Three Rotary Clubs jointly organised the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards 2007 (RYLA), namely Rotary Club of Johor Centennial, Rotary Club of Kota Tinggi and Rotary Club of eClub 3310. The camp’s organising chairperson PP Fancy Tan said it was aimed at promoting integration and fostering goodwill among youth which was held from 29 November to 2 December 2007.
More than 100 students spent their holidays at the Tanjung Sutera Resort and they are between the ages of 14 and 25, came from as far as Scotland, China, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, Malacca and Johor. The camp was conducted under strict discipline where we were required to wake up as early as 6.30am and attend Chi Gong lessons.
We also attended motivational talks, seminars on social etiquette, leadership, crime prevention, career guidance and a heart-to-heart discussion on relationship with parents. The talk by Rtn Ong Hock Siew, was about how the speaker himself had snubbed his father for 14 years. He gave his father the silent treatment until he attended a talk in Sabah about the value of forgiveness. While, Past District Governor of Rotary Club and District RYLA adviser PP John Cheah shared with us that RYLA is aimed at providing an effective training experience for selected youths. It is to encourage leadership qualities. Apart from that, the Rotaractors whom were chosen to participate last year's Group Study Exchange to The Netherland also shared their experience with us.
We took part in various team-building games like tug-of-war, building bridges with straw, group plank walking relay and finding out the names of other participants. All talks were conducted on a voluntary basis by Dr Norma Sit, Chew Ban Seng, Fung Lee Jean, PP Ong, state Deputy Narcotics Chief Superintendent Dorairaja Nathan and Dr Doris Ang. We were taught to explore new career paths and turn into successful adults. The trainers also shared with us how to resolve family, social and professional conflicts.
Being a shy and timid person by nature, it was quite surprising to find myself performing a sketch on stage with my group of new friends during the Talent Nite; RYLA is indeed where relationships are forged through talks, games and activities that require team effort. We even cleaning up the beaches of Sedili Besar in Kota Tinggi and collected 23 large bags of rubbish for our community service project.
I was at first not too pleased when President Veronica approached me to attend this RYLA, as I am going to Johor alone… But I am glad to be given such an opportunity and further more I was fully sponsored by our sponsor club, Rotary Club of Likas Bay, thank you so much!
All of us felt very sad leaving the camp, through this program, we have met and made lots of new friends. I sincerely thank Rotaract Club of Likas Bay and our sponsor club for such a wonderful and memorable experience. I hope other members will take up and participate RYLA in future if you were offered this opportunity.
Reported by,
Rtr. Yap Vun Fui
President Esther and PP Jason Ho with President Chua Soon Lan and spouse.
The 'Shanghai Shot' dance group. 
