Youth: Catalyst for Change!

 Front row from left: Adrian Soidi, the Youth Ambassador of Voice Out 9, Dwana Andrew, the Chairperson of Voice Out 9, Mohd Yassin Ibrahim, the District Officer of Ranau, Chin Poh Choo, the Executive Director of Good Shepherd Services & Lajim Hj. Abdul Momin, Parliament Affair Officer

The District Officer Officiated Voice Out 9

Mr Mohd Yassin bin Ibrahim, District Officer signing the Voice Out 9 plaque

Youth-Prep Centre, the Organiser

Youth-PREP Centre (YPC) orgainsed the annual youth festival ‘Voice Out 9’ on 2 November  2019. It was  held at Dewan Masyarakat Ranau.

The District Officer of Ranau, Mr. Mohd Yassin bin Ibrahim officiated ‘Voice Out 9’. Besides him were other government agencies which came to show their support.

Approximately 300 youths, mostly from secondary schools in Ranau attended the event.  In his launching speech, the District Officer stressed the importance of engaging youth and understanding the various challenges they faced in this new media age. He added that events like ‘Voice Out 9’ can help to unite youths in Ranau District and provide them a platform for self-development and empowerment through their involvement, be it as volunteers or participants.

The Theme: ‘SIMBAN Noh KOmUlakan’  translated ‘Youth, Transform’

‘The theme of VO 9 is ‘SIMBAN Noh KOmUlakan’.  This Dusun phrase translated into English is ‘Youth, transform!’  “The theme of VO 9 is a call for change” said Dwana Andrew, the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee.  She added that “Youths are catalysts for change and VO 9 challenges them to take charge in their roles and responsibilities to improve their own well-being in all aspects.  This includes realising their self-potential, managing their social relationships and having a voice in issues that matters to them”.

Celebrate Creativity and Talents

As with the previous Voice Out events, the main objective of this event is to celebrate the creativity and talents of youth.  Here they could present them in a variety of expressions from their perspectives.

The event featured performances by the youths included the winner of National & Folklore Dance in Braga, Portugal, SMK Tun Fuad Stephens Trio; drum circle by Jay Anderson & Jason Rae; vocal performances by Reroy and MISOGINAVOICE and acoustic music by youths from Sabah Animation Creative Contents Centre (SAC3); and not forgetting a musical folklore performance by Komulakan Bundu Tuhan, that promotes the call to transform.

Besides the performances there was a forum called ‘BAH, Ceritalah!’ and a special slot for the Youth Ambassador ‘What’s On Your Mind’.

Who were featured at the Youth Ambassador, ‘What’s On Your Mind?’

• They were Lina Ramsah, a former curator TweetMalaysia
• Dr. Trixie Kinajil, the Assistant Executive Director of Good Shepherd Services
• Jivin Jayne Ginajil, a counsellor in a private school in Kota Kinabalu,

Adrian Soidi was the moderator cum the Youth Ambassador

The festival included a Kid’s corner and Do It Yourself (DIY) workshop.

Aspiration of Ms Dwana,  Chairperson of Voice Out 9

Through the event we hope to generate conversations and ideas to enable positive transformation for youth today.” said Dwana in her speech as the Voice Out 9 Chairperson.   She related that in preparation for VO 9, YPC conducted sessions in five secondary schools in Ranau to assess the key issues confronting youths.  The findings from these sessions which covered media usage, peer management and self-protection had surfaced during the forum, ‘BAH, Ceritalah!

Voice Out 9 organizing team shows their very own unique body movement in this group photo. Back row, 3rd from left: Sr. Jossie Sili, the Manager of YPC was present throughout the event

This article is submitted by Ms Dwana Andrew, the Chairperson of Voice Out 9