MYHA Way Of 'Vacationing' While Doing Charity Work

By Kurniawati Kamarudin PARIAMAN (PADANG), March 19 (Bernama) -- Fancy going on a holiday but doing some charity work at the same time? The Malaysian Youth Hostels Association (MYHA) has come out with a programme that enables Malaysian youths to 'get to know' the people in other countries as well as experiencing their culture and lifestyle. At the same time, the Malaysian youths can also perform some charity work. The 'two in one' package is MYHA's way of enabling the youths to vacation abroad and perform some good deeds through volunteer and charity work, according to MYHA president Khairul Annuar Mansor. YOUTH EXCHANGE Khairul said the MYHA's 'YES' (Youth Exchange and Study) Programme is geared towards this purpose. "The programme is cost-saving as the youths do not need to stay in hotels, but live with their foster family enabling them to learn and sample the local culture," he says. Khairul says the programme provides 'priceles' experience that is not available in other tour and travel packages. "To join the programme is easy but the places available are limited. Those interested need to register with the YES programme and buy their own flight tickets (including the return fare). "MYHA will arrange the youths' programme while they are over there including their food and accommodation," he says, adding that this package is much cheaper than the other commercial travel packages. PARIAMAN MYHA has picked Pariaman for its YES programme. The West Sumatran coastal city was jolted by a devastating earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale on Sept 30 in 2009. Khairul said Pariaman's close relation to the Minangkabau culture, which is similar to that practised by Malaysians with the Minang roots particularly those from Negeri Sembilan has made the city the choice of MYHA for the programme. He said it all began after volunteers from many countries including Malaysia had gone to the city after it was rocked by the earthquake. One of the volunteers is Mohammad Rizan Hassan who is the recipient of the National Youth Premier Award 2011 and Asean Youth Figure 2011 who is also the secretariat head for YES 2012. With the knowledge that Pariaman is a district rich in beautiful natural environment that augurs well for the tourism industry, the MYHA decided to hold its first YES programeme there. "We talked to the authorities there and Pariaman City Mayor Mukhlis. R has shown a very positive response to make the programme a success," says Khairul. WARM WELCOME Thirty youths were picked for MYHA's YES programme in Pariaman on Feb 17-19, most of them undergraduates from public and private universities. The programme is also held to enhance relations between youths of the two countries. The reception held for the YES entourage was warm and each of the participant was given a foster family to experience the life in Pariaman. Even though their stay was not in luxury hotels, the Malaysian youths were happy to learn the way of life of villagers in this West Sumatran district. The youths were given the opportunities to be involved in various activities including visits to primary schools to teach Mathematic and English. They also participated in the 'Go Green' programme by releasing turtle hatclings into the sea at the Turtle Conservation Centre in Desa Apar apart from planting tree saplings at the beachfront. "They may not have this opportunity back in Malaysia," he says. During the three-day programme, the Malaysian youths were also taken to Bukit Tinggi to view the tourism industry as well as places of interest there. TOURISM CITY FOR ASEAN YOUTHS Khairul said MYHA had also signed a memorandum of understanding with Pariaman's authorities for the Malaysian youth body to bring in youths from other Asean nations for tourism activities there. He said a Malaysian company will build a hostel in Pariaman to provide accommodation for the Malaysian youths while holding activities there. "For the time being the youths will have to use the homestay packages available there. When the hostel is completed more activities for the YES participants can be carried out," says Khairul. This first YES programme also brought the first time experience for Pariaman youths when they were involved in receiving their foreign counterparts. Meanwhile MYHA also has plans to conduct similar exchange programmes with other countries such as Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Brunei and New zealand. "MYHA is making Pariaman its pilot project for the YES programme," says Khairul, adding that MYHA is set to welcome youths from Pariaman in March as part of their reciprocating visit for the exchange programme. EXPERIENCE It was a priceless experience for International Islamic University (IIU) undergraduate Shadira Mohd Tajudin, 22. During the exchange programme, she was brought to Sekolah Dasar 14 Marunggi. a primary school devastated by the earthquake three years ago. The school was rebuilt by the Kompas daily and now has 191 students. "Most of the pupils here are children of fishermen from coastal villages. They gave us a warm welcome and had enthusiastically participated in mathematics and English group sessions," she said. Shadira said the pupils were quick in doing calculation and appeared to have the thirst for education. "I am happy to share my knowledge with them," says Shadira who plans to join the next YES programme. For Mohd Taufik Abdul Aziz and his wife Ainol Mardiah Mohd Azhar, the opportunity to join the programme was most welcomed. Mohd Taufik has been involved in volunteer work right from his time in school and university. The teacher in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan said he will used the experience he gained in Pariaman for his teaching career. He said the effort by MYHA should be utilised by youths as the programme is not simply vacationing but something valuable that can be shared with the local community. -- BERNAMA