YES Alumni Malaysia

YES Think Tank II

2011-10-30T17:26:00.023+08:00

YES Alumni Malaysia Think Tank II was held last Friday - Sunday, 28th-30th October at the Holiday Villa Apartment, Ampang Kuala Lumpur.

Think Tank is a brainstorming session with YES Alumni committee members, trainers and members. New ideas were proposed and lots of activities were planned to be done within this year and next year. We also had guests come in to talk and discuss about possible project collaborations.

We are really glad that everything went smoothly and was a great success!

Let the pictures tell the story :)

Welcome to YES Think Tank II :)

Alumni who attended YES Think Tank :

Our beloved YES Alumni Malaysia President

- Yah Tyng

Teri and Jim

E laine
(serious working look) xD

Syaheera

Huda

Kirueben

Charlie

Azhan

Yee Wan and Sheena

Johann and Thessa

The boy who turned 18 on Saturday!

-Satyan

Chia Yen

Nick

Teng Fatt

Cherlyn
(and the turtle)

We set up the place to have a better working environment, welcoming more inspiration!

Sometimes "ONE WORD" is not enough to express yourself. xD

We were divided into groups to work on different projects.

We had guests come in too to discuss on potential project collaborations.

The MAAP came in and we had great discussion.
Looking forward to projects together :)

We had VIPs come in as well. Datin Natrah Abdullah and Jelberter Robert from SP Setia were there to discuss on the English Enrichment Project. We are really proud of Jim for his awesome presentation :)

Of course it's not only about squeezing the brain juices.
Chilling sessions with the other alumni too :)

Teri taking a break

(Song jammed for the day - Someone Like You by Adele)

YES'11 on photobooth !

(where is Yee Wan and Thessa?)

Cheese :) Just before presenting their group proposal!

Hangout to KLCC !!!

Ka-chak !
(camera sound) LOL

Nando's moment!

Look at the amount of foooood!

Birthday surprise for the birthday boy :)

so sweeeeeet lah...

Look at the all activities and ideas we came up with!

Azhan was just too tired. Lol

Midnight twister session was awesome!
Sorry there are no pictures for this because they are all "censored"
haha!

Overall, it was not only fun but productive and inspirational too. It gave chances to the new blood (YES'11) to contribute to the big YES family and the other alumni to gather together. As always, the alumni bonded throughout thus pumping each other up with team spirit!

So don't worry if you missed out on Think Tank because more activities are coming up for the alumni. Keep looking out on our Facebook page for details!

Get creative and send in your designs!

2011-05-30T02:35:00.001+08:00

Send your amazing designs to tericampos@yesalumni.afs.org.my

YES 2011 Experience - Jeremy Yap

2011-05-15T10:43:00.001+08:00

Hey my name is Yap Yee Li but you can also call me Jeremy Yap. Being offered an opportunity to come and live in America for 6 months is really a big thing for me. I'm currently hosted in Normandy Park, Washington; about 20 minutes from Seattle. At first, when I got my placement letter, I thought I was going to be hosted somewhere near Washington DC. But I was told that Washington the state is nowhere near Washington DC. It is on the other west coast of America, not the east.

When I got here, I met up with my great host family. They are a really interesting lot. I have 5 siblings here. And I found out later that 4 of them were adopted. Brooks(18) was originally from Seattle, Noel(18) and Kyle(16) were adopted from an orphanage in Russia and Austin(14) is from Seattle as well. Preston (12) is the only birth son of Grant and Victoria Allen. Being in this family has moulded me to be more responsible and tolerant as I am one of the older kids in the family unlike in Malaysia, where I am the youngest child.

On the 28th of January, I joined the Pirates' Crew of Highline High School. I was shocked to find out that I would only have to take 4 subjects. And since my J1 visa requires us to take at least one English class and one U.S. History class, I was only left with two subjects to choose. After trying out several classes, Ms. Breeze, my counsellor finally organized my schedule. I am currently having, (1) Yearbook, (2) U.S. History, (3) Film Analysis (English), and (4) Beginning Drama. I felt so bad for disturbing my counsellor regarding my schedule changes but one thing that she said that will always stick with me was, "Jeremy, I know that you have come a long and hard way to get here. I will do whatever I can to make you happy, because if you are happy, I am."

The two subjects that I like the most are Yearbook and Drama. In Yearbook although I just joined the staff, nobody treated me like an outsider and that helped me adapt to my surroundings easily. I was able to contribute a lot to the yearbook in terms of pictures and stories. As for Drama, the teacher is so amazing that every single school day is ended on a high note. I was able to let go and not be so conservative because my other classmates are just as crazy as I am.

I believe that this post will not be able to contain all my experiences here in America. I have so many stories to tell. Ups and downs, tales of what I did here and what I learned. So I just want to end this post with much gratitude; thanking all the people in charge of allowing me on this YES program. It has truly enriched my life. I will live to tell my tales with joy to everyone that comes and asks me. Terima Kasih!

Jeremy Yap
YES 2011

YES 2011 Experience - Fazri Hassan

2011-05-07T15:35:00.006+08:00

I have been involved in a lot of school activities from my arrival up until now. In the first month I was recruited by my English teacher to be a forensic member. I got my first medal in this competition. The best thing I achieved in this competition was that I managed to qualify for the state forensics competition with all the schools in Wisconsin and won a silver medal.

I am also involved in the school musical theatre where I play a role as a high school boy in the 1920s. I'm also a tango dancer in the musical theatre. It was so amazing when I found out that a lot of people were impressed with my dancing.

Then, I got nominated as a student of the month on March. I was quite surprised because there are lot of talented students in my school.

My family here is so awesome. I do a lot of chores since I live in farm in the countryside. Before I go to school, I have to put wood in the wood furnace then feed my host family's sheep.

My upcoming activities are state choir, prom and graduation. At the end of my stay here I'll be competing in the FFA state convention in two categories. That means that while I'm in here I'll be in 3 state level competitions.

I hope you enjoy reading my journal. Hope to see you later, bye!

Mohd. Fazri Hassan
YES 2011

May 2011 Opportunities

2011-05-01T23:40:00.001+08:00

We have great list of May Opportunities here! Click to find out more how you may participate! :)

English Enrichment Project Calling for Leaders!

2011-03-02T00:07:00.009+08:00

We are bringing the fun back again!! We will be working with MAAP for English Enrichment Project (EEP) for these following areas:

March 2011- Putrajaya

April 2011- Pasir Dalam

May 2011- Kota Kinabalu

Are you ready to take the challenge to make a difference in this student's life? :)

We are looking for fun, energetic, and committed alumni leaders to lead on this project! If you have no experience or have not been to any of our EEP's, fret not! This is a great chance for you to gain experience and we will help and guide you to make EEP a fun and successful one!

There's no entry form needed! Just drop us an email (contactyes@yesalumni.afs.org.my) with the subject: I want to be part of EEP! by 7th March 2011. Please include your name, mobile contact, primary email address. However if you do have other venue in mind that you would like to organize, please let us know. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Tyng at yahtyng.ng@yesalumni.afs.org.my

JOIN ASEAN ALUMNI WEBCHAT Friday, March 4, 2011 - Malaysian alumni leaders discuss Alumni Project on ASEAN-American Youth Alumni

2011-03-01T17:09:00.005+08:00

Live Webchat with Alumni Leaders to Discuss AEIF Proposal for ASEAN-American Youth Alumni Conference

March 4, 2011 (10:00am Malaysian Time)

ASEAN-American Youth Alumni Conference Webchat

PLEASE JOIN THIS IMPORTANT WEBCHAT!

We invite ALL alumni to join this Live Webchat featuring Malaysian alumni leaders, including Mr. Faisal Hassan, Ms. Sabina Wong and Mr. Kirueben “Burn” Visvaraj.

To join the chat, click on https://statedeptasia.connectsolutions.com/malaysia/

We welcome your questions in advance. Please sign in under the guest option at the link above. Please include your name and country.

Bios of the Malaysian Alumni Leaders include:
Faisal Hassan, an alumnus of the Study of the U.S. (SUSI) on New Media Program in 2010 and a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program in 2007, was selected by ECA as the State Alumni Member of the Month for the EAP region in February 2010. With support from Embassy Kuala Lumpur, he had organized leadership training for youth, teaching English to underserved Malaysians, and raised awareness of global climate change, poverty, and the power of social entrepreneurship. Currently, he is the President of the Malaysian-American Alumni Partnership that was formed in August 2010.

Sabina Wong Kar Hei is an alumna of the State Department American Exchange Division’s Study of United States Institute for Student Leaders (New Media) 2010. Currently, she is the Vice President of Communications for the newly established Malaysian-American Alumni Partnership, formed in August 2010. After graduating last June with an Advanced Diploma in Mass Communications (Public Relations), she rejoined her alma mater to serve in the Department of Development and External Relations as part of Tunku Abdul Rahman College and will be furthering her studies in the UK later this year. As a student, Sabina Wong was an active mover for social awareness campaigns and events, particularly in the interest of charity and higher education.

Kirueben “Burn” Visvaraj is an alumnus of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program in 2007 and also completed a summer internship program in the U.S. under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of State in 2010. He is part of the Executive Committee of the Malaysian-American Alumni Partnership. Kirueben is currently undergoing his undergraduate degree in Psychology at the HELP University College, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.

They will join the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur for Q&A Live Webchat on the ASEAN-American Youth Alumni Conference. The live discussion will take place on Friday, March 4, 2011, from 10:00a.m. (Malaysian Time).

Questions for this program can be submitted now or at any time during the event. Enter your name – country you are from; and you may type in your questions on the webchat screen.
Don’t forget to turn ON your speakers!
___________________________________________________________________

Here is an overview of the ASEAN-American Youth Alumni Conference proposal.
An ASEAN-American Youth Alumni Conference to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia led by the Malaysian-American Alumni Partnership with support of other USG exchange program alumni (IVLP, Fulbright, Humphrey, Eisenhower, SUSI, YES, ACYPL, UGRAD, YLP and ACCESS) to provide a platform for ASEAN alumni leaders to network and solidify their partnership with alumni in ASEAN countries in order to facilitate future collaborations. This conference will cover topics such as;

- Democracy and Human Rights

- Economic Opportunity and Prosperity

- Women’s Empowerment

- Promoting a better environment

- Food security

- Global health

- Outreach to marginalized Communities

Malaysia’s Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Proposal
Information on the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF)
List of Alumni Proposals (over 110 projects!)
Frequently Asked Questions

6th YES Picnic

2010-08-10T23:32:00.006+08:00

On the last day of July 2010, the 6th YES Alumni picnic was held in Central Park, Bandar Utama. This picnic was held exactly 4 weeks after the return of our newest family members, YES 10. It was a pretty good turn out with approximately 20 people, majority being the fresh returnees, YES 10. While waiting for the arrival of the others, a Frisbee was thrown around and some ended up in the playground sliding on the slide.

With the theme being OMG, OMG was expressed in many ways ; clothing, food, hair. We had MANY cakes, homemade and bought. A special carrot cake was baked by Najmuddin Fadzil based on what he learnt while hosted in Montana. The cake was later dedicated to I-Vonne Lim for her birthday in a video form because of her absence. A D24 DURIAN was even present in the picnic for the OMG theme, but we realized it wasn’t enough for the number of people present.

However, after an hour, the weather was not so helpful. Heavy rain was pouring on us with lightning. The picnic was not called off and we relocated to the huts/’pondok’ in the park to shelter ourselves from the rain. We continued eating and laughing happily catching up with each other. Despite the rain, some of us were not discouraged and continued living the American dream sport ; American football.

It was a fantastic picnic with a bunch of fantastic people! For those who missed out this picnic, don’t worry, look out for the next one!

Deweil Tan
YES 2010

YES 2010 Experience - Darren Wong

2010-06-22T22:14:00.002+08:00

Hello from the Bearcat’s county Ubly, Michigan!!!

The YES Program really changed my life! Finally, I can feel how it is like to be an American!

The first day I arrived here in Ubly, I said to myself “Wow! United States is not only New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco…” I think this is the place that I wanted to be, because they don’t show it on TV…

I attended Ubly High School as a Junior for some reason but I still took Senior classes such as Advance PE, Advance Algebra, Advance Art, Biology, Music App., English Lit. and US History. I think my favorite class is Advance PE because I learnt how to do real weightlifting that I have not learnt in my high school back in Malaysia. There are only 250 students attending my high school here. Even though we are a small school, we are really good in sports such as football, basketball, volleyball and some other sports. “Small school, Big dream” That’s what people call us.

In the winter, I wanted to join my school’s basketball team but I was kind of scared because I thought that I’m not good enough for the team. After three days of thinking, I finally met the coach, Mr. Banama. I went for a try out and I made it. I was so happy at that time because it was my dream to play basketball in the US even though it is not the NBA. I still remember the hardcore training and all the fat I have lost here. The practices are really tough. I mean Tough! I still remember my first day of practice, it is the toughest thing I have ever done. But now I really miss those days…

I also went snowboarding with my friends in the winter.

I attended my school's Prom Night and even played golf for my school in Spring. We almost qualified for State!

I have a lot more stories to share but I think I this is enough for now… PEACE =D

Darren Wong
Ubly, Michigan
YES 2010

YES 2010 Experience - Eva Khoo

2010-06-08T20:58:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone, I am Eva Khoo from Malaysia. AFS and the YES program gave me a golden opportunity to find out WHO I AM, what I LOVE and ENJOY to do and meet lots of friends. I have never experienced a play before and because of YES, I am studying in NPA-Northcoast Preparatory Performing Art Academy and the principal;Jean Bazemore is very happy to have me and I feel so lucky because I was in the play even though I just arrived within a month. Besides that, I also have my first ski experience. I enjoyed presenting about Malaysia in different schools and I feel proud to be a Malaysian! I hope everyone enjoyed the presentations.

I enjoyed spending time with my host family and school. They are FUNNY,CARING and LOVELY. I am so happy that I am here, in Humboldt County which has a very good environment. I LOVE the school because the school is surrounded by trees and I feel so fresh every day when I go to school. Even though I have to wake up early every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for jazz band, I'm very excited because I love the jazz band. I have done something that I have never done before; a solo. I thought I can't do a solo because I have never tried before. But because of my jazz band teacher;Gregg, I did it! I am so happy because I am out of the box! "Nothing is Impossible."

I also chose swing dance for electives and picked up some languages such as Spanish and French in school. I feel so lucky and proud to be part of NPA Alumni. Again, the school is amazing. I am so impressed by how creative the students are and how nice the teachers are. They are so friendly and always ask me if I need any help. I had my dinner with my principal and all the exchange students and it was great. I promised I will always remember what my principal said- "Follow your heart, do what you love to do and go for it!" I enjoyed the cotillion because I have never dressed up and I gone to a cotillion. I was so excited! I am sure I will enjoy the trip organized by the school to New Orleans and I appreciate it. The school also invited the writer of a history book and a lady to talk about the importance of recycling which I am very interested in because all of us should remember the 3R's- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and imply it in our daily lives.

Besides that, I enjoyed doing community service and volunteer jobs. I get closer to friends when I volunteer to help the society. Helping people is something that I enjoy doing every time. Not only do I get closer to friends, I also get to gain some knowledge about animals in the USA and some particular food animals can eat when I volunteer myself at the 4H program. I realized how important help from community is when I had a volunteer job at the Food Bank. I feel lucky because I got to join GCC club in HSU and the club gave me the opportunity to dance Joget (Malaysian dance) in HSU during May Day. People are appreciative of what I do. Moreover, I learnt how to make my first 3 different flavors of pizzas when I volunteered at the kitchen in school.

Everyday is a new day. Amazing things happen everyday too. There is too much to talk about and I can't express all of it on paper. So, everyone is welcome to e-mail me if you are interested to talk to me. I am more than happy to tell you about my amazing experience here!

Terima kasih kepada semua (thanks to everyone)! I love you guys!

E-mail: evangeline_khoo@hotmail.com

Evangeline Khoo
YES Program 2010

Visit to Rumah Perlindungan Baitul Fiqh

2010-05-29T21:32:00.003+08:00

On April 25, the last day of Global Youth Service Day, 4 of the YES Alumni members visited Rumah Perlindungan Baitul Fiqh in Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur. The purpose of this visit was to lend a hand by donating clothes to the shelter home for their clothing booth, in which they will sell the clothes donated and the money will be used for the residence and the home’s benefits such as to buy food, and for their educational purposes. The four members, Deanna Anuar, Carishma Menon, Faisal Hassan and Nafis Ghazali arrived at 11am to the venue, greeted by the founder and co founder of the shelter home, En Juhaidi Yean and Puan Haliza Abd Halim. Later, the residence of the home – mainly teenage girls who are expecting a child and are having trouble with their lives came out to greet us as well. The alumni members also were introduced to their other caretakers, who look after the girls and their teacher, an Ustaz who teaches them recite the Holy Quran and other Islam related subjects. Carishma and Deanna did a module with the girls, in which they all sat in a big group and introduced themselves. Each of them was to share any experience. This module was a success as slowly they opened up and shared with our volunteers. Later the group was divided into smaller ones and Deanna and Carishma both assisted each of the groups. The girls shared their experience, taught each other and showed each other tremendous support. This event was definitely an eye opener for the volunteers to experience.

YES English Enrichment Program

2010-05-20T00:48:00.010+08:00

In conjunction with Global Youth Service Day, which ran from the 23rd to the 25th of April, YES Alumni Malaysia conducted its English Enrichment Program on the 24th of April at Compassion Home, a children’s shelter located in the USJ section of Subang Jaya. We were joined by two volunteers from the U-Grad Alumni network, and set out to execute our plan for leadership success on that day.

As we YES Alumni Volunteers approached Compassion Home, we were prepared to face the unexpected. Yes, we were leaders, pumped and ready to serve our community and enrich the lives of these young children through language and knowledge, but we were unsure as to how they would react to our modules, comments and gestures. Picture this: approximately forty children, most of which seemed to be on a sugar rush that day, confined to an outside porch area versus about ten of us volunteers. Yes, our hearts were beating and our minds were racing.

Alas, we need not have had such concerns, for the children were as enthusiastic about the program as we were! As the volunteers prepared our materials for the day and sat down to mingle with the kids, it was clear that they felt at ease to talk to us. Some may have been shy at first, but some pre-program conversation with them about their schooling lives and hobbies allowed them to feel more comfortable with us. The program for the day kicked off with an introductory session between the children and the volunteers. The volunteers used a more visual method of communication through the use of writings and drawings on a mahjong paper, which they read from to introduce themselves. The children were asked to mention their names, ages and career aspirations. It turned out that there were many aspiring doctors, artists and singers amongst us! It’s good to know that these young ones have a good level of ambition planted in them!

Next up was the quilt activity, whereby the children were asked to convert their verbal introductions into writings and drawings, kind of the opposite of what we volunteers did. They were asked to write their names, ages, hobbies, career aspirations and anything else that they wanted us to know about them. They were given many colorful papers, color pens, markers and even magazine cuttings to add some creativity to their little projects. They were then asked to present their pieces of work to their friends as well as the volunteers. The kids truly displayed their creative skills as some of them used pictures instead of words to tell us more about themselves. Their work was then pasted on the nearby wall, arranging their pieces of work in a quilt-like pattern that represented unity.

Then came the fun part. The children were divided into groups of three, and each group was given a number of marshmallows and straws. They were to use these materials to build a structure that had a strong base; in other words, would be able to stand without falling! At the same time, they were also given word sheets that contained certain English terms such as “Strong” and “teamwork” and had to explain their meanings, also in English. The volunteers watched in both amusement and awe as the kids worked together to build some very unique-looking structures. One group even attempted to replicate the Petronas Twin Towers! However, it was the group that built a pyramid-like structure that surpassed the rest, thanks to the structure’s strong foundation. As the children also worked together to come up with synonyms for the given English terms, it was evident that we got them picking their brains and thinking out of the box, which is what we hoped to achieve through this activity. The activity also proved the importance of teamwork and communication, since the assignment was a group effort.

After a short break and clean-up session, the upper secondary students and the rest of the children were divided into two separate sessions that were conducted simultaneously. The older students participated in a session called “One World One Dream”, conducted by the U-Grad volunteers, whereby they were treated to a general knowledge game. They were asked to come up with an A-Z list of countries from around the world. Needless to say, some of them spent a good while figuring out countries beginning with the letters ‘O’ and ‘Q’. Later, they were divided into groups of two and played against each other in a guessing game where they had to identify flags of countries from around the world. Although some guesses were pretty tricky, the students were certain able to deepen their general knowledge in this area. During the session, the students were also given the opportunity to speak about their dreams and aspirations, especially in terms of their career goals.

Meanwhile, the YES volunteers conducted a session called “Malaysian Culture through English” with the younger students. First of all, we divided them into two lines and gave them a phrase in Malay, which the person at the end of the line would translate to English and then continue on by whispering the phrase to the person in front of him or her. This whispering continued until the other end of the line, and when the children conveyed the final phrase to us, it was nothing close to the original! The volunteers and children had a good time laughing off their mistakes, and took to briefing them on the importance of communication, especially in a big group such as theirs. Next, our YES Alumni Secretary, Miss Terianne Campos, briefed the children on the kolam-drawing tradition practiced by the Indian community, after which they had the opportunity of creating their very own rice kolam using the template of an elephant! Later, our very own President, Mr. Faisal Hassan, showed off his story-telling skills by telling the children the story of how the Chinese zodiac came to be. They were then given pictures of these zodiac animals to color in. Needless to say, most of the boys wanted to color pictures of dragons and tigers.

Meanwhile, some of the volunteers were hard at work at the kitchen preparing for the barbeque that aimed to promote a healthy eating lifestyle to the children. Inspired by Chef Jamie Oliver’s “Food Revolution” campaign, our alumni nutrition expert ensured that these children would eat healthy food only that evening. Such food included a good deal of fresh corn, capsicum, potatoes, tomatoes and grilled sausages. The volunteers also brought some food to be shared. The older children were very helpful with the barbeque, as they helped us with the set-up of the grill and burning of charcoal. We were then joined by the younger children, who enjoyed their satay-style grilled sausages and corn.

After a hard day’s work, it was time for the volunteers to say goodbye. Looking back at when we first met the children and the openness and warmth they exhibited by the time we were about to leave, we could see that we indeed made an impact on them. Not only were we able to encourage the use of English, we brought out the confidence in them, allowing them to realize their individual potentials. Hopefully, this will assist them in achieving their dreams of becoming doctors and singers! After a touching goodbye session, the volunteers left Compassion Home with a sense of fulfillment. Not only were we able to realize the goals of Global Youth Service Day, we were able to influence and leave a mark on these children, and the smiles on their faces were indeed priceless.

YES Alumni Malaysia would like to thank the management of Compassion Home, our fellow U-Grad volunteers, and not forgetting all the YES volunteers who put their mind and hearts into that day. We look forward to expanding our English Enrichment Program with similar success in the near future.

YES 2010 Experience - Choong Merryn

2010-05-11T18:24:00.007+08:00

American Farm Life!

My life in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire is AWESOME!

Before I came here, a lot of people told me that New Hampshire is a very nice place. It is more like a country side with beautiful scenery and where people stay on farms. I was excited, yet a bit worried because I have been living in a city for my whole life! How am I going to adapt to such a different lifestyle? Are there a lot of flies and insects that bug me everyday? Am I going to stay in a rural place? And before I can even think of a solution, I received my placement letter at the airport in Kuala Lumpur. It was stated that my host parents are farmers and they have lots of animals. I was amazed because the things people told me seemed to be true. I told myself, I AM GOING TO SURVIVE! EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!

The plane I traveled on was very small and I could actually see the scenery throughout the whole journey because the plane was flying very low. All I saw were beautiful mountains, undisturbed trees, white snow, clouds that looked like the moustache of Santa Clause and some small houses. It was breathtaking! When I reached the airport in Manchester, there were no other people except for my leader holding a paper with my name on it. It was a complete different picture of what I had imagined! I thought I was going to be lost in a crowded waiting area and ended up calling for help, things like that, which now I think is really silly and crazy to even have thought of!

So, here I am now; staying with a very special host family and we live on a farm. There are ducks, ponies and other animals in the farm. The 'house' we live in is actually a garage! It used to be a place where cars were parked inside. By the way, only two cars can fit inside. So, as you can guess, it is very small! However, I still enjoy my stay here a lot! I have two host mothers and six other siblings living with me. Wow, what a big family. Yet, sometimes, there are even more kids staying here because people visit us a lot. They are the friendliest people I have ever met. Most of my host siblings do not go to school. They are home-schooled kids. They are vegetarians too.

I have to climb up a ladder just to get into my 'space', and crawl to my bed. I think it is very fun, as though I am living in a stone age era where the cave is too small. We do not have rooms because the 'house' is too small. Hence, we call them space, instead of rooms. Besides that, we have birds, puppies, guinea pigs, and hamsters in the 'house'. I was shocked the first time I saw them. How on Earth can you sleep with so many animals surrounding you? But I got used to it in just a few days. In fact, I have natural 'alarm clocks' in the morning when all the birds chirp at the same time, hamsters running in their cages and puppies moving around. By the way, the toilet in this 'house' cannot be flushed at all. It is a compose toilet.

My school life is even more fun! I love my school so much! The classes I am taking now are Physical Education, Keyboard, Honors U.S. History, English and The Hero's Journey. Above all, I love my Honors U.S. History class the most because I have a great teacher and cool friends! Mr. Garnham is my teacher and he makes the whole class laugh every day. He is the best teacher I have ever met. If it wasn't for him, my school life here would almost be nothing. I learn a lot from his class even though it was hard for me at first. It was strange to recall back the first day I entered his class. I almost cried and was frightened to death because he looked so scary and made fun of me. It took me a few months not to feel scared anymore. Mr. Garnham used to ask me this question every day when I first came, "Merryn, are there any single and beautiful women available for me in your country?" This is just one of the strange questions that he has asked me, there are even more.

My friends here are very curious about Malaysia. I feel happy to tell them about our culture and shared my stories in Malaysia. A lot of them want to come to Malaysia after I did my presentation! They were amazed by the beauty of our country! I made a lot of friends in the school and I love them very much. They are very nice people and they talk to me a lot. Most importantly, they help me every time I need help and accept me as who I am. My friends told me that they like me so much that they hope I would not have to leave so early. Some even told me that I am the nicest and coolest exchange student they have ever met. I feel very happy as being accepted as a friend of theirs from a completely different country! I have a great time with other exchange students too, especially the exchange students from China and Indonesia. We had lots of fun and spent time together.

Other than that, I joined the track team in my school and go for practice everyday, even when it was raining heavily! I thought students were not allowed to do sports in the rain because they will get sick. However, I did not get sick even though the rain was pouring and wind was blowing hard. Honestly, I feel like dying every time I run in such a weather because it was VERY cold!

I enjoy doing community service too. I met new people and went to different farms. It is amazing to visit other neighbours because every neighbour has different animals on their farm. My host mothers have an organic farm too. I helped them to plant vegetables and trees. They taught me a lot of things about farming. Sometimes, they teach me things about animals too. After all, it is not that bad to live in a farm, except for the black flies that suck blood! They come out in the spring and I always have a hard time dealing with them. I feel like burning my whole body so the bugs would not bug me. What else? Bees. Bees that fly into the house. Not a good thing to have when you are sleeping.

Well, there are too many stories and things to tell. What I have just shared is just a tiny part of it. I can't wait to share my stories when I go back to Malaysia or meet other friends! Life is great! I am so proud to be a Malaysian and I will cherish every moment of my life here!

Choong Merryn
Lyndeborough, New Hampshire

Dinner with Ms. Maura Pally

2010-05-07T18:26:00.002+08:00

On the 19th of April 2010, YES Alumni Malaysia had another spectacular opportunity to meet, Acting Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary of State, Maura Pally in a grand evening dinner hosted by US Embassy Malaysia at The Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The dinner was attended by the alumni network of the US Department of State. The alumni of Fulbright program, Humphreys, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), YES Alumni Malaysia, and Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD) were some of the alumni network that attended the meeting.

The meeting was started off by welcoming, Acting Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary of State, Maura Pally and her assistant, Dana Rosenberg. Nicholas Papp, the Cultural Affairs Officer of the US Embassy Malaysia, the moderator of the evening officially began the meeting by introducing all the alumni network of US Embassy Malaysia to Maura and invited her to give a introduction speech for the evening. Faisal Hassan, President of YES Alumni Malaysia was awarded a small token of appreciation by Maura for the continuous effort and support for the community development projects organised.

Faisal thanked Maura and the entire committee for the award and gave a brief talk on the projects YES Alumni Malaysia is involved with. He thanked Dash, CEO of Warisan Global, Dr. Susheela, President of Fulbright, Nicholas Papp and the rest of the alumni network for their strong support and guidance given to assist YES Alumni Malaysia to carry out the projects. Jim Chua, Vice President of YES Alumni Malaysia gave a talk on the current plans of the YES Alumni Malaysia and the activities held so far. The session continued with a brief introduction of all the alumni members and most of the alumni members shared their stories and experiences to Maura. The session gets even more interesting as meals were served and senior alumni members shared their experiences and involvement with the State Department networks.

Nicholas Papp as the moderator of the evening did a great job by connecting all the networks needed by YES Alumni Malaysia to organise the project. As a result, a few other alumni agreed to work together with YES Alumni Malaysia to provide support and assistance regarding the Youth Development Project. Basically the alumni dinner was a reunion of all the alumni networks under the US Department of State to get to know each other better and also at the same time enhancing the connectivity between each alumnus.

Towards end of the dinner, Maura Pally once again thanked all the alumni networks for the continuous service to the community. She hopes the alumni networks build up and become a good example to the world. The dinner concluded with a group photo session with Maura Pally, Acting Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary of State.

YES 2010 Experience - Rasyiqah Ahmad Raqi

2010-05-02T11:25:00.007+08:00

Hello everybody from Teaneck, New Jersey!

When I first received the letter that I will be going to America, I was beyond grateful and happy. I wanted to live in New York but now I live 22 minutes away from New York City. Even better! I live in Teaneck, New Jersey and this town is unbelievably diverse. There are multiple churches, synagogues and a mosque. So far, ever since I came here, all the "first time ever" events have happened. Two consecutive snow days and a terrible storm had paralysed my town for about a week. My school was closed for three days and I had to endure five nights without power at my house.

I attend Teaneck High School as a senior and like my town, it is very diverse. There are about 1500 people attending this school. When I first arrived here, I was so nervous of what they are going to think of me. But I was so surprised with the warm welcoming from them. There are quite a number of Muslim people here in my school and I even met a student who was originally from Malaysia! What a small world. I am taking Psychology, Environmental Science, World Literature, Math Methods, Spanish, US History and Dance. My favourite class is Environmental Science. Recently, I went to the Elementary School for Earth Day and I read them story books about the Earth and we also planted flower seeds together. The kids were so adorable! We even visited the Waste Treatment Plant and the Water Treatment Centre.

When I came here I decided to do something crazy, so I joined Crew or the Rowing Team. I never participated in any sports back home and I decided that, while I am here why not learn something that is completely new? When I first joined my body was hurting from all the training but it was worth it. We practiced on the river everyday after school for two hours and on Saturdays too. Even during Spring Break we have to go to practice at 8a.m. until 12p.m. It is time consuming but I love it. My crew team is wonderful; we practice together, laugh together. Even the coach is the nicest person I've ever met. I had my taste of racing for the first time ever on last Saturday and it was amazing. The Crew Team really taught me how to be a team player and how important teamwork is.

I can't believe that it is already the end of April. Time really flies and I wish we have more time to be here. But I have to be grateful with what I've got and try to live the fullest and squeeze everything during the last two months!

Rasyiqah Ahmad Raqi
Teaneck, New Jersey

SKYPE; LIVE Conference for YES 2010

2010-04-28T23:03:00.005+08:00

Hello YES 2010

YES Alumni Malaysia executive committee would like to...

have a

SKYPE; Live Conference with all of you.

This is the alumni initiative of reaching out and building a strong alumni network among the alumni members.

We really want to know you all and want to make sure that once you get back home you guys feel part of the YES Family.

So join us on MAY 15th, 2010 which is on a SATURDAY at 2100hours Malaysia time zone.

See you there!!

Please RSVP you participation at contactyes@yesalumni.afs.org.my

or just email our communication leader, Azhan Rabi at

Azhan.rabi@yesalumni.afs.org.my

Third YES Picnic

2010-04-26T13:50:00.009+08:00

All excited, we ran to our usual spot under the shady tree. That was our first reaction when we stepped into Central Park, Bandar Utama for the 3^rd YES Alumni Picnic. Despite having the Pillow Fight going on in One Utama, we YES Alumni, were persistent that our picnic would be way better than a Pillow Fight (though it sounded really tempting)! This time, there was a pretty good turn up with around 13 of us.

We had chips, chips, chips and MORE CHIPS not to forget some coconut too! YES exchange students from America came down to join us as well. Everyone had a great time getting to know one another as well as catching up with each other. Charade was played and photos were taken.

We also celebrated Jim Chua’s recent promotion as the Vice President of YES Alumni.

Congratulations again to Jim.

All in all, we all had a great time with a bunch of awesome people! For those who missed our 3^rd YES Alumni Picnic, make sure to look out for our next one which would be on the 1st of May 2010!!

YES Round Table Discussion

2010-04-25T23:09:00.008+08:00

with

Date: 18^thApril 2010

Time: 2-3pm

Venue: Ritz Carlton, KL

In anticipating this day to come, all of us were donned in our finest suit and shirts. Upon arriving Ritz Carlton, a flush of excitement and hopefulness washed over us.

Welcomed by great hospitality, the round table discussion started at 2pm sharp at a neat looking boardroom with cookies, coffee and tea prepared. Wearing a simple black dress and cardigan, Maura M. Pally sure is petite for an American! Her kind smile and warm gestures were unpretentious and amicable. Accompanied Ms Pally was her assistant, Dana Rosenberg who is equally approachable and friendly.

Nicholas Papp, a witty and smart gentleman was our moderator of the day. In brief, the discussion was divided into three parts: introduction, sharing on past projects and upcoming projects. The introduction was started off by sharing our stories and experiences during our exchange days in the States. For many of us, it was both reminiscent and inspiring in understanding that each and every one of us shared a different tale. Knowing Ms Pally was keen and enthusiastic with our stories, it was nothing but sheer pleasant.

For the past years, YES Alumni Malaysia has been and still are active in organizing projects in hope to lend a hand to the community. With that, we were more than happy to share some of the interesting projects with Ms. Pally. Just to name a few here, YES Alumni Malaysia has organized YES Training of Trainers(ToT), volunteered during the AFS World Congress and not forgetting, the upcoming English Enrichment Programs. The positive remarks and feedback from Ms. Pally definitely had encouraged us to do what we are doing now, in fact better!

Towards the end of discussion, we updated some upcoming projects with Ms. Pally and discussed on how the funds are are going to be beneficial to the community. For now, we have English Enrichment Program and of course, the charity drive for a shelter home which is happening very soon on this weekend. And of course, there are many more to look forward for this coming year. In many ways, Ms. Pally has also shown great support and faith in what YES Alumni Malaysia is executing.

Try asking anyone of us and we would tell you this: The round table discussion wasn’t really a round table discussion, rather it was like catching a cuppa with old friends. It was casual and relaxed, with much laughter in the room. The session ended with a group shot and light moments with Ms. Pally.

And oh...we just hoped that she remembers what to have for tomorrow breakfast- Nasi Lemak!!

Michelle Obama Tells Youth to Help Empower Each Other

2010-04-25T22:09:00.001+08:00

Washington — In her first solo international visit as first lady, Michelle Obama asked young people in Mexico and around the world to empower each other through service and volunteer work. That will help spread opportunities to other members of what she described as the “youth bulge” — the largest-ever global population of people between the ages of 15 and 24 who now make up 20 percent of the world’s citizens.

Speaking to students at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City April 14, the first lady said young people everywhere possess the potential to succeed to the benefit of their societies and the world at large, even “in some of the most unlikely places.”
“Ambition and ability are found in every corner of the globe. The question is, how do we ensure that opportunity is too?” Obama asked.

While President Obama and other leaders are working to improve education and create economic opportunities that will help young people, ordinary citizens, including the young, have their own responsibilities, she said.

“It’s not just enough just to change laws and policies. We must also change our perceptions about who can and who can’t succeed,” Obama said, citing “wrong and outdated ideas and assumptions” that have limited educational and economic opportunities due to gender, religion, disability, ethnicity or socioeconomic class.

“Throughout our world history, it has so often been that unlikely hero, that unusual perspective, that improbable journey that has been the key to our progress. So when we dismiss any of our young people, when we fail to tap into their potential, we risk losing their promise,” she said.
Even as many university students continue to struggle through difficult economic times, the first lady called on them to take action to spread opportunities to the less fortunate through their career choices or through volunteer work.

“The truth is that those of you who already have a seat at the table must do your part to make room for others who don’t. Young people around the world must reach out to help others realize their talents and make their voices heard,” Obama said.
She cited examples of young people who have become teachers for the disabled, led service projects to help the less fortunate, and performed relief work to help Haiti recover from its January earthquake.

“Each and every one of these young people is working to break down barriers and to open doors. Each of them is giving others the chances they’ve had to succeed,” she said.
She also encouraged the students to develop their own self-confidence, despite the fact that they inevitably will face difficulties and some may have more difficult obstacles to overcome than others.

“When you start to get discouraged … I hope that you’ll think about young people like you all around the world who have toiled in laboratories and libraries, in factories and fields, who have marched and fought and bled to make our world a better place,” she said.
“We are going to need the passion and the daring and the creativity of every last one of you” to tackle the immense challenges of the 21st century and make the world a better place, Obama said.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)

President Obama Bilateral Meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Najib Abdul Razak of Malaysia

2010-04-25T22:02:00.003+08:00

Image taken from the US Embassy Website

President Obama met with Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia today to discuss matters of mutual interest including, non-proliferation, trade and investment, human rights, Afghanistan, and Iran. Malaysia’s economic vibrancy, democracy, and willingness to cooperate on key security and multilateral issues form the basis for a strong bilateral partnership with the United States. Such a partnership is consistent with, and a critical component of, the Administration’s intent to strengthen further our long-standing ties with Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The President congratulated Prime Minister Najib for recent action on the Strategic Goods Act, which will strengthen the ability of Malaysian authorities to take action against individuals and entities engaged in proliferation. The Prime Minister shares U.S concern about the destabilizing effects caused by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and welcomed U.S. leadership and capacity-building efforts in this area. The President and Prime Minister also agreed to work together to further strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to achieve a successful NPT Review Conference next month.

The Prime Minister discussed his New Economic Model policy and both leaders noted the shared interest in deepening the bilateral economic relationship and support for broader regional economic integration. Malaysia is currently the 18th largest trading partner of the United States with approximately $34 billion in two-way goods trade in 2009. The two leaders also noted the broadening cooperation between the United States and Malaysia in entrepreneurship, technology, and education.

The two leaders have a shared vision for a stable, secure, democratic, and prosperous Afghanistan. Prime Minister Najib informed President Obama that at the request of the Government of Afghanistan, Malaysia recently deployed a team to assess possible ways to contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. In addition to the training of Afghan teachers and public officials which Malaysia is currently undertaking, the Prime Minister stated Malaysia’s readiness to consider capacity building in cooperation with Afghanistan through the training of police, military personnel and civilian administrators.

The President and the Prime Minister agreed on the importance of Iran strictly abiding by its obligations under the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The two Leaders also agreed on the need for the international community to send a clear signal to Iran that while it has the right to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Iran should not use this right to develop nuclear weapons capability as stated in UNSC and IAEA resolutions.

Prime Minister Najib informed President Obama that Malaysia has made significant efforts to curb human trafficking, and is taking appropriate measures in combating this heinous crime.
Prime Minister Najib conveyed his support of President Obama’s aspiration to start a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, as reflected in his speech in Cairo in June 2009, and offered Malaysia’s assistance to cooperate with the United States to engage the Muslim world.

The two leaders agreed that the positive effects on regional peace and stability and on the prosperity of both nations warrant continued efforts to further strengthen the growing partnership between the United States and Malaysia.

from the WhiteHouse.gov website.

Sources taken from; http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/readout-presidents-bilateral-meeting-with-prime-minister-mohammed-najib-abdul-razak

Updates

2010-04-25T21:59:00.001+08:00

Hello All

So Sorry Guys. We have not been able to update our blogs recently due to our studies.

Sorry for the inconveniance.

Be right Back

~Under Construction~

YES 2010 Experience - Shohael Abhilash

2010-04-05T20:34:00.008+08:00

The first time I stepped into Alaska, I thought "Oh my gosh, I'm going to freeze to death!" I also travelled by ferry to come to a little town called Haines in Alaska. I was worried about how my family will be and how things are going to be here. When I reached the ferry terminal in Haines, I saw so much of snow and everyone wearing big and tall boots. I felt so out of place. Then my host dad came to me and asked me if i was Shohael. Then, he picked me up and we drove back home. It was the first time I'm seeing such a small town. The conversation in the car was the hardest part to start. So the first thing I asked my host dad was "How can I address you?" and he said "Well, you can just call me Jim." I felt weird calling someone older than me by their name, so I just said "Will it be OK if I call you all Mum and Dad?" They said "Yeah, sure." I was so happy and felt a little part of the family already.

Alaska is nothing like what people think it is. They think it is all cold and people still live in igloos and all, but that was all a stereotype. They live just like normal people do. Now I'm so happy and enjoying my life here. I live in a small town with a population of 2000 people and only 100 students in my school. I am so glad to be in Alaska, somewhere unique and special in America.

I learnt a lot here, especially in school. School is so different. Instead of us staying in our classes, here we move to classes and it's really nice because you have a different environment every single time. The classes I am taking are Alaska History, Biology, Marine Biology, Physical Education, Physical Science and Real World. The class that I like the most is Marine Biology because we have a lot of field trips where we go out of school and explore. It is really interesting. I also got bitten by a crab once when we were studying it. It was a painful yet fun experience. I am really enjoying my time here. In the winter in Alaska, the day light is really short but now in spring we are gaining a lot of day light. It is till 8 in the night now. In the summer, they said that it will be light till 10 in the night and there is barely any dark time. It's really awesome here.

I feel I have a really unique experience in Haines, Alaska. It is totally different from Malaysia. Here we have different climates and mountains full with snow and scenery that is totally something that I have never seen before. It is so beautiful here. I am enjoying my stay, people in Haines are very nice. I did a lot of different things and also learnt so many things here. I love American culture and the American food. I joined the school basketball team and I really like school. The life here is totally different and I'm loving the differences. So far the most exiting thing I did is learning how to snowboard downhill. It was amazing and fun and I can go downhill without falling now. I will really miss Alaska and America when i leave.

Shohael Abhilash
YES 2010
Haines, Alaska

YES Appreciation Article - Carishma Menon

2010-03-25T17:36:00.003+08:00

She stepped out of the gray Durango, with a slight twinkle in her eyes and a warm smile across her face. She said “Hello”. I managed to squeeze out a soft “Hi mom”. I hugged her and stepped into the car with the rest of my new family. We drove off. Quietly, I observed and listened. The way they spoke sounded alien to me. The weather outside was too cold for my liking. I felt my skin crack. My head was spinning slightly due to the jet lag. “We will go to school on Monday to get you registered,” said “Mom”. I snapped out of my headache. “Okay,” I replied nervously, trying to sound enthusiastic.

Two years later, I sit on my living room couch with my laptop on my, well, lap. I am home for the Lunar New Year holidays with a pile of assignments waiting to be finished and a piano lesson in less than two hours. A project budget sits on the table in front of me waiting to be revised. My phone alarm rings, reminding me of a phone call I have to make to my program director. My left hand reaches for the center button on my phone, giving it a slight tap before it resumes its task of typing this write-up with the help of Mr. Right Hand.

I am overwhelmed by how fast time has passed. More importantly, I am impressed by how much I have grown. The past two years have played host to a priceless transformation, and the YES program was my starting point. I must admit that when I first arrived to the United States, I was very apprehensive and slightly discouraged by my new surroundings. I simply felt uncomfortable and hated the fact that I had to learn to fend for myself. I was, simply put, a passive-hearted girl who disliked challenge of any sort. Thankfully, my experience as an exchange student changed all that and turned me into a woman of conviction.

Today, it takes a lot to discourage me, because I know that I am capable of making a difference. As a recipient of the YES scholarship, I feel obliged to influence and educate the people around me using the knowledge I have gained. Apart from volunteering with AFS Malaysia during my free time, I am putting my leadership and communicative skills to good use at my current institution, INTEC UiTM Malaysia. As the secretary of the American Top Universities Students’ Association, which is the official student council for the American Credit Transfer Program, I play an active role in creating an avenue for students to expand their social networks and creative skills. As a YES Alumnus, I realize the importance of networking in order to achieve personal and communal goals. Therefore, last year, I introduced and implemented a mentor-mentee program that allows students of different academic levels to consult with each other regarding academic work and student lifestyle.

This year, I am the project director of INTEC’s “American Indulgence Fiesta”, which is a 5-day celebration of American-themed events such as a parade, Halloween party and Dodgeball tournament. In organizing this project, I am pleased to find that my goal of creating a sense of togetherness through the networking opportunities made available by the mentor-mentee program has been achieved. Students are not apprehensive to work together as a team, and mutual understanding is fostered amongst students of different clique’s and age groups. Furthermore, my previous exposure to the American way of life has allowed me to bring native perspective to the table when it comes to outlining the contents of these events. I am proud to share my experiences and insights with my peers and lecturers.

Contributions aside, the YES Program has also allowed me to develop as an individual. To be honest, I had little self-belief before I embarked on my YES journey. Insecure and feeling somewhat defeated by some personal struggles I have had to endure in my life, I was not confident of my capabilities. Evidently, being an exchange student is not easy. Fitting in with a new family and school setting requires persistence and effort. It doesn’t exactly happen overnight. However, the fact that I kept pushing myself to step a yardstick or two away from my comfort zone made me realize that persistence pays off, with the right attitude of course. Sure, there were some discouraging moments, but I forged many worthwhile friendships in the United States. And it was through these friendships that I was able to effectively play my role as a young ambassador of my country. For me, the experienced affirmed that the will to succeed makes all things possible, a newfound principle that I currently apply to myself. For example, I recently picked up where I left off with my music lessons after an almost two year gap. Although I am currently only pursuing a grade 5 piano certificate at the age of twenty, I want to earn my grade 8 certificate regardless of how long it may take.

Ultimately of course, the most important mark that the YES Program has left me with is a sense of awareness. As a former exchange student who has had the golden opportunity of literally interacting beyond borders, I realize the importance of tolerance and appreciating the differences that are sometimes misused to divide us as people. Although racial and religious tolerance is something that is understood by most Malaysians, cliques are still prevalent especially among the young. My own college is victim to this scenario, as students who share the same mother tongue are frequently seen clumping together. Today, I still strive to break this mould by maintaining strong friendships with students of all ethnicities at college. This is something I have continuously encouraged from the people around me. Furthermore, I aim to foster a sense of understanding amongst my friends and peers by keeping them well-informed of my own customs and beliefs, as do they.

All in all, my experience as a young ambassador, volunteer, advocate, daughter and friend has instilled a sense of purpose in me. Since returning from the program, I no longer play just the role of a daughter at home or a student at school.
Thank you YES, for making me a leader.

Carishma Menon
YES 2008

YES 2010 Experience - Angel Choo

2010-03-19T22:24:00.006+08:00

Hi All!

This is Angel Choo reporting from Toledo!

Basically, I'm having a great time here in this little city. I made snowmen, went snowboarding and sledding too! The third day I arrived was Martin Luther King Jr Day, and I was one of the foreign exchange students invited to attend the celebration in the University of Toledo. I wore my "baju kurung" and carried the Malaysian flag in along with about 70 other students. I feel so proud that I'm representing Malaysia! It was there that I met YES students from other countries like Indonesia, Philippines, Kenya and Mozambique. There were also students from Brazil, Spain, China, Thailand and South Korea.

Last Sunday, I volunteered in the Oscar Night Masquerade organized by the American Red Cross. We were supposed to be cheering fans for the VIPs that donated and participated in this event. It was really a new experience and our duty was simple; just scream and shout as loud as you can when the VIPs arrive! I was joined by four other ACES exchange students from Columbia, Spain, Brazil and South Korea. I'm glad I was able to participate and I even made more friends from other schools!

Life in school is different. I'm learning a new language - Spanish and I joined a mentoring group just for the ladies. In this group, we discuss about a lot of issues regarding ourselves such as body piercing, getting tattoos and other girly stuff. I think it serves as an eye-opener for me because I became aware of serious issues faced by young teens.

I am really blessed to have such experiences with the YES Program and hope everyone is having a great time as well!

Take care and hi to all Yes Alumni.

YES 2010 Experience - Nadia Anuar

2010-03-17T20:06:00.000+08:00

A lot of people thought I might have been abducted or something because i didn't contact them. I did but maybe one or two. I'm just having the best time here in Iowa! Who says you have to be in a big city to feel happy?! The people, scenery, weather and just the farm life has been incredible. I have been enjoying myself since the day i stepped in Iowa.

The second day I was here, I made lots of friends and even went to my first basketball game! (attached picture) We all wore pink for the breast cancer awareness campaign that night. By the end of my first week in Iowa, I felt like I have been there for so long because I really felt accepted. It helps so much that my host family, the Dolans which I now call my mom and dad, are the nicest people I've ever meet. They took me as if I were their own.

I did feel conscious on just being myself and really speaking up at first as I am living with another exchange student, Putri Pandora from Indonesia, who has been here for 6 months. I was worried maybe they might compare me or consider me as "She's not as cool as Putri". Well, those thoughts vanished after a few weeks as I came out of my shell and now I am like sisters with Putri!

Today, I am in my FCCLA group in my school where I do a lot of volunteering work. I did try out for the basketball team and track but I found out running is not my forte. At least i tried. I am in a speech competition where I am reciting poetry and I made it to state level! This Saturday, I am going for another competition. I also entered the variety show at my school. I performed a dance and my poetry.

I'm taking Art, Advanced Public Speaking, PE, Algebra 2, American History, American Literature and Government for classes. I enjoy the school's cafeteria but I do go to the gym almost every day after school. I just love the gym! My friends are all there. I'm really trying hard not to gain so much weight. Gaining weight is a definite thing but not too much! The food is just so good! (I'm talking about deserts mostly). They eat too much meat and everything has to be with cheese! I don't really enjoy that if I have to have it everyday though.

The basketball season is over, which i went for every single game my school played in! So, now i am the track manager, as I can't run, and I am looking forward to going to their meets!

It really has been a wonderful time here. The snow is melting really fast though, and I have not been homesick since i got here! In fact I do not feel like going back. I miss my family, I do... but, I'm not ready to go home yet.

Nadia Anuar
YES 2010

Global Pulse 2010

2010-03-15T17:28:00.002+08:00

“There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from one another; and to seek common ground.“

~ President Barack Obama

Here's your chance to take part in an international project. Join discussions and help tackle global issues.

What is Global Pulse?

Global Pulse 2010 is a 3-day, online collaboration event, that will bring together individual socially-engaged participants and organizations from around the world. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is sponsoring the Global Pulse 2010, in partnership with the Departments of State, Education, Commerce, and Health and Human Services.

Taken from: http://www.globalpulse2010.gov/

Find out more and join Global Pulse at the website above.

Grab this opportunity, take your first step to helping out our world.

Write to President Barack Obama

2010-03-15T17:15:00.007+08:00

It's time to make yourself heard.

Prior to President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia, ASEAN would like you to write a letter to him with your ideas about the following topics:

- Education

- Environment

- Economic development

- Internet freedom

- Interfaith relations

Tell him how we can all work together for a brighter future.

To write to him, just click here: http://aseanvoices.org/

Think You Know About Food?

2010-03-14T18:46:00.005+08:00

James Trevor "Jamie" Oliver, MBE (born 27 May 1975), sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef and media personalitywell known for his growing list of food-focused television shows, his more recent roles in campaigning against the use of processed foods in national schools, and his campaign to change unhealthy diets and poor cooking habits for the better across the United Kingdom.

-Wikipedia-

Think food. Think Jamie Oliver?

Think obesity

Obesity and health related diseases are unsurprisingly the top on the chart of death factors. In the United States, it is very common for people to be obese and ignorant about healthy eating as it is undoubtedly the home to fast food.

Healthy eating is more important than you think it is. Think you know about the reality of obesity?

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_QOzc79Uc

And you'll never look at those hamburgers and pizza the same way again.

Youths, take charge of your lives and eat right again.

Be Charitable and Be-lieve

2010-03-14T18:10:00.002+08:00

Hey guys!

Have you ever wondered how it feels to be incapable of doing something you love?

This is a story of a teenager like you and me who suffers from muscular dystrophy. She had always wanted to be a cheerleader however things have not been possible due to her condition. Find out how a group of kind and loving kids help realize her dreams and successfully make her a cheerleader!

Check out this very inspirational and touching video on a true example of believing in a cause.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGnLRxSNPiM&feature=popular

We can all change the world and the first step starts with ourselves.

Second YES Picnic

2010-03-12T01:10:00.010+08:00

The 2nd YES Alumni Picnic that was held on Saturday, 6th of March at Central Park, Bandar Utama was a great success. With about nine of us excited YES Alumni taking over the Central Park, loud chatters and laughter filled the air. This time around, our YES Alumni were fed with roasted chicken, chips, nachos and salsa, soft drinks and of course more junk food.

As the excitement was just about to kick in, we shifted our picnic spot from the gazebo to a picnic mat under the shady tree where our usual rounds of charades were played. With America as the theme this time, our rounds of charades got more challenging with words such as the “Ronald Reagan International Airport”, “Abercrombie and Fitch” and “Donald Trump ” popping up. It was especially hilarious when one of the YES Alumni tried to act out the word “bald eagle” while pointing over a bald man jogging pass us.

We were all too busy snapping away pictures when drops of rain started to fall. Fret not; we the YES Alumni as always are a bunch of witty kids! Since One Utama was literally just next door, we packed all our food stuff into our “picnic basket” and decided to move on to our next location which again happened to be Starbucks! There, we were able to squeeze in some time for a short meeting with our YES Alumni President.

As the day was almost coming to an end, some of us had to leave while others took the opportunity to take up the Giant Yankee Burger Challenge in New York New York Deli, One Utama. Jim Chua, a returnee from the YES 09 program, took up the challenge to finish up a giant burger in an hour for free or else he would have to foot the bill. Was he able to finish the challenge?

Finish or not, we, the YES Alumni, definitely had a blast on our day out together. For those who missed out on this 2nd picnic, do not worry as our 3rd YES Alumni Picnic will be coming up soon on the 3rd of April. So please keep your schedule free and come down to join the fun!

YES 2010 Experience - Jocelyn Tang

2010-03-12T00:22:00.007+08:00

A Texan’s Pride

Being gifted with the opportunity to be an exchange student representing Malaysia and of course, the privilege to be a Texan, is definitely the greatest pride in my life. It is only the 7th week since I arrived in the United States but I already had so many wonderful shades of colors in my life.

Last Friday, my host mom drove us all the way from Houston to Terrell to spend our weekend with her friend and some exchange students. The night journey took her 6 hours to reach Terrell.

On Saturday, I had the most terrific and incredible day of my life in Six Flags, Dallas! Never in my life have I gone on so many rides in a day and it was an unforgettable experience for me. I was with a group of exchange students from Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Germany; that made the experience much more enriching. I unbelievably went on the Titan ride which has a maximum thrill rate and it is the largest ride in Texas. What a great thrill that was; it was fun to possess the feeling of fear and excitement at the same time, especially with a group of adventurous friends.

That day, I tried on as many rides which I never dared to ride in Malaysia; I had a great time with my friends from other countries. I even had myself drawn by a caricature artist. Before we left on Sunday, we had managed to share our culture and knowledge of our respective countries with one another. I got to know more about the culture of Saudi Arabia and Peru and I had shared the unique culture of Malaysia with them too. One similarity of Malaysians and Peruvians is that we can't live without rice! I also had Peruvian homemade breakfast; hot Cappuccino and empanadas (Peruvian meat pie), tantalizing isn’t it?

The trip to Terrell and Dallas was one of the most memorable trip of my stay so far as it had so much to offer to an exchange student like me. Yes, I’m proud to be a Texan!

Jocelyn Tang
Houston, Texas
YES 2010

YES 2010 Experience - Nazrin Ariffin

2010-03-11T01:37:00.007+08:00

On Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 11a.m. – 3p.m. at the Wausau Center Mall Food Court, AFS exchange students joined United Way Volunteer Connection in order to help the people who are in need especially the Haitians. Lots of activities were conducted including :-

· Sorting and filling toiletry bags

· Creating tie blankets

· Making Valentine cards

· Attaching parenting tips to diapers

The program ran smoothly and we got a lot of support from local people and agencies that made this program a huge success. AFS-YES Program exchange students from Malaysia, Nazrin Ariffin and Matthew M. K. Ming, didn't waste their chance to do some volunteering and grabbed this opportunity to show that even Malaysians care about the human race. Together, we can make the world a better place.

Nazrin Ariffin
Wausau, WI
YES 2010

YES 2010 Experience - Raveena Mei Lexminarayana

2010-03-10T19:31:00.005+08:00

So far, for the 3 months (almost) that I have been here, I think the most wonderful experience was the 4 snowstorms that the North Eastern region of the USA had to handle. Roads were blocked, store shelves were empty and school was out! At first it seemed like it was a blessing in disguise; no school! Holidays! But after about a week or so, I got bored staying at home. Everyone did. When school restarted, students had to face the agony of more homework and assignments.

My other wonderful experience here so far is the friendliness of the people here. The teachers are very helpful at my school, St Thomas More Preparatory, Delaware. I also find it very funny when everyone couldn't believe I can speak English! I also had one student come up to me and ask me if I had Disney from where I was! So far, everything is awesome! My host family, Mr. and Mrs. Schweitzer are the best! I would never trade this or them for anything else in the world! Here are some pictures from my stay so far. Do enjoy!

Raveena Mei Lexminarayana
YES 2010

YES 2010 Experience - Leom Yan Rou

2010-03-09T19:30:00.013+08:00

Basically, I've been here in the USA for almost 2 months. I bet everyone is pretty much enjoying themselves, just like me. Well, I love the school here because it is more fun especially the art class. I managed to go skiing on the 26th of February. Though i fell tons of times, I still love it. Einul, Razief and I managed to keep in touch with The Malaysian Student Association. We joined their Chinese New Year celebration too. Besides that, the foreign exchange students in my school and I went to Monroe High School to do presentations for high school and middle school. It was pretty fun. Here are some pictures of my experience since the day we reached the USA.

Leom Yan Rou
YES 2010

Global Youth Service Day

2010-02-26T01:23:00.004+08:00

This year, Global Youth Service Day falls on the 23rd till the 25th of March. You can help by sharing your ideas and suggestions for a community project the alumni could do. Please contact us if you have any!
For more information go to the link below.

http://gysd.org/

YES Appreciation Article - Azelli Aris

2010-02-20T20:13:00.005+08:00

Upon completion of the YES programme, I enrolled into the British A-Levels programme at Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar, A private institution in Malaysia. Since then, I have been actively involved in many extra curricular activities. The first project I embarked on was the 350 campaign. The campaign was designed to create awareness regarding the climate crisis to not only the general public but also to the Malaysian ambassador to the United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen. In October, I volunteered as a secretariat at the AFS World Congress 2009. I also visited an Old Folks home in Seremban, Malaysia with my schools Interact/Rotaract Club.

In November, I attended The Hague International Model United Nations in Singapore. The event attracted students from all over the world to discuss and draft resolutions to combat current global issues. My friends and I at Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar also raised money for a hurricane devastated school in Tondo, Manila. We were able to raise about RM 4000 in a week. The money helped the school, which was previously conducting classes in containers, build permanent classrooms. Besides that, five of my friends from school and I took part in a debate competition organized by the International Debate Education Association (IDEA). We ended up getting first place in the competition thus receiving an invitation to attend the International Debate Tournament of Champions in Williamette University, Salem, Oregon.

I am also actively involved in the Global Debates, an international competition regarding the climate crisis organized by the People Speak organization. So far my schools' team has conducted public service announcements (http://www.youtube.com/ktjglobaldebates), created a blog (colourmegreen.wordpress.com), interviewed elected leaders and promoted environmental awareness.

In December, I attended the 44th Annual Rotaract Conference. A gathering of 800 students from all over Malaysia who share one common goal: Service Above Self. Currently I am in the midst of preparation for the South East Asia Forensics Tournament in the International School of Kuala Lumpur. I will be going to Bahowo Village (North Sulawesi Indonesia) to take part in a Community Service Project. For most of the duration of my stay there, I will be spending time with the kids at the local kindergarten.

These are the activities that I have had the opportunity to take part in since the completion of the YES program. I would be lying if I said that the YES program has not been a contributing factor to my involvement in various projects. The YES program has instilled within me a dedication towards the community and to youth empowerment. Oh and not to forget, sheer enthusiasm to excel.

Regards,
Azelli Aris
YES 2009

YES Appreciation Article - Andrew Loh

2010-02-20T19:22:00.007+08:00

Andrew Loh is an AFS YES Program 2005 returnee from Wisconsin, USA. He has just finished his third year in Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, where he is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Islamic Studies. Since his AFS experience, Andrew has coached two SMK Damansara Jaya debate teams to win two national championships, co-founded the Swarthmore Bosnia Project, and conducted workshops and forums promoting American liberal arts education. Andrew speaks (elementary) Arabic, was an observer at the 2008 PAS Muktamar, has sung in the Chinese Parliament, visited mosques in Turkey, and busked in Croatia.

Our Song for all AFS-ers

2010-02-18T18:50:00.002+08:00

(Verse 1)
Do you remember the day it all started
Cries of joy as you hold the letter in your hand
Cause this is what you have always wanted
Starting a brand new journey in a faraway land

Just like the big bang, as our worlds collide
Wonderful things happen, spreading out wide
Sharing two cultures and two different minds
Unity come together now, all has become one

(Chorus)
Yes, Someday we’ll look back and smile
Yes, Someday we might even cry
As we sit here and think about all the times
Reminiscing every memory of you and me
I know nothing will ever compare to this
Unforgettable preciousness that I dearly miss

(Verse 2)
The clock’s ticking by while we’re having fun
Then the day comes when it all has to end
Tears and joy that we shared, months that we spent
Never goodbye on our lips, cause I know we’ll meet again

Repeat Chorus

(Bridge)
Sometimes when I listen to the sound of the wind
I wonder when do I get to see you again
Though we might be half-a-world apart
Forever and always, you’ll be in my heart

Repeat Chorus

Lyrics by
Syirah Jalil
YES 2009

YES Picnic

2010-02-18T18:26:00.004+08:00

On the 6th of February, YES Alumni from different batches gathered together for a picnic at Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur. We decided to organize the picnic because it was a great chance to build close relationships between the alumni members. It would also be a good getaway from our hectic life and enjoy a common American activity together.

Our humid Malaysian weather was still no stop to our high spirits as we were all up and ready for a day of fun. It was a potluck, so everyone indulged and shared food and drinks. The day continued with entertaining brainteasers that got our minds working. The weather suddenly took a swing as the skies were threatening to rain. Once again, weather was only a minor detail as we still managed to find shelter and had a few rounds of charades. That definitely lightened the mood and laughter was to be heard from everyone.

We decided to have a picnic every first Saturday of the month to allow other alumni members who do not reside in the Klang Valley to plan ahead and join in our picnic the following month or for those who are not unavailable on a specific weekend.

All in all, it was an awesome gathering with great food, fun and friendship.

We are definitely looking forward to more great ones to come.

Happy Chinese New Year

2010-02-13T08:09:00.006+08:00

Greetings,

As Chinese New Year is around the corner and probably most of you are already heading home to visit your home town we at YES Alumni Malaysia would like to wish all of our members a Happy Chinese New Year.

As most of you might have already known this year is the year of the tiger. A summary from a website that I would like to share with you guys about the tiger.....

The Tiger, the living symbol of strength and power, generally inspires fear and respect. Tigers' compelling dynamism, intense activity, independence and curiosity about others make them irresistible, persons of multiple charms; Tigers attract followers and admirers. The Tiger has a regal quality and is courageous, active and self-assured; he makes an excellent leader and protector. Known for determination and charisma, the Tiger aims high and pursues goals with vigor, passion and daring. However liberal-minded Tigers may be, they are rash and resist the authority of others. Although they are selfish in the little things, they are capable of great generosity, even of altruism, in the larger. Tigers are men and women of action, thrust by destiny into the spotlight.

Send our regards to all of your family members and may you have a prosperous new year ahead.

Drive safely back home and again 'Happy Chinese New Year'.

Sincerely,

The YES Family

AFS-YES application process!

2010-02-11T08:58:00.004+08:00

Before applying students should consider the following points:

1. Students applying should be Form 3, 4, 5 (YES and Year Program) Malaysian high school or equivalent.

2. Muslims students are advised that meat is non-halal and they may abstain from pork

3. Students cannot expect their families to specially prepare separate meals from what is already prepared unless for medical reasons certified by a doctor.

4. Most families have pets, usually dogs or cats. Should a student have pet restrictions, it will be difficult to find placement, unless for medical reasons certified by a doctor. Muslim students are advised that even if they keep their pet restrictions to indoor pets only placements will still be difficult.

5. AFS program is not an education pathway program, it’s a cultural exchange program whereby students are there mainly to share Malaysian culture and learn the host country culture it is not a gateway for university application or credit transfer.

To be a successful applicant of YES students may go through the following process (Process might vary from year to year, this is just a general draft):

January to April : The nationwide application is open, students send in application via mail to the national office before the deadline

May-June: Students will be notified to be at a scheduled interview by mail.

June: Students attend the interview conducted by AFS volunteers for screening process

July: YES shortlisted participants will be notified

August: YES Shortlisted participants will undergo another selection process in KL

September – October: Successful selected candidates will be notified and candidates needs to fill up international forms and fulfill health immunizations

December- January: Pre departure orientation and traditional dance training will be conducted.

January: Candidates embark their journey to America

July: Candidates return and attend post orientation

AFS Malaysia application is open now! Grab your lifetime opportunity

Registration form 2010:

http://www.afsmas.org/downloads/files/MAS/Preliminary_Form.pdf

YES Alumnus State Department Alumni Member of the Month for February

2010-02-04T10:19:00.004+08:00

This head start of February brought us great news that our president, Faisal Hassan was selected to be State Department Alumni Member of the Month.

The alumni would like to congratulate our Mr President and thank him for his great contributions to the alumni this past few years. His contribution and dedication towards the alumni has been tremendous and he brought a lot of new improvements towards the alumni.

YES Alumni Visit to USS NIMITZ

2010-02-03T12:44:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone!

Ever had dreams of being in the Navy? Well, the American Navy is docking in Malaysia and The YES Alumni is invited to come on board their ship, USS NIMITZ for a visit.

The flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11 based in San Diego, California, the USS Nimitz is the lead ship of its class (Nimitz class carriers), and one of the largest warships in the world. When fully deployed, over 5,000 U.S. Navy personnel serve onboard the ship. The ship’s commanding officer is Captain Paul O. Monger.

Check out the details below:

Date : 7 February 2010

Time : 2.30 p.m.

Venue : West Port, Port Klang

There are only 15 places available so please confirm your attendance by THURSDAY, 4th February at 11am.

To confirm your attendance, please e-mail me, Teri Campos at campos.terianne@gmail.com
Along with your confirmation, please include your FULL NAME, I/C NO. and CONTACT NO.

For more information please refer to the attachment or feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Adapted from event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=279586937100&ref=mf

Haiti, Count on Us. Help Haiti

2010-01-28T17:16:00.004+08:00

Greetings Alumni Members,

On January 12th, 2010, A magnitude of 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti just outside the capital city of Port-au-prince. The devastation has left an immense lost of lives, property destroyed and people living In hunger.

Our main priority is to help and save lives. The Haitian are in need of medical supplies, food, water and clothing. Other organization throughout the world has been taking up their time and effort to support and help rebuilding the country. Now it’s your turn.

YES Alumni Malaysia will kick start the campaign on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010. This campaign is to collect funds from our closes YES Family members, friends and family.

This proceed will then be given to AFS Dominican Republic under their program of ‘Haiti, Count on us‘. From there, you’re kind donation will be channel to help the people of Haiti in terms of food, medical supplies, clothing and many more.

You can donate your funds to:

Bank : Maybank
Name : Antarabudaya Malaysia
Number : 014169802195

Please inform us if you have donated the money into the account.

We appreciate you for taking your time off to read this email. We hope that you will donate to this worthwhile cause. The people of Haiti needs us and lets unite to save the world.

Sincerely,

Faisal Hassan
President

COP15 Sharing - Youth perspectives

2010-01-20T23:34:00.005+08:00

Hey everyone!!!

Interested in environment issues? or would you like to know about what the COP 15 Copenhagen session is all about? Yes, you are reading the right post! This Sunday there will be a sharing session by the Malaysian representatives to COP 15. Please read the following email as forwarded by our fellow alumni member, Pei Ling for further details:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear all

We cordially invite you to ‘COP15 Sharing – Youth Perspectives’ organised by the Malaysian Youth Climate Justice Network (MYCJN):

Date: Sunday, 24 Jan 2010

Venue: Sunway University College, Auditorium 4

Time: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Over 2,000 youths worldwide attended the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Denmark, Copenhagen to demand for a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal from our world leaders last December. Among them were five Malaysian youths: Chironjit Das, Gan Pei Ling, Adrian Yeo, and Soo Jin Yun from MYCJN, and Abe Woo from 350.org. (Bios attached)

Join us on 24 Jan as they will share with you the "inside stories" of COP15 from a youth perspective - the highs and lows they experienced as members of the international youth climate movement, as well as all the colours and drama that happened throughout COP15.

Admission is free, however, as seats are limited, please RSVP online before 22 Jan. First 50 guests to arrive would receive a free mystery eco-gift. Additionally, there will be three homemade solar cookers up for grabs on that day!

Program:

8.30am - Registration

9.00am - Sharing starts

11.30am - Q&A session

12.00pm - Ends

p/s: You are also welcome to join our aftersession "MYCJN & Beyond".

With more than 20 milestones (big & small) achieved by MYCJN in 2009, we’ll go through the time tunnel to review all the ups & downs before moving forward to chart our course for 2010.

Program:

1.00pm – Video starts

1.30pm – MYCJN 2009 review and 2010 discussion

4.00pm – Ends

For more info, contact Shen Leong at shennyan@gmail.com / 017-935 0988 or visit www.mycjn.org.

Getting there

Address: No. 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway, 46150 PJ, Selangor

Map: http://bit.ly/7cnOUL

Bus: http://www.sunway.com.my/shuttleservice/

Train: KTM Komuter Subang Jaya Station > Bus U76 to Sunway Pyramid > Free shuttle bus

Car: RM2/entry will be charged by Sunway U.

Food & Drinks

There are some shops and a food court nearby. They are just within walking distance from Sunway University College’s side gate. There are water stations available, so please bring your own water bottle.

Stationery: Remember to bring your own stationery if you would like to take down notes during the sessions. =)

*The venue is kindly sponsored by Sunway University College.

YES Training of Trainers USA‏

2010-01-18T01:26:00.003+08:00

Greetings all,

How are you all doing? I hope that all of you are in good health and in good spirit. Let me again wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year and best of luck in the year 2010.

YES Training of Trainers is around the corner and we want you to be involved. Attach to this email is the application form for the training itself. This time around the training will be held in Alexandria, VA on the 11th - 21st of March 2010. For those of you who would like to apply must commit to the following events taking place. And also please keep in mind that we are sending two alumni members.

AFS and YES Alumni are looking for those who have leadership skills and have a great desire to give something back to the community through schools, university or the organization itself such as AFS. Throughout the years we have been sending two alumni participants and all of them have come back and done a great job contributing back to their schools, university and community. Now its your turn. YES Training of Trainers is a once in a life time opportunity for young people to gain more knowledge and experience on leadership and communication skills.

I encourage everyone to grab this opportunity.

I hope to hear from you soon and best of luck. Who knows you might be on your way back to the States!

Sincerely,
Faisal Hassan
President
YES Alumni Malaysia

To apply please request the application form at contactyes@yesalumni.afs.org.my

Deadline: Monday, January 25th 2010 before 7.00pm

NDI 2nd Rural Development Project Recruitment is now OPEN!

2010-01-09T01:06:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone!!

We would like to share some Rural Development Project Opportunities forwarded by our fellow alumni member Pei Ling Gan, please kindly read further for more information. Thank you Pei Ling

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear all,

The long awaited recruitment for NDI 2nd Project is finally OPEN! We are going to introduce solar powered lamps to rural Indonesia this Jun/Jul 2010, which may also integrate microcredit and installing a mini library. In places where electricity is scarce, expensive and inconsistent, 'free lighting' has been proven to aid economic development and contribute to a better quality of life. Thus, a small, one off investment of a solar-powered lamp can generate a longer term benefit.

Just click on the poster to submit the application form by 22 Jan 09, or click on this link <http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDVjZTJoWTFWM1lITEREOVc1V3QxOXc6MA> in case you cant access it.

Looking forward to see your names in the google form!:)

Warm Regards,
Angela

Scholarship Opportunity for YES Alumni! Global Village Future Leaders Program

2009-12-30T18:04:00.007+08:00

Hi guys!!

The YES Alumni Malaysia would like to wish everyone Happy New Year!! May year 2010 be one of the best year that you will have so far! :)

On a light note we have a great news to share in this post, we received an email from Nancy Levine from the AFS USA NY office that the State Department are delighted to give out opportunities to all YES Alumni (first and second batch only) to be part of the Global Village Program for Future Leaders of Business and Industry. Last year in 2009, Syant Alias ( YES 2004) represented YES Alumni Malaysia on the Global Village Program. Details on how to apply, websites for information, etc is as the forwarded email below.

If you have any questions in regards to the Global Village Program, you may contact Syant via his email at syant.alias@afs.org.my or YES Alumni Malaysia via email at contactyes@yesalumni.afs.org

Meanwhile, please do check on our upcoming post, as we will be posting Syant's experience and videos next!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Partners and Alumni leaders,

For the second year, scholarships for the Global Village Program for Future Leaders of Business and Industry are being made available to YES alumni. Global Village is a 6-week summer program at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Last year 2 AFS consortium alumni, from Egypt and Malaysia, were selected.

Please see the message below, from Dawn Kepets at the State Dept., for additional program and application details.

Can I please ask your help in ensuring the scholarship opportunity details are communicated to 2003-04 and 2004-05 YES alumni?

Please remember:

* Only YES alumni from the 2003-04 and 2004-05 program years are eligible
* Application deadline is Feb. 15th
* Students should submit their application directly to Lehigh University at http://www.iacocca-lehigh.org/html/globalvillage/gvhome/globalvillage.html

Thank you for your help and best of luck to all applicants! Please let me know if you have any questions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are pleased to announce for the second year, some YES alumni will have the opportunity to apply to participate in the Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry. For the summer of 2010, 2003-04 and 2004-05 YES alumni, can apply for full scholarships to attend the program. This year, students should apply directly to Lehigh University using the University’s on-line application for the Institute. The application deadline is February 15, 2010.

The Global Village is an applied leadership, cross cultural training program designed for young professionals and experienced students who share the dream of building a leadership career in business and industry, who want to make a positive change in life, and who want to form an active and global network.

Through interactive seminars, networking, business trips, consulting projects, and cultural experiences, Global Village interns learn the tools essential to becoming a successful leader. During the six-week internship, from June 26 – August 7, 2010, participants will be among a diverse group of more than 75 interns, coming from more than 35 countries, representing a myriad of cultures, speaking multiple languages, and offering unique perspectives based on the group's varied educational backgrounds.

Since 2001, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with the Iacocca Institute, has annually offered a limited number of partial and full scholarships to FLEX alumni from Eurasia to participate in this professional development leadership opportunity. Lehigh University has submitted a renewal proposal requesting ECA funding for Global Village 2010. If approved, in addition to twelve FLEX students, the grant will fund a total of six YES alumni of the 2003-04 and 2004-05 programs, from the eligible countries of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Gaza, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank, and Yemen.

For the 2010 Institute, YES participants' tuition and travel will be covered in full and participants will receive a stipend to use for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses while on the program. Your existing YES grant funds will not be used for this conference.

The application deadline for receipt of qualified candidate applications to this year's program is February 15, 2010. Please send the Global Village Link below to YES alumni only from program years 2003-04 and 2004-05 .

http://www.iacocca-lehigh.org/html/globalvillage/gvhome/globalvillage.html

This year, alumni should submit their applications electronically or in hard copy (only if necessary) directly to Lehigh University.

More information about the Global Village program and the application/ selection process is available at www.iacocca-lehigh.org.

All the best,

Nancy

UPDATE: Please send in your application via office or alumni (contactyes@yesalumni.afs.org.my) for selection before applying in through Leigh University before 30 January 2010

Season Greetings!

2009-12-26T13:22:00.004+08:00

Dear AFSers!

Its a season to be jolly!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Also, we've been having several different celebrations recently;

to all Muslims, wishing all a very Happy Islamic New Year or Salam Ma'al Hijrah!! Why is this new year different from the regular one? Here's an info by Wikipedia;

The Islamic New Year is a cultural event which Muslims observe on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims use the day to remember the significance of this month, and the Hijra, or migration, Islamic prophet Muhammad made it to the city now known as Medina. Recently, in many areas of Muslim population, people have begun exchanging cards and gifts on this day, though this is not commonly done. For Shia Muslims, Muharram is a month of grief and sorrow because they mourn the death of Imam Hussain and his companions on the day of Ashura.

to our Jewish friends, wishing a very Happy Hanukkah! and if you may never knew what its all about here's some info from The Jewish Outreach Institute;

Hanukkah is the most widely celebrated American Jewish holiday, possibly because it is a fun, child-centered occasion. It is celebrated with excellent food, an exchange of gifts, and the lighting of beautiful menorahs (special Hanukkah candelabras) filled with brightly colored candles. Unlike some of the other Jewish holidays, which require intense spiritual reflection or elaborate preparation, it is easy to celebrate.

Many Jewish holidays commemorate events invested with historical and religious meaning, and Hanukkah is no exception. Hanukkah means "rededication," and it commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by foreign forces. The celebration also reaffirms the continuing struggle to live by God's commandments and to lead Jewish lives.

When all is said and done, perhaps the most important message of Hanukkah may be found in the name of the holiday itself: Dedication. When Jews have dedicated themselves, through faith and action, to the pursuit of high religious and human ideals, Judaism has been strong. That imperative, to strengthen our religion and our people, remains an important challenge at this season, in every generation. Hanukkah begins every year on the 25th of the Hebrew month of "Kislev." This year, the 25th of Kislev corresponds to the evening of December 11th, 2009 .

to our Buddhist friends, Happy Bodhi Day!

Bodhi Day is the Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).

Do correct me if any of these information given are inaccurate. Nevertheless, enjoy while the year last and have fun this holiday. Be safe above all!

p/s: please, please update your contact details such as email, whereabout, college, location, phone number etc etc etc before January 1st 2010.

updated: You may update your contact details here

--
Best regards,
Azhan Rabi

Communication Leader
YES Alumni Malaysia

About Yayasan Antarabudaya Malaysia

2009-12-26T13:02:00.003+08:00

AFS Statement of Purpose

AFS is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.

The Core Values & Attributes of AFS

AFS enables people to act as responsible global citizens working for peace and understanding in a diverse world.

AFS seeks to affirm faith in the dignity and worth of every human being and of all nations and cultures. It encourages respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or social status.

AFS activities are based on our core values of dignity, respect for differences, harmony, sensitivity and tolerance.

For further information log on to www.afs.org.my

YES Alumni Malaysia

2009-12-26T12:54:00.007+08:00

The YES Alumni Malaysia started in August 2005 with 48 members, and today (July 2009) we have 197 members throughout Malaysia. The members of YES Alumni Malaysia are returnees who have gone for the YES Program right after their SPM year. The YES Alumni Malaysia feels there’s a need to continue their experience by establishing this alumni. We aim to contribute and share our experience with the community. Therefore the alumni is keen to put their efforts in engaging themselves in community work.

Today, the age range of alumni members are 18-24 years old. The YES Program is a child program of AFS Malaysia, the staff and senior volunteers of AFS Malaysia act as the advisors to the alumni. There are alumni members who are also hearing impaired and orang asli (aboriginals) which gives a more diverse and unique group of alumni members.

Every year, some alumni members are given the opportunity to participate in trainings and workshops in the United States. So far, prominent opportunities are the Training of Trainers workshop, Spring workshop.
The YES Alumni Malaysia is also currently working to establish the YES International Alumni which associates YES alumni from around the world.

Mission statement: YES Alumni Malaysia promotes youth empowerment through leadership development and volunteerism by reaching out and making a difference in society.

Vision:
Bridging Cultures of Understanding

Purpose Statement:
• Further the cause of YES Mission.
• Promote awareness of peace.
• Create a network of people of similar experience
• Continuity of the YES Programs
• Create and further enhance existing acquaintance
• Promote leadership and youth empowerment
• Service for the nation- local, regional and international

Hi Alumni!

2009-12-19T10:56:00.001+08:00

Renovation in progress!

Stay Tuned and Merry Christmas!!!