Grow to Glow
After completing their major school exams, many young people look forward to relaxing, having fun, or picking up a part-time job to earn some pocket money. May 09, 2025
By Jennifer DuarteAfter completing their major school exams, many young people look forward to relaxing, having fun, or picking up a part-time job to earn some pocket money. However, six Form 5 schoolleavers in Ipoh decided to take on a different kind of challenge - by joining the Grow to Glow programme, a two-month initiative conceived by Fr Aloysius Tan, parish priest of the Church of St Michael. In the programme, the six participants, five boys and one girl, spent their weekdays at the parish from 9.00am to 4.00pm. They engaged in a variety of activities, including a personal development programme, a visit to an Orang Asli settlement, and even worked together to prepare lunch for the group on one occasion. A major component of the programme was a five-day personal development programme facilitated by Martin Jalleh. It focused on both personal and interpersonal growth, as well as addressing common youth issues. Participant Fabian Yoon shared that the sessions inspired him to deepen his faith. He was especially moved by the film Facing the Giants, which reminded him of the importance of trusting in God. One of the more memorable experiences was a visit to an Orang Asli settlement in Lenggong. Before the trip, participants helped pack essential supplies such as food and clothing. Due to limited space in the four-wheel drive, only four of them could make the journey. Bernard recalled the drive up steep slopes as both dangerous and exhilarating. Once there, the group helped distribute items like biscuits, slippers, and clothes. Aloysius Robinson described the visit as refreshing and eye-opening, appreciating the peace and beauty of the natural surroundings. Swimming in crystal-clear waters made him feel truly connected with nature. Henrick, another participant, was saddened by the hardships the Orang Asli face — lack of electricity, insufficient food, and widespread health issues. He was grateful that a medical team accompanied them to address some of these needs. Since the programme coincided with Lent, the participants were also actively involved in the parish's Lenten activities. They collected donations from parishioners, shopped for food rations for the underprivileged, and took part in liturgical preparations such as burning old palm leaves for Ash Wednesday and selling hot cross buns on Holy Thursday. Choo Yue Wen, the sole female participant, particularly enjoyed the charitable shopping spree for the less fortunate. They also attended a leadership course alongside other parish youths and students from Sam Tet Secondary School. This was conducted by Helena Michael, a certified trainer and lecturer from HELP University. Another standout experience was a weeklong visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor in Penang. 'Besides mopping floors and serving meals, we learned how to engage with the elderly — even playing mahjong with them,' shared Bryan Choong with a smile. Over the two months, participants also explored the history of the Bible, learned about the diocesan Sahabat Orang Asli ministry, and even picked up soap-making skills. Initially uncertain about what the programme entailed, the participants all agreed it far exceeded their expectations. Henrick summed it up best: 'My time was definitely spent more meaningfully than if I had taken a part-time job.'
The Grow to Glow programme offered a unique blend of intellectual, spiritual, and community formation. As Martin Jalleh noted, it was 'an excellent experiential programme — informative, practical, relevant, and holistic.' All six participants said they would wholeheartedly recommend it to their juniors in the years to come.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Orang Asli leaders honoured to attend Royal Tea at Istana Negara
KUALA LUMPUR: Two leaders from the Orang Asli community have spoken of their pride and gratitude after being invited to a Royal Tea Reception at Istana Negara, hosted in honour of the official birthday of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. Mat Ajin Waya, the Tok Batin of Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Melut in Sepang, Selangor, said it was the first time in his nearly 30 years of service that he had stepped inside the national palace. 'This is the first I've visited Istana Negara. I even had the chance to shake hands and take a photo with the King. I feel truly honoured and proud to represent the Orang Asli community,' the 60-year-old village head told Bernama. Also attending was Marin Munggai, 53, chairperson of Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Bangkong in Sungai Pelek, Selangor, who described the event as one of the most meaningful moments of his life. The two were among around 1,200 guests at the reception, held in the palace's main banquet hall. Other attendees included Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, foreign envoys and heads of government departments. Outstanding educators, national Olympic and Paralympic athletes, retired police and military personnel, national artists as well as students set to pursue higher education at leading institutions, including Harvard University, were also present.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Digitalisation of Orang Asli preschool education starts next year
GUA MUSANG: Orang Asli children will soon benefit from more modern educational facilities as efforts to digitalise preschool education will start next year, said the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor. She said plans are underway to provide internet access at all kindergartens under the Community Development Department (Kemas) in Orang Asli settlements, including those in remote areas. She said the initiative is part of the community's human capital development strategy within the next five years. "At the Rural Development and Regional Development Ministry level, we are currently formulating a strategy to digitalise preschool education in Orang Asli settlements. "Based on visits to several locations, we found that some kindergartens and educational institutions require special attention. "Insya-Allah, we will provide the necessary facilities according to the scope and allocations under Jakoa," she told reporters during the Mesra Rakyat Programme in Kuala Wook, here. Sapiah said there are 20 Kemas kindergartens in Kelantan and two in Terengganu located in Orang Asli settlements. "We are working closely with Kemas to identify locations that should be prioritised, as internet access and communication coverage are key needs in remote areas," she said, adding that implementation will begin in the most hard-to-reach locations first. – Bernama
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
3,000 community rangers to strengthen forest and wildlife protection
GEORGE TOWN: The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) will increase the number of community rangers to 3,000 this year under the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Programme (BP3), to curb illegal activities involving wildlife and forests. NRES secretary-general Datuk Dr Ching Thoo said the new appointments, comprising mainly members of the Orang Asli community as well as veterans of the armed forces and police, aim to strengthen protection efforts against encroachment in permanent forest reserves nationwide. "With the RM80 million allocation received this year, we plan to appoint up to 3,000 community rangers. "The impact has been positive so far, with reports indicating a clear reduction in illegal activities, especially poaching," he told reporters after launching the Jelajah Kelestarian Alam 2.0 programme at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) yesterday. "BP3 enables us to monitor forests more effectively and combat threats such as encroachment, illegal logging and poaching," he added. The programme, jointly organised by NRES, the Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation and the Department of Environment (DOE), drew over 250 participants, including USM vice-chancellor Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamed and DOE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar. Meanwhile, Ching urged residents affected by wildlife disturbances that damage property or crops to apply for the Property and Crop Damage Compensation (BKHT). He said RM10 million was allocated for the programme last year, but only 10 percent was disbursed due to the low number of applications. "BKHT was introduced last year to assist victims facing significant losses due to human-wildlife conflicts. "The initiative will continue this year with an additional RM1.5 million," he said. He said the ministry is reviewing a proposal to increase the BKHT payout rate from 50 percent to 60 percent of the reported damages to better support affected individuals. "Based on records, most of these claims involve elephant-related damages, especially in Johor, Kelantan and Pahang. "There are also reports involving monkeys, though to a lesser extent," he said. – Bernama
