Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program to USA 2009

The Southeast Asian Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP) took place from 21st November 2009 to 13th December 2009 at the De Kalb and Washington D.C.

Our representative for the school was Awangku Muhammad Safwan bin Pg Hj Idris. He is the Assistant Head Prefect for the year 2009-2010.

Some of the objectives of the Southeast Asian Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP) are:

• To promote high-quality leadership, civic responsibility, community activism among the countries' future leaders.
• To prepare us with the skills and knowledge we need to conduct projects at home that serve a community.
• To promote appreciation and respect for religious ethnic and cultural diversity (of American and within and between SEA nation).
• To create an increased understanding of civic participation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy.

Awangku Muhammad Safwan has undergone various pre-departure activities such as briefing, cultural performance preparation, hi-tea at the Minister of Education's residence, presentation practice, fitness training, medicinal injections and agreement signing ceremony. Activities during the program included welcome luncheon, workshops, site visits, homestay, action plans and thank you reception.

Credits and references: Report by Ak. Muhammad Safwan

SUNBURST Youth Camp 2009

The Sunburst Youth Camp (SYC) is an event organised by the Secretariat of the Singapore Technologies Endowment Programme (STEP). STEP is a charitable organisation set up by the Singapore Technologies (ST) Group in 1997 to commemorate its 30th Anniversary. The principal aim of STEP is to affirm ST's commitment to contribute to the development of the community that it operates in, and the Sunburst Youth Camp is one such project that aims to achieve this.

One of our students in SMSA, Dyg Zatil Ridh'wah bte Darot, who was studying in Pre-U1 H3 (2009), was the only representative from SMSA for the SYC in 2009. Dyg Zatil Ridh'wah bte Darot was the Female Head of the Students Representative Council (MPP) in school.

The SUNBURST programme lasted for 7 days from 6th to 12th December 2009.

For the first day itself, Dyg Zatil had to arrive at the Brunei International Airport before the 5:45am mark. She had to be well-groomed, so she had to wake up at 3:30a.m. Upon arrival in Singapore, they were welcomed by some representatives, and was settled down in the RELC Hotel in Singapore.

Dyg Zatil met the General Manager of STEP, John De Roza, who was also one of the SYC commitees during a briefing. He was accompanied by other SYC commitees: Goh Siew Siew, Liliah Puah, Linda Ang, Ng Wei Cheng and Go Wan Zhen.

Among the key objectives of the SYC were to promote friendship, cultural understanding, bonding, harmony and good will among the youth leaders in Asia. That was according to John De Roza, Dyg Zatil noted in a report sent to us.

Some of the remarkable places of interest visited by Dyg Zatil included Upin Island, Niu-nie, Singapore Science Centre, Marina Barrage and Marina Bay MRT Station.

Photographs below by Dyg Zatil:

The participants at a campfire

They were joyful!

Dyg Zatil in her traditional dress

A traditional dance performance

An evening with SYC

International Gateway for Gifted Youths (IGGY) Summer Camp

SMSA yet again sent one student who represented the school for the International Gateway for Gifted Youths (IGGY) Summer Camp at the Warwick University, United Kingdom, from 9th August 2009 to 22nd August 2009.

Lai Yi Lin who studied in Pre-U1 Sc3 in 2009, and also one of the members of the Students Representative Council of the school, have gone through a "battery of tests" involving IQ Test on the 7th May prior to her nomination.The IQ Test was coordinated by Hjh Aidah Lena from Gifted and Talented Education, Special Education Unit, Ministry of Education.

According to Lai Yi Lin, "Although the IQ Test lasted for nearly one whole day, it was really brain stimulating; I found it quite fun."

Lai Yi Lin was informed about her nomination to the IGGY U Alberta 09 one week later. She spent the whole day with the staff from the Special Education Unit drafting personal essay and essays on the two courses she was interested to attend for submission to the IGGY Alberta (It was postponed due to the A/H1N1 situation at the University of Alberta and moved to the University of Warwick).

It was quiet until mid-July when she received the offer letter and confirmation from Caroline Peck, IGGY Warwick requesting forms to be filled and submitted to the International Units, Department of Schools. Another confirmation letter from the Ministry of Education was the climax of her IGGY process, with the signing of the travel documentations.

Lai Yi Lin finally departed for United Kingdom with Siti Rafidah from Maktab Duli on 7th August and was sent off by Hjh Noridah and Hj Adi from the International Unit of the Ministry of Education.

Yi Lin at Warwick Hospital Research Department

Yi Lin in a group photograph

Yi Lin at Warwick Castle

Yi Lin looking at the statistics

Photographs by: Lai Yi Lin

Chinese Bridge International Students Summer Camp

Dyg Fatmawani bte Sulaiman was one of the lucky students from SMSA who was nominated for the Chinese Bridge International Students Summer Camp which was organised from 2nd August 2009 to 14th August 2009.

According to her, an opening ceremony was being held for the camp during the first day of the summer camp, which happened at the Chongqing No.3 Middle School. The principal of the school delivered his speech during the launch, followed by distinguished speeches by representatives of other countries such as Myanmar and Thailand.

During the camp, there were numerous activities being organised, such as Chinese Culture, Chinese ink painting, PinYin and even the Chinese-kungfu. Several places of interest were also visited by her, namely, the Three Gorges Museum which is of four storeys in height, Dazu Grottes which is one of the World Cultural Heritage, Ciqikou (an ancient town in Chongqing) and the ChongQing Zoo.

Note: No photos are included in this publication
Credits: Dyg Fatmawani bte Sulaiman

JENESYS Exchange Programme

Twenty-six students and four officers nationwide have been selected for the Japan East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth, or better known as JENESYS program, from 30th November 2008 to 17th December 2008.

The program was fully funded by the Ministry Of Japan Foreign Affairs via the Japan Embassy in Brunei Darussalam. Participants were selected over secondary schools throughout the nation.

Amongst the main objectives of this program are to form the basis of future vision and to construct firm solidarity among Bruneian youths through JENESYS programme, which promotes mutual understanding among the future generation of Brunei Darussalam and Japan.

One student was selected from our school, SMSA, as a school representative for the JENESYS Programme. She was Siti Syafiqah binti Bujang from Pre-U1 (2008). Siti Syafiqah is one of the members of the Students Representative Council of the school.

Commemorative photo inside the parliament

Aerial view of MT Fuji

The Wakayama castle viewed from the tower

Viewing the Wakayama castle from afar

The tour guide during the visit to the garden

Kotonoura Onzan Soen Park garden