champions are made from something deep within

A DESIRE, A DREAM, A VISION -Muhammad Ali

CHAMPIONS IMPACT REPORT ‘11

TO ALL THE AWESOME YOUNG PEOPLE IN SARAWAK YOU MADE THIS POSSIBLE

The Champions is an outreach effort to create Agents of Change among young people whom will drive positive socio-economy impact in communities and organizations thus contributing to the nation’s growth. The Champions are young people aged 18-30 whom;

• are Visionaries filled with Dreams, Hopes and Aspirations, to drive social impact in their community;

• are Agents of Change; Purpose-Driven, Selfless and Courageous;

• will be our Transformation Catalyst – giving back to the Community, driving organization growth and leading the Nation.

The Champions is powered by the young people of Sarawak through peer-to-peer influence and youth volunteerism spirit. The programs in Champions are designed with a key focus towards holistic youth development; building a positive impact in the social and economy environment in the lives of the young people in Sarawak. The team believes in youth, their confidence and their will power to drive impacts.

ABOUT THE CHAMPION

VISIONARIES

AGENTS OF CHANGE

TRANSFORMATION CATALYST

WITH ONE VISION, CHAMPIONS ARE

For the first time, youth in Sarawak are effectively engaged from ground up to not only participate but to co-create their social environment. Champions gave young people the platform to build confidence; step out and step up to make things happen. The Champions identified four elements that are relevant and important to the growth of the youth - community in Sarawak. Education, Arts & Sports, Social Capital, Culture & Unity. From these four elements, The Champions has implemented several programs that benefitted and impacted the growth of the youth in Sarawak. The programs are entirely conceptualized and implemented by The Champions whom are young people aged 18-24, from different background and education. END

//EDUCATION //ARTS & SPORTS //SOCIAL CAPITAL //CULTURE & UNITY

ACHIEVED KEY OUTCOME

Improved in Personal & Emotional Well-being The Champions create a sustainable support environment to facilitate young people’s growth. The Champions believes in the will power of young people to drive impacts in the community. Through various youth-led programs and activities, youth learned from mentors and other young peers on developing themselves. They became more resilient and optimistic, and improve their emotional health and self-esteem.

Improved in Social Well-being The Champions recognizes the desire of the youth who wants to do something for the community. The drive and eagerness to learn are the one thing that formulates Champions. The Champions are encouraged to look beyond themselves, and be selfless, always contributing back to the community. In the past 6months of The Champions programs, it is observed that the quality of youth relationships improve, in particularly with their friends and community.

Enhance Connection with the

Social Community The Champions encourages young people to appreciate the environment surrounding them. We are what the environment mold us to be. All Champions have their own social cause that they champion i.e. Girl Empowerment, Education, Sports, Arts Appreciation; Champions give back to the community. Throughout the 6months, it is noticed that their knowledge, awareness and appreciation towards the social community improve.

Increase in Enthusiasm and Confidence in Learning We believe in young people, their confidence and their hunger to learn. All elements of Champions, are engineered to help and assist young people to learn, relearn and unlearn from their daily lives, mentors and peers. Champions encourages young people to be brave, to love, to dream, and to make things happen. Through leadership roles, team building activities and program coordination; the young’s attitude towards learning improved, became more confident, and are more capable learners in life.

NO MATTER HOW TOUGH IT MAY BE; WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH, TOGETHER.

“The Champions changed my life to come forward more boldly in front of many people. Through the programs, it open my mind on how we can all work together, even if we came from different background and we, as the young change makers want to prove that we can change, to become a better Champion in our lives! I am more confident that I can lead after attending the camp that provides very valuable key lessons of life that no one else can give it to me. I want to share this experience to other people around me, starting from my family, friends, community and all the teenagers whom are less motivated, less daring to show their spirit…”

Zanna Lee Nelly, 19

Story of a champion

EMPOWERMENT SERIES Champions: Empowerment Series is a series of interactive and inspiring sessions for the young hearts in Kuching, Sarawak. The sessions focuses on notable entrepreneurs and personalities to share their experiences, accomplishments in work and personal lives. More than 500 youth from the various campuses attended the weekly series held in an unorthodox and chill-out set up in Bing! Coffee.

2011 programs

SPECIAL TITLES IN 2011 • ARTS & ITS FLAIR • JOURNALISM • ENTREPRENEURSHIP • FOOD & BEVERAGE • HOSPITALITY • HUMANITARIAN • FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE • YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Through such activities, business leaders can inspire youths through their experiences and encouragements and offer valuable advise at the same time gain an insight into the psyche of the younger generations. -Donald Tan, Singgahsana Lodge Kuching

TESTIMONIALS This is indeed a program that serves well the community of young people in Kuching, to inspire, to enlighten and to launch. -Maclean Patrick

Special Thanks to our Inspiring Speakers • Ramsay Ong • Charles Arthur • Maclean Patrick • Georgette Tan • Halfi Idris & Team • Gracie Geikie • Donald Tan • Anna Wee • Chris Junior • Dicky Lee • Jason Lo • Jonathan Quek • Bernard Hor

CHAMPIONS PERSEVERE. WE DO NOT GIVE UP

CHAMPIONS BOOTCAMP

Champions “BootCamp: Introductory Weekend” is a 3-day, 2 nights Youth Engagement and Volunteerism program which gathers 120 youth influencers and leaders in Sarawak. It was held on the 9-11 September 2011, at Yayasan Sarawak, Jalan Sultan Tengah. The theme of this BootCamp: Introductory Weekend is “Empowering Selfless, Purpose-Driven & Courageous Youth”. The objective of Champions Bootcamp is; • to introduce an enabling youth-friendly environment of

The Champions to the youth; • to empower youth on their roles towards the growth of

the socio-economy development in the state and the nation and;

• how they could play a proactive role voluntarily in ensuring a healthy and competitive state of economy in Sarawak.

A platform to share, listen and support youth in their growth in personal & emotional wellbeing

WE ARE COURAGEOUS, RELENTLESS, AND SELFFLESS. WE DREAM, WE LEARN AND WE PERSEVERE

“THERE’S A CHAMPION WITHIN ALL OF US”

“Champions inspire me to be more confident when communicating with other people in English. Before this, I was always cautious when speaking in English, afraid of judgments and criticism from other people. But after joining this camp; I think it doesn’t matter whether it is English; as long as you have the confidence, you can make it. Throughout the journey as a Champion, I’ve learn that we need to always STEP FORWARD AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN DO IT. Cause no matter what it is, we are the champions; and champions never stop! To all the Champions out there. Remember, We are AWESOME! :D” -Zufizah Jazman, 19 Story of a champion

BREAKFREE2011 is Sarawak’s first and largest inter-varsity youth festival. The concept and design of the event are spearheaded by Champions; as a team whom have came together after the various programs held months before.

BREAK FREE 2011 aims to • Unite the youth of

Sarawak; • Inspire Youth to be more

RICH (Responsible, Independent, Confident and Healthy) and;

• Revolutionize a positive growth in life of the young people.

19&20 November 2011 Civic Centre, Kuching, Sarawak

Futsal Challenge

Open Stage & Youth4Unity Concert

Martial Arts Demonstration

X-Flow & Parkour

2011 at a glance

JULY EMPOWERMENT SERIES

AUGUST EMPOWERMENT SERIES

SEPTEMBER CHAMPIONS BOOTCAMP

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DiGi’s CHALLENGE4CHANGE

FLASHMOB @ THE SPRING

BREAKFREE YOUTH FESTIVAL 2011

EMPOWERMENT SERIES

DECEMBER SHADES OF ART 4

XMAS ‘AWESOME’ FLASHMOB

GROWTH OF THE CHAMPIONS

PersonalWellbeing

SocialWellbeing

SocialEnvironment

Enthusiasm &Confidence

Before Champions After Champions

56%

86%

45%

68%

38%

88%

46%

90%

Champions offers young people the opportunity to make new friends, get out of their comfort zone, to learn new skills, to overcome challenges and to achieve in many ways. For many, it’s an exhilarating experience that leaves them proud, motivated and energized. It gives them something to look forward to everyday. For some, the experience is so powerful that it completely changes their outlook on life and transform them as an individual.

30% Champions is a movement which provides young people a sense of belonging, and an opportunity to contribute and be significant in the society. One of the impact we measured was the positive effect it had on young people’s overall satisfaction with life.

23% CHAMPIONS BROADENED THEIR HORIZONS, PARTLY BY GIVING THEM THE CHANCE TO SEE THEIR OWN CAPABILITIES IN UNTESTED GROUNDS

The differences champions make

Personal Wellbeing

Social Wellbeing

Chart 1: Observational Differences on Youth Behavioral Change Please take note that data are collected via observational research. Research interpretation may defer from personal opinion.

I enjoy with new things, experiences, chances from champions and i feel that, as a youth i need to do something to my community and keep learning and enjoy myself at the same time.. Yeah, it increased my level of confidence somehow.and I feel AWESOME :) TQ! So champs, ask not what your country can do for you, bt ask yourself wht u cn do to ur country. :) – Sarah Razak

Though only an infant program of 6months; the feedback from our partners and young people whom have been involved have been tremendous and encouraging.

50% Our observations has shown that the experiences in The Champions provide a significant boost to young people’s personal, emotional and social well-being. The skills they learn and confidence they develop in their own capabilities enable them to achieve in new ways and make them a more effective individuals at school and in workplace.

44% Champions in the year 2012, vows to see greater impact and changes as an individual and the community at large.

Social Environment

Confidence Enthusiasm

well before this i was not use to be friendly with friend and i got not many friend..but after Champions, I have got more friends and am more friendly than before.. when i join the Champion, I feel amazing and I can be myself..Awesome man..go champion.. - Julian

How Champions Impacted Me…

seconds FB average respond rate

45

mentors involved in The Champions

38

6months in a glance

volunteer hours from The Champions

9600

7 public & private

institutions participated

1.8milkilowatt of AWESOME energy

generated

2milearned media impressions spread across local &international media

To young people, well-being is about feeling confident, safe and able to live a healthy fulfilling life. It’s all about feeling positive & effective, valued and supported. Well-being unlocks young people potential to achieve whatever they put their minds at. Champions is a platform that encourages and facilitates these growth.

“

”

young leaders and influencers

300 youth empowered to be a

Champion

2261

Industry stakeholders and partners engaged

18

Kuching started off as a livable place when I first got here. But since I met The Champions and with things happening all the time, I can now say that I love and I enjoy being in Kuching! -Hanani Shukri

Happiness kept me smiling, challenges as it will always make me stronger, sadness reminds me that I’m only human, success keeps me motivated, failures reminds me to be humble, friends and family love keeps me going. The Champions reminds me to continue to be determined, and persevere, because at the end, I will always prevail from any hardship. -Paul Racha

What are they saying

I first heard about the Champions from a friend of mine. He was going on about this new group of young people who called themselves, The Champions and they wanted to make a change in society. My first thought was, “They won’t last.” Like most youths in Sarawak, I was skeptical when it came to these things as most often disappear over time due to lack of leadership or spirit. However, one afternoon he invited me to have a chat with Melody Bendindang, who was the youth specialist heading The Champions program under Youth Works Asia. She shared and explained her vision of empowering local youths with the skills, knowledge and confidence through The Champions Program to break out of the social norm here in Sarawak. Various planned events such as the Empowerment Series, The Champions Boot Camp, BREAKFREE 2011 and others all focus on creating a platform for the youth to chase their dreams and be agents of change in Sarawak. I felt a sudden rush of excitement as I listened to her explain her vision. I could see the enormous amount of potential this program had to effectively change the youth in Sarawak. By individually reaching out to each youth and asking them what they want in life and guiding them towards it, the methods used in the program to communicate with the youth would alter the way youth looked and thought about each other, the lifestyle they live, our society, our state and our country. It could also open countless windows of opportunities for aspiring young talent in all industries as the program essentially creates ‘bridges’ between the big players of industries with hopeful young talent.

-Julian, UCSI

Story of a champion

In the news

OUR PARTNERS Champions is fortunate to receive support from some of the State’s more influential organizations and individuals. The Champions prove to be an effective public-private partnership that leverages on the strength of collective support. A special thanks to all our partners that went above and beyond in their support to Champions.

A S I A

Kementerian Pembangunan Sosial

Our vision in 2012 Over the coming years, Champions will continue to strive and built on what we have learnt til date since the past 6months. In particular, we will look into the following: • Continue to run impactful youth development programs

with the Champions; • Focus on short-term learning outcomes, whilst building

in more longer-term measures; • Consider the emotional and physical benefits of spending

time in the natural environment, and how this helps to achieve positive outcome for young people;

• Expand our programs beyond Kuching, Sarawak together with the young people in a structured manner;

• Create a bigger and bolder year 2012 for the young people in Malaysia

In conclusion, The Champions program has impacted and empowered the youth of Sarawak and started a movement of young people who are passionate in seeing a positive change in their community and beyond. The Champions is still growing in numbers and creating even bigger impact as it goes on. The Champions hope to see more agents of change created and be the transformation catalyst of the state and the nation. As more focus is directed to the youth of the nation, thanks to efforts of our beloved Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, The Champions hope that the public and private sectors will contribute more to the development of the youth in Sarawak and help propel the economy and social growth of Sarawak to move ahead. With this, The Champions hope to continue its efforts in developing and engaging the youth of Sarawak and transforming the landscape of the youth for Sarawak to flourish in the years to come.

conclusion

2012 in a nutshell

AWESOME YOUTH AWARDS (AWWYA 2012) AWWYA2012 recognizes grassroots youth on Significance & Awesomeness.

Community Hero, Empower badge, Inspire badge, Youth4Unity award, Awesome Youth of the Year.

EMPOWERMENT

INSPIRATION

PASSION

LEADERSHIP

TEAMWORK

DREAMS

LIFESTYLE

CREATIVITY

ARTS

UNITY

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

INNOVATION

FINANCE

SOCIAL MEDIA

EMPLOYMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY Campus Leaders Program • Community Champions • Anak Muda Sarawak (ambassador program)

4 PILLARS OF “AWESOMENESS” - a holistic development model for youth.

SOUL HEART RIGHT BRAIN LEFT BRAIN

If you’d like to participate and support The Champions next year, please do drop us a line at bernard@youthworks.asia or call us at +6011 1239 8163.

courageous, relentless, selfless We are the champions

To a bigger Bolder

2012 Champions Impact Report 2011 and its content are copyrights of The Champions © Youth Works Asia 2011.

All Rights Reserved