Report on Moulding Future Leaders: Training of Trainers Programme

On the 3rd of November 2012, the Youth Commission, National Council of Women's Organisations, Malaysia had organised a programme that was held at the Shah's Village Hotel. The programme was developed by The Baha'i Office for the Advance of Women and 5 of the Leos, Leo Ruby Wong Chui Yee, Leo Teo Shin Li, Leo Priyatharishini A/P Ravi, Leo Tan Ju Yee and Leo Sharifah Nur Jahan were given an opportunity to attend this programme. We arrived at the venue on 8.45 am, accompanied by Puan Martita. We were greeted by the receptionists and required a strip of paper to fill up, a file and a name tag was given. A few members of the Interact Club of SMK Assunta were also seen present in the programme as we entered Dewan Parameswara. 


We were separated into different tables according to the number of our name tags and had an ice breaking session within the table members. Settings of ground rules were announced and we had an ice breaking session again with the other groups. Each group had to find three things they have in common and shared it out to the other groups. Then, Activity 1 started with an empowerment talk on Self-Esteem from one of the hoses. Two videos about judging on ones' self from Dove were presented. An activity called 'Shopping Spree' was held where each group had to send three representatives from each group and fish out a personality card from a paper bag and stick it on their forehead. He/she has to guess out their own personality based on what the shopkeepers describe them as. 2 of the Leos, Leo Ruby Wong and Leo Teo Shin Li, were among who got nominated to go in front for the activity.


Next, a worksheet was given to every participant and they had to fill up the 'Self Esteem Wheel' and shared it among the group members and the activity was called 'Know Your Worth'. Then, all the participants had to take a small piece of paper and scribble what they don't like about themselves and put it in a bowl with the paper crushed. The bowl is passed around among the group members to open a random paper and tell what could be worse than the problem according to the paper they took. A tea break was given at 10.35 am. Popiah goreng, sandwiches, mihun and hot beverages were provided.

After that, we came back to continue the programme with Session 2 which was 'Stand Up for Change'. This session was aimed to empower the young to be informed about Sustainable Development and to become catalysts of positive change in their communities. We were given a piece of mahjong paper to draw out what they think of 'Sustainable Development'. A mini quiz was given on the screen and we were to answer it. A screening of two inspirational videos which are 'The Apple Analogy of the World' and 'Severn Suzuki' really opened our eyes about the importance of developing more sustainably. Later, an activity called 'Attitudes' was carried out. Two pieces of mahjong paper and a bag of cards were given to each group to sort out. It was to give participants an idea of what kind of attitudes were needed to build a more sustainable world and which attitudes we should avoid in order to prevent ourselves from contributing to a unsustainable world. 


We then were dismissed for lunch and we came back with the third activity which was 'Breakfast with Mentors' where young people were taught how to manage an event of empowerment talks and supplementary activities to polish our leadership skills. We were placed into groups of people whom we are comfortable working with. We were given a piece of mahjong paper to write out our plans on managing the empowerment talks. A few of the groups presented on what they had organized and we were also given the opportunity to come up and present our organized plan.


Lastly, everyone was gathered to take a group photo and certification presentation was carried out. We then dismissed for refreshments and went home after that as fresh polished leaders with our knowledge from the talk.


Report by,
Leo Sharifah Nur Jahan.