On 15 October, WFWP Malaysia co-organised a Malaysia Leadership Seminar with the Universal Peace Federation Malaysia, Lions Club of Skudai and the Johor Consumer Welfare Association, gathering some 70 youth leaders from various NGOs and the private sector at the Trove Hotel in Johor state.
Emcee Ms. Serene Low, who is the President of Lions Club of Skudai, said the objective of the seminar was to highlight leadership of good character and altruism as one of the most important and needed qualities of leadership in this era.
The seminar began with the presentation of refurbished laptops by Mdm Lina Cheng, President of the Women’s Federation for World Peace Malaysia to 4 outstanding college students from needy families, under the “Lift Me Up” Education Assistance Programme. This education empowerment initiative encourages people to donate their used laptops to help needy students gain better access to education.
She said the laptops would enable students who came from families with financial difficulties to rise above poverty and achieve success in their studies, as good grades would pave the way for them to acquire a degree and ultimately empower them to achieve their goals in life and find good jobs or be entrepreneurs.
Mdm. Sarasa Pasamanickam, the Organising Chairwoman, said in her opening remarks: “It is the power of love and not the love of power that will bring peace. Let us work hand in hand to create future leaders with character.”
The seminar featured three eminent speakers. One of the speakers, Professor Sudesh Balasubramaniam, shared the principles of building peace. He explained, “Conventional education teaches us to be smart, but it doesn’t teach us to be good. Being good means living for the sake of others, where public-mindedness comes first.”
Mdm G. Lalitha, an active NGO leader, inspired the participants through the sharing of her life-changing experience in her family while placing the needs of others above her own. The final speaker, a passionate and energetic youth activist, Mr. Lim San Shien, gave a hopeful presentation on the roles of youth in nation building. He called upon the youth to be proactive and creative in pursuing goals to shape the future of our nation.
WFWP believes in the power of education in nurturing and changing the lives of youth. We sincerely thank all the co-organisers and sponsors of the seminar in sharing the same vision and working together towards a common goal of bringing sustainable peace to society, nation, and the world.
