collectively. from The Royal Government of Cambodia and Humanitarian Affairs United Kingdom want to spark a ďŹ ery drive in young college students to become the future Leaders in Social Change.

The city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia is honoured to be chosen to host the 5th University Scholars Leadership Symposium. Students from leading universities around the world will unite in the Kingdom of wonder and will establish a global network among their peers. Cambodia is proud to mobilise a global delegation, to hear from the world’s leading humanitarian workers, including 3 CNN Heroes of the Year.

The Symposium will specially focus on the UN Millennium Development Goals and their objectives of eradicating global inequality through breaking the cycles of poverty. Among lack of access to education, other major causes of poverty include malnourishment from extreme hunger, unemployment, poor health services including towards childbirth, unsustainable environmental practices, and poor attitudes to gender equality.

The world needs its young people to be educated in humanitarian works, and the Humanitarian Affairs is the perfect place for students to experience a poverty-stricken community and start conversations on how to mitigate the pain and suffering of their fellow human beings.

Dr. HANG CHUON NARON

YearBook 2014 / 16

11

YearBook 2014 / 17

Message from

Humanitarian Affairs I

would like to take this opportunity to share with you 3 famous sayings from Nelson Mandela.

Firstly, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” The second quote is: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” And the third: “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”

Each of these is very relevant to us and we should take a moment to reflect on the message that is being conveyed. The first quote focuses on a widespread dream- like that of eradicating poverty. Each one of us harbours in ourselves such dreams. And I am not referring to a frivolous fantasy or day dreaming that does not materialise - I speak of the sort of dream that will inspire you as a future leader; one that you are prepared to make sacrifices for in order to convert it into reality.

How important is it for you to ensure every child has access to education? How vital to you is the issue of safe drinking water for all? And how important is it for you to make sure that each human being has access to basic health care? Essentially, what does Social Responsibility mean to you? These are the sorts of crucial questions that you should be asking yourself. In finding the answer to these questions lies our dream to greatness. We all have our own personal Everest to conquer, and if we follow its calling, life will truly become an adventure: A journey of helping those who need us most.

Now, clearly your dream needs to be realistic and achievable, so exercise good judgment. Think big, make sure it is physically possible and as long as your key ingredients to achieving it are vision and hard work, go for it. Write it down. Etch it on your hand, trace it in the skies. Have your dream somewhere that you will see every day. That is all the motivation you need to pursue it.

I have been sharing these thoughts with my team and I hope they will remember this important principle in life. You MUST be able to help yourself before helping others.

The greatest journeys all begin with a single step and we must remember that success almost always follows great attitude. The two attract each other.

Dreams are indeed powerful since they are responsible for perhaps every great advancement and achievement of human kind. It is the underlying motive for just about everything we see about us. Everything worthwhile achieved by men and women is a dream come true, a goal reached. It has been said that what the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

As a famous German writer once said- “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

Together, Let’s Dream It. Plan It and Do It.

Janice Leong Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific YearBook 2014 / 18

YearBook 2014 / 19

Fulfilling G

oing through life without dreams or goals is akin to driving a car without a destination in mind. Dreams give life meaning by stimulating our mind and giving us something to look forward to.

They are the backbone of innovation and the birthplace of ambition.

All the greats this world has seen have harboured big dreams. Mother Teresa dreamed to change the world, one person at a time. Her tireless faith, tenderness and strong advocacy for human rights made her a saviour to thousands. From the ďŹ eld of arts, Stevie Wonder overcame his blindness and to doggedly pursue his dream of becoming a successful musician. By sheer determination, he became one of the most creative and loved musical performers of the late twentieth century.

To merely dream is sufďŹ cient but in order to achieve greatness, one should always dream big. Being a big dreamer does not mean that you are perpetually walking around with your head in the clouds. Instead, it means that you are seeking a purpose-driven life and reaching fulďŹ llment in the process. Why would you settle for small dreams when you can accomplish bigger ones?

At Humanitarian Affairs, we aim to inspire the youth of our generation to dare to dream big. Our programs provide valuable opportunities for the youth of today to overcome that fear of failure and realise their vast potential to dream big and push themselves to achieve more than they think they are capable of.

YearBook 2014 / 20

g Dreams

YearBook 2014 / 21

Journey OF Transformation

“Finding Yourself”

YearBook 2014 / 22

T

he road to self-discovery can sometimes be paved with challenges but once we complete that arduous trek, we reach a pinnacle of self-awareness that helps us realise our true passions in life.

What do great people like Walt Disney and our very own Regional Director of Humanitarian Affairs, Janice Leong have in common? Besides being capable leaders, both individuals stayed true to themselves, took firm control of their career paths and overcame setbacks in order to achieve happiness and success.

In 1921, Walt Disney started his first animation company in Kansas City, which he eventually had to dissolve since it was not bringing in enough profit for him to pay rent. He was broke and reportedly survived by eating dog food.

Thereafter, he moved from the post of an ambulance driver post World War I to a news editor where he got fired for his lack of imagination and good ideas. He took up several more businesses through the years including veering his career path towards his love for animation by setting up a small cartoon studio in Hollywood. However it went bankrupt in no time.

Instead of giving up, Walt Disney struggled along and eventually found a recipe for success doing what he loved and staying true to what he wanted. Today, the Disney brand is one of the most successful in the world, raking in billions of dollars in merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world.

Like Disney, Janice Leong, Humanitarian Affairs’ regional director has a knack and tenacity for doing what she loves despite facing challenges. Prior to working at Humanitarian Affairs, Janice held a high paying and comfortable job at Medtronic where she had been working for the past 7 years. Medtronic is a Fortune 500 company and the world’s fourth largest medical device company. Her constant business trips to hospitals in developing countries and interactions with impoverished communities struck her emotionally. These encounters encouraged her to take a closer look at poverty and actively discover ways in which she could help the people in these regions.

Mahatma Gandhi once said that you should “be the change that you wish to see in the world” and with that quote in mind, Janice took a bold risk by taking on a different career trajectory in order to follow her passion. She saw an opportunity to head an NGO that looks towards improving the quality of life of the downtrodden and marginalised.

Her new post required her to implement programs and activities that not only aided these communities for a short while, but also sustained the programs in the long run.

Although she had no prior experience in this field, through sheer perseverance and commitment, she successfully spearheaded many of Humanitarian Affairs’ activities and events.

Today, Humanitarian Affairs partakes in fieldwork such as providing aid to typhoon-stricken areas in Tacloban and volunteering at local charities. The organisation also runs annual Symposiums that aim to promote youth activism and enable youths to think beyond themselves.

Like Disney, Janice demonstrates fearless optimism by preferring to see future challenges as opportunities to grow and learn. Gandhi also emphasises that “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” and this is exactly what Janice has done. Through her work at Humanitarian Affairs, Janice actively helps the youth of today find themselves and their purpose in life through youth empowerment activities and service learning. Janice is a true testament to ordinary people achieving great things.

It is possible for each of us to discover our passion and do great things. Although Janice Leong and Walt Disney are very different individuals who took different paths, both walked their very own journey towards self-discovery. They defined what they wanted, took risks and worked relentlessly towards their goals. Both individuals succeeded by staying true to themselves while possessing the sheer determination to stick to their guts and never giving up.

YearBook 2014 / 23

PART THREE

PLANNING IT

YearBook 2014 / 24

Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning - Gloria Steinem

YearBook 2014 / 25

Youth YearBook 2014 / 26

Ambassador Program T

he Humanitarian Affairs Youth Ambassador program aims to develop young leaders by entrusting with them the

the responsibility of being an ambassador for Humanitarian Affairs and representing the organisation in their home countries.

In 2014, the organisation received over 100 applications for the Humanitarian Affairs Youth Ambassador program. After a 2-month assessment which included a skype interview, 9 promising youths were provided with an opportunity to serve the organisation as the incoming batch of Youth Ambassadors.

Youth Ambassadors are dynamic young leaders whose roles range from inspiring and engaging their community, to taking up humanitarian work, to the dissemination of information to encourage participation in Humanitarian Affairs’ events.

The Youth Ambassadors for this year are from the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Mongolia and Sri Lanka.

We congratulate the new batch of Ambassadors and the organisation looks forward to working with each new leader in reaching out to the communities in need.

YearBook 2014 / 27

Nurturing Y E

ach year, Humanitarian Affairs receives considerable interest from young people across the world for our various programs. The internship placement program was no exception as it went on to receive 115 applications.

After an interview and an assessment, 7 youths from Singapore, India, Canada, Kuwait, United States and Indonesia were provided with an opportunity to serve at the Asia Secretariat.

This internship program enables young people to implement and manage programs that strive towards a positive change in the world.

It also aims to instil a sense of social consciousness and compassion within the youths of today.

During the placement, youths receive training in communication skills, interpersonal skills, presentation skills, listening skills, event management skills and problem solving skills along with many others. The interns get the opportunity to put these skills into practice daily through tasks and projects as well as during events such as the organisation and management of annual, large-scale conferences.

YearBook 2014 / 28

Youth

YearBook 2014 / 29

Outstand

Yout

Awar

H

umanitarian Affairs presented with a CertiďŹ cate of Comm honour their contributions, Affairs made a special reques Government of Cambodia to publ their effort and commitment to the o

The Minister of Tourism, His Excelle Khon, representing the Royal Camb ment presented the 7 interns for th public ceremony witnessed by 700 leaders.

Out of the seven interns, three were an Outstanding Youth Award fo achievement.

YearBook 2014 / 30

ding

d its 7 interns mendation. To Humanitarian st to the Royal licly recognise organisation.

Sherin Al Bloushi Kuwait

rds

Carissa Kocsis Canada

th

“Receiving the Outstanding Youth Award was a complete honour - I felt proud and accomplished knowing that I had helped to bring these outstanding delegates together to share in such a positive, inspiring Symposium.”

“This goes out to the team that I’ve been privileged to work with in the Asia office. I am grateful and thankful to have been able to work in a team of such positive, professional and dedicated people. We should all be proud of ourselves to have been able to stand together, bringing delegates with great minds and bright ideas together and successfully execute such a great event! See you all in Hong Kong!”

e awarded with or their high

Stephany Soekendar Indonesia

ency Dr. Thong bodian Governheir efforts at a 0 global youth

“I'm really thankful for this opportunity from H.A. Here you are not only able to learn how to be a young professional but you learn about love and humanity as well. I'm glad that I took this chance and made a difference, so don't miss yours!”

YearBook 2014 / 31

Leadership in Social Change Program H

umanitarian Affairs, in partnership with the Royal Cambodian Government, hosted the 5th University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The event took place from August 1 to August 7, 2014 at the Sofitel Phokeethra Hotel.

The Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok An was the Guest of Honour at the Opening Ceremony while the Prime Minister of Cambodia himself, H.E. Hun Sen, graced the delegation with his presence at the Closing Ceremony of the event. Other illustrious personalities who were present during the Symposium were the Honourable Minister for Education Dr. Hang Choun Naron, Honourable Minister for Tourism Dr. Thong Khon, H.E. Sou Phiron, Secretary of State of the Council of Ministers and H. E. Hun Many, President of the Union of Youth Federation of Cambodia. The Inter-Ministerial commission was established by the Royal Cambodian Government to support in the overseeing of the Symposium effectively and successfully. More than 1000 Cambodian police officers and special force officers were deployed by the Government to guarantee the security and safety of all delegates, and ensuring a pleasant stay for foreign delegates in Cambodia

YearBook 2014 / 32

Seven Hundred of the world’s most promising youth leaders came together for this annual Symposium held in Cambodia. This year’s Symposium was held under the theme of “Dream It, Plan It, Do It”. It was specially designed with the objective of providing the leaders of the next generation with an understanding of key sustainable development challenges. It also aims to motivate them to realise their potential as agents of change through inspiring talks by renowned international trainers, industry experts and experienced humanitarian leaders. The Symposium boasted of an eminent line-up of speakers that included 3 CNN ‘Hero of the Year’ award winners as well as renowned Ted Speakers.

The USL Symposium drew to a close with the Farewell Gala Dinner, especially organised by the Cambodian Government. Delegates were treated to a packed programme of beautiful cultural performances like Cambodia’s apsara dance while they dined on local cuisine, followed by a night of music and dancing. The week-long program provided promising youth leaders from institutions of Higher Learning and NGOs with the necessary knowledge and skills to initiate humanitarian services for the disadvantaged worldwide. It engaged its participants and encouraged them to deliver humanitarian aid to disadvantaged communities in Cambodia so that they can, in turn, serve as helping hands in poverty-stricken and disaster-prone nations. The Symposium also provided the opportunity for delegates to network with like-minded youth leaders from over 40 countries while introducing them to a rich new Asian culture and people.

YearBook 2014 / 33

A Voice in T

he ‘Voice in Social Change’ competition held during the U Humanitarian Affairs that aims to search for groundbreakin social predicaments such as as poverty. This competition segme platform where they can turn their social development project disadvantaged communities around the world.

Following a submission of about one hundred proposals, six inno ly shortlisted as finalists. These project teams got the opportun of esteemed judges as well as seven hundred other delegates du

Humanitarian Affairs believes in the yo Humanitarian Affairs can help youths k ble results through close mentorship. highest quality and social impact.

YearBook 2014 / 34

n Social Change

USL Symposium is an initiative by ng projects that will help alleviate ent provides young delegates with a ts into a reality and ultimately help

ovate social projects were ultimatenity to pitch their project to a panel uring the Symposium.

The Winner: ‘Shoes 4 Somalia’ is an initiative that aims to address the lack of adequate footwear among certain impoverished communities in Somalia. Lucky Giire, Ramla Giire, Hamdi Abdinasir and Faduma Osman conceptualised this project, which won first place, beating five other finalist teams. They won a USD 5000.00 cash prize to implement their project, as well as mentorship from Humanitarian Affairs for a period of twelve months.

outh of today and their power to dream for a better world. This competition segment is a way by which kick start their projects by providing them with the financial means; as well ensure that they obtain tangiWith these two factors at their disposal, youths will be able to produce and implement projects of the

YearBook 2014 / 35

PART FOUR

DOING IT For the things we have learnt before we can do them, we learn by doing them - Aristotle

YearBook 2014 / 36

YearBook 2014 / 37

Learning Exchange STUDY VISIT

YearBook 2014 / 38

T

he University Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (UPEC) is one of the largest multi-disciplinary universities within the Ile-de-France. Thirty-one of their first year students from the School of Social Work accompanied by their professor from Senart Polytechnic University visited the Humanitarian Affairs London Secretariat on 19th May 2014.

The visitors were pleasantly surprised by the English breakfast meal for their welcome. After the morning welcome reception, Humanitarian Affairs’ Secretary General, Mr. Kim Solomon, addressed the young visitors.

He provided a thought provoking session on the current global situation facing the young people today and the many challenges ahead of them.

This was follow by a sharing session by Sarah Douglas, a volunteer from the Organisation, who spoke about her journey with Humanitarian Affairs.

The students from UPEC left with a better understanding on world affairs and with a comprehensive idea on how they as youth can play a leading role in the future.

Engaging the Community MERCY CENTRE CHILDREN’S HOME

T

he Mercy Centre Children’s Home provides security and care for the children who are ‘at risk’ in Pattaya due to severe neglect or abuse. Mercy’s team of caregivers provides these children with a safe home, medical care, nourishing food, clothing, education and lots of love.

Mercy Centre has been Humanitarian Affairs’ adopted charity since 2013. This year, Humanitarian Affairs continued with its active volunteering at the Children’s Home. Staff members from the organisationassisted the teachers in conducting English lessons for the children as well as oversaw the preparation of lunch. Highly interactive mini concerts and games were also conducted to entertain the children. This year, staff members taught the children how to perform Pitch Perfect’s “Cup Song.”

The children were especially enthusiastic about this and the song was very well received. By the end of the day and with a couple of hours of practice, most of the children could successfully perform the song.

The visits to Mercy Centre Children’s Home reaffirm the believe that the power individuals possess to make a positive difference in society lies not solely in grand gestures and projects but also in little deeds.

YearBook 2014 / 39

Touching Lives A CAMP FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

T

his annual camp is designed for children from Phaya Thai Orphanage who suffer from disturbed or abusive family backgrounds, and those with mental and physical disabilities. The camp aims to uplift these vulnerable children and enhance their quality of life by providing them with ongoing support systems, with the hope that they grow in a safe, barrier free, inclusive environment, and become independent and productive members of society.

Humanitarian Affairs assisted in the two-day camp along with 400 volunteers which had participation from over 1,200 children.

Activities included a fun day at the beach where the volunteers accompanied the children as they enjoyed a day in the sun; coral planting, a cruise on a naval ship, fire safety demonstrations by the Royal Thai Army, bungee jumping, and many other fun evening activities. The organisers also put together a segment where the various groups of volunteers and children delivered special cultural performances for the rest of the campers.

The opportunity to participate in this large scale camp brought about many valuable lessons, one of which was the importance of teamwork, especially when managing a large group of children. The Humanitarian Affairs team, moreover, learnt how to overcome communication difficulties and realised the significance of effective communication especially when working alongside those who spoke different languages. These language barriers were subsequently broken down via non-verbal communication.

The lessons learnt and memories gained from the camp and from the smiles of the children will be a constant reminder to what human beings can possibly achieve if only they put their differences aside –whether those of cultural, language, or age and instead come together to serve a greater purpose for the human race.

YearBook 2014 / 40

T

Festival of Water SONGKRAN CELEBRATION

he Songkran Festival celebrates Thailand’s New Year and is held annually on 19th of April. As part of the festival’s ritual, natives throw water onto one another to symbolise the forgetting of ill deeds and the promise of future rewards. This event also serves as a ceremonial day to ask the Gods for rain so that the upcoming year might yield a good rice harvest.

Everyone, from young to old and local to foreigner, participate in welcoming the New Year. Locals and foreigners alike use water cannons and containers to drench each other. The youth volunteers and staff from the Humanitarian Affairs Internship Program received the opportunity to experience a part of the vibrant Thai culture during this festival. Armed with water guns, our youth joined the local festivities by walking the streets and drenching their victims from head to toe with water.

Through this memorable festival, our team received countless opportunities to interact with the local community, foster new friendships and truly experience the very essence of Thai culture.

YearBook 2014 / 41

H

umanitarian Affairs, together with the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, held a joint press conference on 7th April 2014 at the Ministry of Tourism in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The Secretary-General of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Kim Solomon, represented the Organisation and the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism was represented by its Director General of Tourism, Mr. Kong Solida. Also present was a representative from the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia.

5TH USL SYMPOSIUM

Reporters from major local news stations as well as journalists representing leading newspapers attended the media conference.

The press conference was to announce the momentous occasion of the “5th University Scholars Leadership Symposium� hosted by Humanitarian Affairs and the Royal Government of Cambodia.

The 5th USL Symposium represented a milestone in the history of Cambodia. Drawing participation from over 700 youth leaders, this Symposium proved to be the largest international youth conference that the Cambodian Government has ever hosted.

YearBook 2014 / 42

T

he Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Her Excellency Dato’ Nazirah Hussain, invited Humanitarian Affairs to attend the dinner reception held to celebrate the country’s 57th National Day on 16th September 2014 at the Malaysia Embassy in Bangkok.

Humanitarian Affairs’ Regional Director, Janice Leong and two staff members from the Asia Office attended the formal reception.

Guests at the functions were delighted to experience different aspects of Malaysian culture: staff clothed in traditional Baju Kurong served popular local delicacies such as lontong, nasi lemak, mee rebus, satay and the refreshing drink of the tarik. Guest also got a further glimpse of Malaysia’s rich culture by means of traditional song and dance performances.

MALAYSIAN EMBASSY

Humanitarian Affairs was truly honoured to be part of Malaysia’s 57thNational Day celebration. The event showed itself to be a true testament to the importance the country places on building relationships and fostering friendships across all sectors.

YearBook 2014 / 43

Exploring Culture J-PARK

J

-Park is a brand new Japanese inspired shopping mall located in the Siracha City, Thailand. The mall has quickly become the main attraction within the city, boasting beautiful gardens, ponds, Japanese style wooden bridges, quaint Japanese restaurants and intricate architecture.

Humanitarian Affairs organised a day trip for its staff and interns to visit and explore J Park on 11th October, 2014. The team bonded over lunch at Korakuen Ramen restaurant, located within the park, and they got the opportunity to savour authentic Japanese cuisine.

Thereafter, the team were given the afternoon to explore the park at their own leisure with many photographs taken as a keepsake of the visit.

This excursion was a refreshing one as it allowed the team to get away from the hectic city life of Pattaya and spend a day recuperating and discovering a new town.

YearBook 2014 / 44

S

Team Training

SIAM@SIAM HOTEL

iam@Siam Design Hotel in Pattaya offers something different from your typical hotel. With its distinctive, daring and modern design and superb amenities, the hotel was a delightful venue at which to host a training session.

Humanitarian Affairs organised an out-of-office training for its staff members at the hotel’s Big Fish Restaurant on 25th April 2014. The session was conducted in a private room within the restaurant and staff members warmed up to each other by engaging in some icebreaking games. Thereafter, they were challenged with more complex activities related to their work such as role-playing scenarios and product knowledge quizzes.

The organisation also held a surprise birthday celebration, complete with presents and cake, for one of its staff members after the session drew to a close. Subsequently, the team spent the evening exploring the hotel as well as its terrific facilities like the infinity pool and open air movie screen. After the afternoon’s intense training session, a little bit of rest and relaxation certainly lifted everyone’s spirits.

The day spent at Siam@Siam Design Hotel was a memorable experience that combined both hard work and fun. It was also a wonderful out-of-office team bonding activity where staff members forged better relationships, shared their expertise and gained useful work knowledge that might benefit them in the future.

YearBook 2014 / 45

M

ore than 450 participants from Southeast Asia gathered from October 22 to 23 in the “Land of Smiles” to attend a two-day two-day conference organised by the SEAMEO Congress. The event “Re-Thinking Education, Science and Culture for Regional Integration” thoroughly discussed perspectives on how to best shape education and human resource development policies and practices for regional integration in Southeast Asia.

Participants of the conference consisted of a diverse set of actors from government organisations, education institutions, industry and business sector, international and regional organisations and non-governmental organisations.

Humanitarian Affairs was proud to be one of the supporting partners for this event. The organisation seeks to champion the cause of the young, and additionally has developed several humanitarian initiatives in Southeast Asia such as relief missions in disaster prone areas and distribution of provisions to the needy.

More significantly, a large part of the organisation’s initiative is to offer educational services and contribute to improving learning systems in less-fortunate communities, specifically, within the Southeast Asia region. As a result, HA fully supported the conference’s overall cause on reshaping and renewing educational systems, and overcoming obstacles for a bigger and brighter future.

The aim of the conference was to provide a better understanding on the country’s biggest challenges in terms of education and solicit national and regional recommendations on how educational systems in Southeast Asia can be re-shaped to be more responsive to meet national and regional goals.

YearBook 2014 / 46

SEAMEO Congress SOUTHEAST ASIA IN TRANSITION

Asia-Pacific Forum YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM

R

epresentatives of Humanitarian Affairs, Anam Hamid, Sherin Al Bloushi and Benita Choo, gathered together with 300 other youth leaders to participate in the 5th Asia Pacific Forum on Youth Volunteerism to Promote Participation, Development and Peace, hosted by the United Nations on October 28, 2014 in the UN Conference Centre, UNESCAP in Bangkok.

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, former ASEAN Secretary-General, was the distinguished keynote speaker at the event. “We are pleased to launch the Asia-Pacific Peace Service Alliance of multilateral partners that will put youth at the forefront of development and peace. Let us commit our youth to a useful cause for humanity,” he stated as he welcomed the dynamic group of young people to the event.

On the evening of October 27, 2014, Her Excellency, Ambassador of the United States of America, Kristie A. Kenney, extended a special invitation to welcome the delegates and to honour the event by hosting a reception at her residence. Among the invitees were HA Asia’s three representatives, where they had the privilege to accompany Ambassador Kenney on this exceptional evening, and the chance to meet and network with their peers before the forum.

The one-day forum also consisted of intimate plenary sessions conducted by experts and distinguished speakers. The sessions were held to propose recommendations and engage service issue partnerships in key development and peace clusters including: health and environmental service, disaster response, interfaith peace-building, youth entrepreneurship and education. Participants had the opportunity to engage with each other, and share their personal views on the topics under discussion.

The forum, co-organised by UNESCAP, UNESCO, Global Peace Foundation (GPF) and Global Young Leadership Academy (GYLA), aimed to enhance knowledge and strategies with regard to youth participation in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and to form cross-regional and cross-cultural youth service networks in the region.

Humanitarian Affairs provided this unique prospect to its like-minded youths to attend such an event in order for them to seize these opportunities to learn and enhance their life experience. The team expressed their overall experience as being beneficial, inspiring and educational, and hope to come across more opportunities to network with similar minded, accomplished young individuals.

YearBook 2014 / 47

M

Fostering Relations GPYC KOREA

s. Yoon Cholong, the Manager of Global Peace Youth Corp (GPYC) Korea, visited the Humanitarian Affairs Asia OfďŹ ce on 29th October, 2014. She was received by Janice Leong, the regional director of Humanitarian Affairs.

GPYC Korea is one of Humanitarian Affairs’ partners and both organisations have worked closely together in the past year to promote various youth activities to young people. In 2013, GPYC Korea brought a Korean delegation to attend the 4th University Scholars Leadership Symposium held in Manila, Philippines.

Ms. Cholong was impressed with the organisational set-up and spent some time capturing it on her camera during her visit. She was afterwards hosted to a lunch reception at a restaurant fronting the beach, in addition to being treated to a Thai cultural performance at a theatre within the complex of the Asia Secretariat.

By fostering close relationships, collaborating and working closely together with partner organisations such as GPYC Korea, Humanitarian Affairs believes that it can better connect people with communities in need.

YearBook 2014 / 48

The Women Symposium ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY

N

anyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) brought together generations of prominent women engineers, scientists, and technologists to share their passion for a world of research and discovery at the Inaugural Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST) Symposium held in Singapore Marriot Hotel on November 7, 2014.

The symposium was hosted in conjunction with Marie Curie's 147th birthday, honouring the scientist’s undying efforts and tireless contributions to the many communities in need. Marie Curie (1867-1934) was a Polish-born French physicist famous for the discovery of the elements polonium and radium, and her work on radioactivity. She was also known as the first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize.

Amongst the panel of distinguished speakers was Ms. Janice Leong, Regional Director of Humanitarian Affairs Asia (HA Asia), invited by Professor TEOH Swee Hin, Chair of The School of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering at NTU.

In her speech, Ms. Leong shared HA’s contribution to the victims of the recent super typhoon Yolanda that struck the city of Tacloban last year, mainly describing the horrific conditions seen by the HA relief team that were sent to the disaster site. She furthermore shared some touching first-hand experiences at the evacuation shelters, along with a slideshow of pictures to give the audience a deeper grasp on their humanitarian mission.

Ms. Leong also encouraged young leaders to seize opportunities to serve others, and urged those interested to be part of HA’s humanitarian initiatives to contact her. She believes it is not only important to excel academically, but it is also essential for today’s youth to be able to find the drive and motivation to step out into the world and embark on a journey of both learning and giving.

Hoping to have stricken an impact, Ms. Leong concluded her piece by sharing some words of wisdom, “we could spend our life any way we want to BUT we only have this single shot at life. You only live once, but if you do it right and make it count, once is more than enough.”

YearBook 2014 / 49

Education for All PENCIL PROJECT

P

art of Humanitarian Affairs Asia’s core values is to promote education within disadvantaged communities and believes in human rights to access basic education, especially amongst the younger generation.

With that, the organization actively encourages young students to dream of a bright future. Whatever they may be, Humanitarian Affairs aims to provide these young dreamers with the confidence to go out there and fulfil them.

Humanitarian Affairs together with the Education Department of Pattaya City Hall, conducted a field visit to the Young Children Development Center of Darul Ibadah Mosque on 28 November, 2014.

The HA Pencil Project aims to promote literacy and assist the community in breaking the cycle of poverty through education. To make this happen, the first stages involved the distribution of three hundred pencil sets to the young students of the kindergarten as a start to encourage them to draw out their desired futures. In the near future, Humanitarian Affairs intends to organise a day-camp for the 300 young children.

Additionally, as midday treat, S&P have assisted us with our initiative by sponsoring three hundred snack boxes to be disseminated amongst the 300 children.

The kids cheerfully accepted their new gifts, and showed their appreciation by the singing of songs to the team, and by inviting them to their classrooms for playtime and some learning activities.

Through this project, Humanitarian Affairs wishes to establish a relationship basis with the Young Children Development Center, and looks forward to developing a stronger partnership, where the organization can further extend aid in future endeavours with and for them, and pave the way for the future generation to become successful, young leaders.

YearBook 2014 / 50

I

n the month of November, the team decided to take a break from their weekly routine and headed down to the Pattaya Shooting Park to try their hand at the sport. Everyone was excited to test out the different calibre handguns, ranging from bullets of .22 to .9mm. Amidst the fun, the team also took this opportunity to learn from the sport of shooting.

Aiming High PATTAYA SHOOTING PARK

Even though guns and bullets may vary in size and weight, the fundamentals of hitting the target remain the same. Each small step taken right before the moment the trigger is pulled determines whether the bullet hits the bull’s eye. Similarly, every small step you take in preparation of reaching your goals in life determines whether or not you achieve success. Every step towards accomplishing our goals is vital, and we ought to give it our all in every little task ahead of us. No task should be too small for our attention and no dream too big to achieve.

The team further understood that when approaching each task with utmost diligence, we also need to keep in mind that we must handle each task with precision and focus. Putting tremendous effort into a step we take without precision will not lead the bullet to the target, and will not ensure achieving our dreams. It is only with the combination of diligence and hard work that a shooter can hit the target, and we can realise our dreams.

The exhilarating outing left a deep impact on the team. By the end of target practice they came to realise that hitting the target once does not sufďŹ ce. The

YearBook 2014 / 51

Connecting Peo Communities in H

umanitarian Affairs endeavours to connect young people to communities in need through the ‘Learning Journey’. Through this journey, the youth are given a singular and unique opportunity by which they can positively contribute to local, disadvantaged communities.

This year

4 Locations were specially selected as destinations for the Learning Journey:

POUR UN SOURIRED’ENFANT (PSE), PHNOM PENH Pour un Sourired'Enfant (PSE) is a French non-profit organisation dedicated to providing food, medical care, general education and vocational training to mistreated, destitute and uneducated children. It currently employs more than 600 dedicated staff and operates in 3 locations- Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

During their visit, the delegates undertook numerous activities. Some spent the day interacting with the younger children while a different team prepared and cooked lunch. Others assisted in the garden by planting trees and helping out with area cleaning and maintenance. A select group of delegates were chosen to interact with the disabled children and participate in their aquatic therapy sessions at the swimming pool.

After a hard day of work, delegates were treated to a fine lunch as Lotus Blanc, PSE’s trademark restaurant run by students who have been training at the organisation’s vocational training centre. Thereafter, the PSE pop band put up a spectacular concert for the visiting delegates and in turn, the delegates joined in the concert by showcasing their very own talents such dancing and beat-boxing.

YearBook 2014 / 52

ople with n Need SCIENCE OF LIFE STUDIES 24/7, PHNOM PENH Science of Life Studies (SOLS) 24/7 serves youths who are unable to acquire a proper school education or are unable to pursue higher education due to financial difficulties and constraints. SOLS offers free comprehensive two-year training and boarding programs on life-skills education for disadvantaged and at-risk youths from poor communities at no cost.

Its philosophy is to keep the ratio of male and female students balanced as females tend to be sidelined when it comes to receiving education opportunities.

During their visit to SOLS, the delegates helped to construct and paint tables that were to be used in the classrooms. They also taught in the classrooms and participated in cultural sharing activities with the local children. Malay traditional games such as Nenek Si Bongkok Tiga and the Khmer traditional game, Bai Dop Muy were played and exchanged.

After the morning’s hard work, the resident at SOLS treated the youth participants to a delicious Khmer home-cooked meal followed up by a concert which showcased traditional Cambodia, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Malay dances. Delegates also took the time to learn and appreciate the art of traditional Cambodian ballet as skills and moves were taught to them by the local dancers.

YearBook 2014 / 53

OUDONG DISTRICT, SPEU PROVINCE

KAMPONG

Oudong is a town that is situated in the northwestern part of the Kampong Speu Province in Cambodia. This visit to Oudong was organised especially for the delegates by the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism and it consists of three location visits - Oudong resort, Oudong High School and Silver Village.

Upon arrival at Oudong, delegates were personally welcomed by the Governor of Ponheu Leu district and Kondal Province.

At Oudong Resort, delegates partook in several activities that focused on the theme of environmental conservation.

This included climbing a trail up the Phnom Udong Mountain while picking up rubbish as well as the construction of environmentally friendly slogans using wooden planks. Thereafter, delegates enjoyed a traditional wedding style Khmer luncheon.

At the Oudong High School, delegates were shown into a hall, with bullet marks on its walls, that is a remnant of the Khmer Rouge Regime. This hall serves as a testament of triumph and strength of those who survived the genocide during the regime. The delegates were then given tree saplings that they planted within the school compound. These saplings signiďŹ ed the ability of the Cambodians to build a brand new future despite their tragic past.

Delegates ended their day with a visit to Silver Village, a village known for its silver arts and crafts. Here, they got to experience how the villagers employed sustainable developmental practices and through these best practices, managed to thrive.

YearBook 2014 / 54

SUNRISE CHILDREN’S VILLAGES, PHNOM PENH The Sunrise Children’s Villages provide medical care, education and a safe haven for orphaned, abandoned, vulnerable and disadvantaged Cambodian Children. Sunrise Children’s Villages has a robust reintegration policy in place. Through support and close monitoring, Sunrise creates an environment where children under their residential care can be safely reintegrated back into a natural family home.

During the course of the day at Sunrise, delegates interacted with the children through several activities; such as reading with the children, playing and learning about traditional musical instruments, or simply intermingling through arts and crafts like drawing and painting. Other activities included helping with the maintenance of the home and construction work such as placing thatched roofs atop gazebos.

The participants also had the privilege of “adopting” the younger children (8-15 years old) for a day, acting like an elder brother or sister to them. They painted with the children, read to them and even sang and danced with them. The day ended with the Children putting up a special mini concert and presenting mementos to all delegates to show their thanks and appreciation for their time.

Humanitarian Affairs has initiated the Learning Journey program as a platform for those who are truly passionate about humanitarian issues. Its vision is to expose and inspire delegates and mobilise the power of young people to have an impact on the greatest needs facing developing countries.

YearBook 2014 / 55

YearBook 2014 / 56

he courage to believe in yourself requires absolute conďŹ dence and assurance in your capabilities. However, the courage to believe is sometimes easier said than done because of that inherent fear of failure.

Changing our perspective is an effective way to overcome this fear and regain that courage to believe in our abilities.

Instead of deeming an experience as a failure, how about viewing it as a learning experience instead? The trick here is to see failure as an opportunity to grow and better yourself. Do not get disheartened by failure because every failure signals that you are a step closer to success.

Humanitarian Affairs believes that the youth of today possess the ability to do great things. With adequate faith, hope and the courage to believe, youth have the potential to be change makers contributing to positive differences in society.

YearBook 2014 / 57

YearBook 2014 / 58 2

Nur Safiah National Youth Council Singapore

“All the talks were super inspirational and I was glad that I went and met so many people from all over the world. So much love, faith and support. Looking forward to the osmosis of ideas and I’m one step closer to daring to listen to my heart.”

Oliver Brooke Curtin University Australia

Change for Good

“There are moments in your life that you will treasure forever. The 5th University Scholars Leadership Symposium was one of these moments. It was an opportunity to form friendships with some of the most energetic, courageous and wonderful people I have ever come across. I will never forget what each of you shared with me and taught me. You will always have a place in my life and my heart.”

Hannah Barn Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music Australia

“I’ve had the most humbling and eye opening experiences of my life and I’m already planning my next trip!”

Jeremy Su Nanyang Technological University Singapore

Hazel Reyes University of Santo Tomas Philippines

“Being a delegate of the 5th Univer University Scholars Leadership Sympo Symposium is a one of a kind experience for me and I will forever be grateful to God and especially to my ever supporting family, relatives, and loved ones.

A lot of learning and experiences were given to me and I will forever cherish that. I know that this is not the end.”

I really felt blessed to be able to hear from speakers who have dedicated their lives to fighting poverty, injustice, poor health and education, as well as individual delegates who have similarly made an impact and are still making impacts in the lives of the disenfranchised and downtrodden.

All are united by their single minded passion to their cause and the clarity of their calling to help others, and for this I am deeply inspired and grateful.”

Hari Patalinghug Gopalan De La Salle Health Sciences Institute Philippines

Priya Mittal University of Canberra Australia

“To be able to meet such amazing accomplished individuals, who have incredible potential for so much greatness and learn from those who have achieved such amazing things I their lives, an experience that will never go unfor unforgotten.”

“Seven days of unforgettable experiences, sharing and many new acquaintances and friends made. One of the great things about the USLS in general is that you get to meet so many people from so many diverse nations, cultures and walks of life, but yet still have things in common to talk about.

“We all come from different walks of life, differentiated by our culture, religion, and physical appearances. At the University Scholars Leadership Symposium, we are reminded that we are all linked by one thing- that is our humanity.”

Rina Maruyama Sophia University Japan

Monique Van Veen Auckland University of Technology New Zealand

“Realising that a single person has the power to affect the world so positively is what Humanitarian Affairs is all about. Thank you H.A. and every person who has been part of this adventure. This is the beginning of something incredible for all of us.”

“I would like to say thank you to all delegates of the 5th USLS and Humanitari Humanitarian Affairs UK. From this great opportunity, I found my new mission for the future.”

YearBook 2014 / 59

Academic “I picked some of the students up from the airport after Cambodia, and boy did they have an INCREDIBLE time, so THANK YOU! They learnt so much and have all come back SO inspired, it is incredible!”

Kim Burdett Student Experience Coordinator Faculty of the Professions University of Adelaide Australia

“I always hear such great feedback from the UTS students!”

Fiona Tschaut Manager, Leadershipand Community Connections UTS International Australia

“The students found it a very valuable experience.”

Dr. Winsome Roberts Coordinator, MSW Department of Social Work School of Health Sciences University of Melbourne Australia

“The experience at the USL Symposium is great for both of KMUTNB's representatives. They came back and shared their great opportunity and wonderful time they spent with the program. We could see the students develop mature and concern perspective in lives.”

Ms. Penpitcha Polachart International Cooperation Centre King Mongkut's University ofTechnology North Bangkok Thailand

YearBook 2014 / 60

“The students had an amazing time at USLS, thanks for all your work there! From our perspective, the USL Symposium has been absolutely fantastic- the students that we’ve sent have not only found the experience inspirational and enjoyable while attending, but they have returned to Australia with a new perspective that has lead them to promote real, positive change in their communities.”

Paul Kneebone Student Leadership Volunteer Program Swinburne University Australia

“Thank you for organising and hosting such a successful Symposium. We have has a debriefing with our Advanced Business Leadership students and they were unanimous in their appreciation of the event and their opportunity to participate in it.”

Dr. Greg Teal Director, Academic Programs (ABL/Honours) School of Business University of Western Sydney Australia

“The USL Symposium is an excellent platform for empowering future leaders.”

Dr. Joyce Teo Siew Yean Assistant Vice Chancellor and Vice President (Global Affairs) Dean, UBD School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE) Director, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Universiti Brunei Darussalam Brunei

“My students learned so much from your Symposium.”

Dr. PrinyaThaewanarumitkul Vice-Rector for Student Affairs Thammasat University Thailand

Partners “This symposium, as always, gave our students a valuable opportunity to go beyond, explore and learn from other talented young leaders and inspiring speakers from around the globe.

The students, who attended the 5th USL Symposium, had described this experience as a "life-changing" adventure; we were significantly impressed by your professional organizing and kind support!”

“All participating students made lots of positive comments about their experience in Cambodia and our Vice-Chancellor and other colleagues were very impressed with the impact the Symposium has had on our students.

We are very grateful for your assistance in this process and the impact you and your colleagues are having on the lives of so many individuals, and for your contribution in making this world a better place for everyone.”

Mr. Nguyen Quan Student Engagement Officer RMIT Vietnam

David Marshall Manager Student Finance & Business Manager Student Services Centre Edith Cowan University Australia

“We must thank you for a great experience at the 5th University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Cambodia. As observers, we could see that the planning of activities, including the learning journey and selection of speakers had such a great impact on students. There was clearly a good sense of positive youth energy throughout the conference and I am sure that each one of them has learned, experienced, gathered some inspiration and possibly also have started working on their plans. ”

“Thanks for the opportunity rendered to our student leaders in the 5th University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Cambodia. Both students and our team member Ms.Laveenia have gained deep insight on service learning through the programme.”

Ms. Jayvien Lau Manager, Student Development Hub Student Experience Taylor’s University Malaysia

Ms. Teh Chee Ai Deputy Dean Business School, Undergraduate Programs Taylor’s University

“Congratulations on a fabulous event in Cambodia.

My students came back and the only way to describe is "life changing". I was so very impressed with the organization and what has been achieved.”

Ms. Jacqueline Cudmore Associate Director, Student Services James Cook University Singapore

“Our delegates and myself enjoyed the symposium A LOT! Thank you for all the opportunities and wonderful experiences! We will surely participate in next year Symposium.”

Ms. Anita Drahman Senior Officer Department of University Life Orientation and Leadership & Entrepreneurship Centre Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia YearBook 2014 / 61

Official Sponsor

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company and one of the world’s most valuable brands. The Coca-Cola Company is highly involved in youth empowerment activities and generously sponsored 7000 bottles of beverages that were enjoyed by Youth Leaders throughout the 5th University Scholars Leadership (USL) Symposium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

This is the second consecutive year in which we are privileged to have The Coca Cola Company as our official drink sponsor.

YearBook 2014 / 62

YearBook 2014 / 63

YearBook 2014 / 64

YearBook 2014 / 65