St Xavier's Institution and St Francis' Institution

Students from St Xavier's writes:

"A donation booth was set up on our school’s speech day. It was held before and after the prize presentation. Several members were on duty at the booth to promote our cause, at the same time raising funds from parents as well as teachers who were present. There was also a short announcement given to parents just before the prize presentation ended to inform parents about what LDOPP is.

We also came up with a simple slide show using materials provided by the La Salle Centre as well as information from our own research. We played the slide show along the school’s corridor throughout the month we carried out LDOPP.

We took turns to give talks as well as showed a movie clip to spread the message of making this world a better place. The title of the movie clip was “Lost Generation”. At the end of the presentation, we left a donation box behind the ALT to raise some funds.

Generally, this project was a success as we managed to spread our message to almost 500 people. At the same time, we raised more than RM1000. The funds collected exceeded our target of RM500."



From SFI, Jared Nicholas , Gan Han Yang , Naethan , Daryl , Matthew Lee , Joel Lee , Chan Fan Kiat , Tay Chye Yuen , Glenn and Jowayne Choo writes:

"On 3 October 2009, a group of us organized LDOPP to create awareness about the sufferings and hardships that some children endure. These children, abused and unfortunate, lead tough lives of being child soldiers , prostitutes and slaves.

Brother Michael Kum launched the event at 7.30pm by introducing the topic ‘The War on Children’. Then we took turn providing information about child soldiers, sexual abuse, child labour and laws that protected children . We had slide shows , videos and a song. The song “Heal the World “ was a huge hit and everyone sang with high spirits.



Finally it was time for prayers. Prayers from different cultures were shown on the big screen. Later, we went down to the quadrangle for the final prayer . Everyone was given a candle each. We said the prayers together and when it was over, we left with a promise to continue this initiative."

St Michael's Institution and La Salle, Kota Kinabalu

Choong Li Fatt, Joel Lee and Joshua Loo from SMI writes:

"LDOPP was carried out successfully from the 12th of December to the 13th of December at the school foyer. There was a simple exhibition and a short speech to inform the students of the exhibition and to spread a message of awareness to the students. A few exhibition posters were put up in the school foyer about child soldiers, child labor and child abuse - current issues that children face today. Pieces of paper were given to students to write messages of peace as a symbolic act.





The response was quite good, as quite a number of people turned to write down their messages and gave positive comments about the exhibition, noting it was a change from the usual. They also gave us great support. Besides that, we managed to spread the awareness regarding this war on children.

There were a few problems such as technical issues, lack of publicity, and lack of organisers. But we feel that SMI LDOPP 2009 was big success regardless of the problems faced and we hope that next year’s LDOPP will be an even greater success."


From the top of Borneo island, LSKK writes:

"We started LDOPP in La Salle KK this year again, after a 2-year lapse. A meeting with the Young Lasallians was held and we decided that a small-scaled exhibition will be done in the Junior Campus, whereas the Senior Campus will have a Peace Wall.

Unfortunately, holidays and exams proved to be quite a distraction. In the end, a speech was made during assembly, and in the whole month of October, information about LDOPP and the inter-faith prayers for peace were put up on one of the notice boards in the Senior block. No activity in particular was held due to the exams, but there was an invitation in front of the board for everyone who passes through the board to halt and say those prayers for peace for a moment.



We're looking forward to having a better LDOPP next year!"

St Martin and St Paul's Institution

Dana, Clarence, Ivy, Arnold, Fadalya, Brenda, Flevianty, Michele, Marvin, Glensentdrick, Delvenna, Villarie, Esther, Darren and Emmanuel from St. Martin writes:

"Lasallian Youth Movement (LYM) dari S.M St. Martin telah mengadakan lawatan ke asrama Butitin, Nabawan. Lawatan ini bertujuan untuk mengeratkan silaturahim antara para Lasallian serta untuk mengetahui cara hidup orang di sana. Kami telah memungut derma dari murid-murid, para guru dan masyarakat sekeliling untuk dihulurkan kepada pihak asrama Butitin. Kami juga telah mengadakan aktiviti seperti membaca ‘Universal Prayer’ bersama-sama pihak asrama dan menyanyikan lagu ‘We Are Lasallian’ selepas aktiviti Ice-breaking.

LYM telah mengadakan upacara pembacaan doa mengikut ajaran agama masing-masing selaras dengan konsep 1 Malaysia semasa perhimpunan. Setiap doa diwakili oleh seorang pelajar. Semua pelajar berdoa dengan sepenuh hati selepas diterangkan tujuan doa tersebut oleh guru penasihat iaitu Mdm. Nancy A. Liging.

Sempena LDOPP juga, LYM telah mengadakan aktiviti menghias dan mengindahkan dewan agar dewan sekolah sekolah menjadi lebih menarik.

Aktiviti-aktiviti tersebut telah berjalan dengan lancar dengan kerjasama daripada semua pihak."




Kershan, Sean, Joshua and Awang from SPI writes:

“During the daily morning assembly a speech was given to introduce LDOPP to the school. Then, what St. Francis of Assisi said about peace was read. We also had interfaith prayers. We were glad to hear that the programme was very well received by all. Saying the Prayer for Peace from four different religions in English was good because everyone could understand them. It expresses the theme ‘One Malaysia’.



All Paulians were then invited to join the Paulian La Salle Confreres for the LDOPP activities at 12.50 p.m. in Upper Six 1. We had a talk about ‘War on Children’. The participants were actively participating through Q & A, finding out what could be done to help the children in need. This was then followed by a talk about the meaning of peace.



Then all participants and teachers present contributed to a “Peace Wall”, which was then displayed outside the staffroom.“



They even asked teachers for feedback! Here's what Pn Ng Siew Pin felt about LDOPP:

"We Paulians are glad to be able to participate in this La Sallian Day of Prayer for Peace (LDOPP). It is a good act to gather together regardless of creed, colour and religion to pray for a better society especially in terms of peace and harmony. Besides to increase our awareness for the small things we can do to bring forth peace, we also pray for peace to fill the hearts and minds of people who have been chosen to lead the entire nations. Although we may feel helpless as individuals, together we have the power to restore hope love and peace to the world."

La Salle, Klang and La Salle, Petaling Jaya

Yagesan from La Salle, Klang writes:

"On 14 October 2009, the participants of Klang Valley Regional Convention had their Lasallian Day of Prayers for Peace 2009. The objective of the event was to create awareness among the students about the plight of unfortunate children around the world. We prepared a 7-minute video presentation and a few booklets for the students and the teachers. We also hung 15 charts in the school hall. These charts had information on child labor, child trafficking and child abuse.


The students were brought into the hall according to their classes. When They were invited to read the charts and to watch the video presentation. We received many compliments by the teachers and students. Our principal, Madam Lily Lee, asked us to continue this good work and to make this event a tradition in La Salle Klang."



Khai Shen, Mark and Kelvin from La Salle PJ writes:

"We gave a speech during assembly to create awareness about abuse to children amongst the students of SMK La Salle PJ. A prayer was also said with materials taken from the kit but was modified to suit the theme which was ‘War On Children’. Overall the speech and the prayer was a success as we managed to attract the attention of the students and hopefully they learnt something.



We also did a slideshow presentation about war on children. Materials for the slideshow was found on the internet as well as taken from the kit. A video of the children in Sierra Leone was also shown towards the end of the slideshow. We faced a small problem because the slideshow was held on the last day of school and the attendance was low. The students were also distracted because of the same reason."

Let's end the year together...

...by giving the students from the following schools a pat on their backs for organising LDOPP in their schools and giving a voice to less-fortunate children:

St. Xavier’s Institution, Penang
St. Michael’s Institution, Ipoh
La Salle, Petaling Jaya
La Salle, Klang
St. Francis' Institution, Malacca
St. Paul’s Institution, Seremban
La Salle, Kota Kinabalu
St. Martin, Tambunan
St. Joseph’s School, Kuching

The following posts will be summaries of LDOPP reports received by La Salle Centre.

Stay tuned!

Catalyst for Change

The 19th National Lasallian Leaders Convention was concluded a fortnight ago.

Here's a quick reflection on the convention's theme - Catalyst for Change.

In chemistry, a catalyst changes material from one form to another. It does not force any reaction to occur, but rather its presence naturally drives a reaction.

As Lasallians, we always strive to be agents of change for the better in our social environment, be it in school, at home, among peers, or society at large. We are called to respond positively to the needs of the realities around us, to make the responsible choice and to do the right thing for the community, rather than just for oneself. Our purposeful journey is one of self introspection and embracing a collective purpose among our peers, to make choices that are sometimes difficult in this day and age.

Lasallian catalysts do not impose or force change, but introduce it first by embracing the necessary changes in their own lives and choices, and then engaging others to follow suit. By virtue of leading by example, we hope that our efforts gain momentum and strength in numbers, and in the end we would be able to facilitate the change for a better world for all.

In truth, the world would be a better place if everyone made more responsible choices. This year, our national convention challenges all Lasallians to be ‘Catalysts for Change’ and to set the example of making responsible choices.

We invite you to share your convention experience with us! Leave a comment or do so on our Facebook discussion page here.

Also, more pictures on the Facebook group page here.

Subscribe to the blog

Folks,

You can now subscribe to this blog - any updates will then be automatically delivered to your email.

Just type your email into the feedburner BOX on the right column and hit subscribe. Easypitsy.

A confirmation email will then be emailed to you. You'll need to click on a confirmation link in that email to activate your subscription. Check your spam mail if you can't find the confirmation mail.

Enjoy what remains of 2009!

Repost: KS Jomo Lecture: When will we ever learn? Has Malaysia learnt the correct lessons from past crises?

UPDATE @15/12: Added map to venue

RSVP please! Thanks.

http://www.sayaanakbangsamalaysia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=207:ks-jomo-lecture-when-will-we-ever-learn-has-malaysia-learnt-the-correct-lessons-from-past-crises&catid=37:piggyback&Itemid=58

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INVITATION to a PUBLIC LECTURE by Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 Strategic Information and Research Development Centre and Youth for Change cordially invite you to a Public Lecture by the well-known public intellectual, Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram of the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Details of the lecture are as follows: When will we ever learn? Has Malaysia learnt the correct lessons from past crises? Date: Wednesday, Dec 16 2009 Time: 7.30pm Venue: Hotel Singgahsana, Persiaran Barat, off Jalan Sultan, 46760 Petaling Jaya (next to Taman Jaya LRT Station) Admission: FREE


The Topic The world is still struggling to emerge from the longest and deepest financial crisis in six decades. For every piece of optimistic news about recovery there are stories of setbacks and worsening downturns. Asia has been here before. A decade ago, the Asian financial crisis swept across the region. It not only prompted some rethinking of how to 'manage' financial crises but also stimulated some serious rethinking about the character of the development model in Asia. Lessons were learnt and new policy and institutional frameworks were put into place. But the severity of the current crisis begs a question: did politicians and policymakers really learn the right lessons from ten years ago? This is the burning question that is addressed in Jomo's important public talk.


The Speaker Jomo is one of the world's leading thinkers on questions of development -- not just development economics but also the policy commitments and institutional frameworks for international cooperation that are necessary to deliver both reform and sustainability. From his position at the United Nations he is able to shape debates and influence their outcomes. At the same time, he remains profoundly committed to building longstanding solutions to the most pressing problems that face the world today - environmental degradation and climate change, financial disorder and continuing uneven development. Come and listen to him offer important reflections on what has gone wrong and what might be done to advance a progressive agenda.

19th NLLC

The 19th edition of the National Lasallian Leaders Convention kick starts next week from 8th December 2009 - 12th December 2009!

Drop by on night of the 12th December. for the 20 Years Anniversary of Lasallian Youth Work in Malaysia Celebration DINNER. All are invited!

20 Years - Convention on the Rights of the Child

In 1989, a group of youth came together to organise the 1st National Lasallian Leaders' Convention. This year, as we celebrate 20 years of lasallian youth work in Malaysia, we find that there's another cause for celebration!


In that same year, world leaders decided that children under 18 years old needed a special convention to protect them and so the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was born. Today, 20 years ago, the CRC was open for signature and ratification.


The four core principles of the Convention are

non-discrimination;
devotion to the best interests of the child;
the right to life, survival and development;
respect for the views of the child.


All the Articles protects the rights of the last, the lost and the least. ;)


Malaysia ratified the CRC in 1995 but expressed reservations for (which means they don't agree with and will not abide by) Articles 1, 2, 7, 13, 14, 15, [...], 28, [paragraph 1 (a)] 37, [...] of the Convention. To find out what these Articles are about, go to http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm.


For more information on the CRC, visit http://www.unicef.org/rightsite/237.htm


Radio stations and newspapers nation-wide have stepped up to support and to promote respect for the rights of children.


So did Lasallians!


Firstly, Lasallian Day of Prayers for Peace (LDOPP) was held in Lasallian schools (nation-wide as well). The theme was 'The War on Children'. Photographs and more information coming soon!


Next, a few of us, namely Marveen, Dinah, Aaron and Pui Yi, helped out at Yayasan Kajian Pembangunan Masyarakat (YKPM), an NGO that works with urban poor children. We conducted sessions on 'Values' for children aged 6 - 15 years. A whopping 49 children turned up!

Here's what Dinah thought of the experience:

"It was my first time helping out with the YKPM programme. I knew the programme was specially for children but certainly did not expect such a big group! There were around 40 of them with only four of us trying to control the crowd. The children were very active and some were vying for extra attention. Nevertheless, we still managed to carry out sessions after a while. I think the group prefers activity-based programmes because they lose interest quickly while facilitators talk or give instructions. They like activities that require them to move around. All in all, it was a different experience from other Lasallian activities. For the next programme, we definitely need more helping hands!"


Here are a few photographs that don't do justice to the chaos on that day.

Celebrating 20 Years

Come December, it'll be 20 years since the convention process started. We've all been part this "funny-magical-convention" thing, and it has impacted our lives in one way or another.

Hence on 12th December 2009, we'll be having a 20 Years Anniversary Reunion Dinner! We've got a list of exciting events and programme during the event, so do join us!

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2009
Venue: La Salle Centre, Ipoh (St. Michael's Inst)
Time: 5:30pm - 11:00pm
Tickets: RM30

For ticketing services, please call the following people :

* Eric Bryan
* Vinesh Naidu
* Doreen DC

or leave us a note here.


Visit the facebook group here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=157166623725

Map for Terry Fox Run KL 2009

Hi,

For those attending the Terry Fox Run KL 2009, here's a map for your reference. Better to stop at PASAR SENI station and walk to lake gardens.

Race starts at 8.45am, so please do plan your traveling time accordingly.

Thanks!

Green day report

So it came to be that a few Lasallians gathered at a recycling centre last Saturday to help out and to gain useful insight on what happens there.


We got Naz (who had never been to a recycling centre) to share his experience.


'I expected a huge building with lots of machinery, but it was rather a big hut. This place was more of a collection centre for recyclables, as they collected, sorted and then sold the material to the actual recycling centres. It was fun to meet up with other Lasallians in this setting. We were tasked with sorting and separating items on the floor into various categories.


My time there made me think. Most of the items I saw were the ones I usually threw away as rubbish. I realise now that it was probably a waste of resources and not environmentally friendly. If only we all paid more attention to the things we throw away, and recognise the ones we could recycle, we could be helping to make the earth a greener place.


I hope more people would join us there the next time'

Naz and Choulyin digging in

Did you know that styrofoam typically takes more than 1,000,000 years to decompose? And NO ONE recycles them because they have no resale value?

Some of the things we salvaged really wasn't rubbish at all!

The obligatory group shot after a job well done for the day.

Among Other Things

Hello,

LDOPP is up and running in various Lasallian schools around the country. Progress has been good and it’s definitely inspiring to see our young friends taking proactive action in making a difference. More updates soon!

Meanwhile, please do join us this Saturday in helping out at a recycling centre. It’ll be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Details, as previously mentioned, are as follow:

When : Saturday, 24th Oct 2009
Time : 3.00p.m. – 6.00p.m.(approx ending time)
Where : Section 17, Petaling Jaya

And we hereby present to you Pui Yi’s magnificently drawn map masterpiece:



Alternatively, you can take the Putra LRT to University Station, and we can arrange to car pool from there. Let us know if you’re coming!

October LDOPP updates

For those not up to date with progress, the Lasallian Day of Prayers for Peace are happening in schools this month.

A big round of applause to La Salle Klang, St Francis Inst Melaka and St Paul's Seremban have carried out the event in their schools.

Coming up soon are the programmes in St Joseph's Kuching, La Salle PJ, La Salle Kota Kinabalu and St Michael's Institution, Ipoh.

SJI will be having an exhibition, a video screening and a donation drive from 13 – 21 Oct 2009. LSPJ, being innovative and working around exams, have already had a prayer session on 15 Oct 2009, and will be having an exhibition on 16 Nov 2009.

To create awareness on the plight of children, LSKK will be having a 'Peace Wall' and a blog-writing competition on 28 Oct 2009. Last but not least, SMI will join the fray of Lasallian schools carrying out this LDOPP initiative by having an exhibition and a prayer session from 9 - 13 Nov 2009.

Also, we have received word from St Mary's College of California that they will be conducting a week of prayers for peace beginning Oct 18.

For those who don't know what LDOPP is, go check it out here

October Should be Fun

Dear all,

A couple of activities that you can come join in the coming weeks. Please let us know if you’re coming (we hope you do!), by leaving a comment, message us on facebook, email, sms, etc etc – whichever works for you - so that we can make arrangements.

No worries on transportation, we can plan for that once attendance is confirmed.

1. Recycling Centre Help Out
Helping out in a recycling centre by doing some physical work like sorting items, shifting items, etc. A follow up of our “Go Green” FT2 Weekend

When : Saturday, 24th Oct 2009
Time : 3.00p.m. – 6.00p.m.
Where : Section 17, Petaling Jaya (detailed map and directions will be sent later)

2. Terry Fox Run KL 2009
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox, CC (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer treatment activist. He became famous for the Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research, which Fox ran with one prosthetic leg.

The Terry Fox Run is run around the world every year to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. It is non-competitive with no winners or awards, just people joining to raise money for cancer research.

When : Sunday, 1 November 2009
Time : Flag off @ 9.00 a.m., gather at 8.45am
Where : Starting point – Taman Tasik Perdana/Lake Gardens, KL; within walking distance from Masjid Jamek Putra LRT Station

Rules & Regulations:
- All participants must run on the designated route. There are 2 routes- 5km and 3.5km for the family run.
- For wheelchair bound, and physically challenged participants, please note that there are slopes along the run route.
- Participants are to be at the assembly area by 8.45 a.m.
- No registration required. Just turn up during the run day. You can buy the Terry Fox Run official t-shirt, RM25 each.
- limited parking is available on site, and public transport is recommended.
- The organisers, their agents, representatives, successors and assigns, are not liable for any injuries suffered, damage and loss of properties by participants at this event

You can run, jog, walk, skip, bike, skateboard, rollerblade, jump, roll, walk on your hands, or even moonwalk! 5km will be quick, we’ll parade and have fun. Do not worry about being left behind, we have the Naidu brothers to piggy back you if you’re tired.

Hope to see you there!

PS: We've just hit our 50th post

The Greatest Love of All

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody's searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs
A lonely place to be
And so I learned to depend on me

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me

I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

And if by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love

-performed by Whitney Houston

Lasallian Day of Prayers for Peace 2009

The Lasallian Day of Prayers for Peace, or LDOPP, was initiated in Rome a couple of years ago by a group of Lasallian Youth.

The purpose of LDOPP is to be in solidarity through prayer with those who live in conflict, this being in line with our Lasallian spirituality of being one with the last, lost and the least.

This year marks the 3rd installment of LDOPP in Malaysia, and our theme for 2009 is 'The War on Children'. This brings our focus to all children who suffer each day, in war zones, in poverty, in abuse, in neglect etc. In every situation of conflict, it is always the children who are most affected. The same children who are fated to inherit the future. What kind of legacy are we passing on? What are we doing to our future?

This year, the task of executing the LDOPP programme was given to the delegates of the regional conventions. The general outline and material was provided by the MLYC and La Salle Centre, with the help of several capable Lasallian volunteers.

We are now proud to announce that LDOPP will be happening in 4 schools, with others following up.

St Francis Institution, Melaka will hold a weeklong programme from 28 Sept to 4 Oct, which includes essay writing competitions, exhibitions and prayers for peace

La Salle Klang will hold their version of LDOPP on 14 Oct, with an exhibition on the 'War on Children' from 8am to 5.30pm in the school hall.

La Salle Kota Kinabalu will also be holding LDOPP on the week beginning 28 Sept. Their itinerary includes speeches, exhibitions, graffiti walls for messages of peace etc.

More updates to follow soon. Stay tuned!

Freedom Film Fest 2009 (2009)

A public service announce brought to you by lasallianfriends.blogspot.com. For more info, please visit http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org/

Catch the

FreedomFilmFest2009

Presenting 23 heart-moving, eye-opening, award-winning human rights documentaries from Malaysia and around the world, over 3 days in 4 states.

2-4 OCTOBER 2009, The Annexe, Central Market KL
9-11 OCTOBER 2009, Han Chiang College, Penang
23-25 OCTOBER, Sek. Men. Chung Hua No.1, Kuching
30 OCTOBER-1 NOVEMBER, Tropical Inn, Johor Bharu

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR?

COMMUNITY VIDEO FORUM & SCREENINGS (Friday, 3.30-6.30pm) KL only

Community Video Forum & Showcase will be bringing to you a sharing session of experience and video showcase between community filmmakers and activists from Malaysia and around the SEA region who use video for community organising.

*Pre-registration required as seats are limited. Priority to NGO and community activists.


LAUNCH CEREMONY & OPENING FILM (Friday, 8 pm)

The 6th FreedomFilmFest2009 will be launched with the screening of AT STAKE, a brave and eye-opening documentary tackling taboo issues faced by Indonesian women. This anthology covers issues of female genital mutilation, unmarried women's experiences at the gynecologist, prostitution, and the sexuality of a migrant worker.

*Producer NIA DINATA, who is the director of the movie “Berbagi Suami” and also a renowned Indonesian feminist will be present in KL for Q&A after the screening.

PREMIERE OF FFF2009 WINNING FILMS! (Saturday, 7pm)

Al-Fatehah Memali by Rahmat Haron
This film portrays the journey of singer-songwriters, Black and Meor, trying to comprehend a massacre that happened in 1985 in Kg. Memali, Kedah. Their journey brings them to the village where they meet survivors and witnesses of the tragedy to uncover a forgotten story of injustice for most of Malaysia, but one forever etched in the hearts of those in Memali.

Kayuh by Soh Sook Hwa
This film is a first-hand account of a 100-strong contingent of cyclists in the JERIT cycling campaign who rode from Alor Setar and Johor Baharu to Kuala Lumpur for 16 days in order to address 6 major concerns of marginalized groups in Malaysia.

No Silver Lining: The Perak Crisis by The S-ploited.
What happens when “frogs” jump over to the other side? In Perak, when 3 elected representatives of the Pakatan Rakyat 'hopped” over to become BN friendly, it started a political wrestling match for power between the two opposing political alliance.

* Entry is FREE but strictly by invitation only as it is a closed-door private event.

For inquiries and reservations of passes - Please email freedomfilmfest@komas.org or call 017-3749887, with the following information:

Name | Contact tel. no and email | Title of film/time of session that you would like to watch | Number of passes needed | In which state (KL, PG, JB, or KUCHING)

Post 'Awakening the Dreamer'...

...obviously there needs to be a facebook page for all of you who attended the programme at the FT weekend in Ipoh.

So go search 'Awakening the Dreamer Malaysia' and become a fan. Natasha and gang will be putting up announcements and other initiatives there for your viewing and participation.

thanks!

Post FT2

Young master Harvey Gooi shares his experience on last week's FT Weekend 2.

Arriving in Ipoh on 21st August 2009 at 11.00 p.m., Harvey took a 20 minutes walk all alone, from the Sri Maju bus station all the way to La Salle centre. Tired and sweaty, with his feet almost blistering because of his poorly fitted slippers, he walked down the slope leading into the centre, thinking in his heart, “Heck, why did I come all the way back here to Ipoh again?” However, the moment he stepped into La Salle centre, greeted by those familiar faces, voices and smiles, he knew why he had come. He came to be home with his other family again – his La Sallian family.

FT2 started the next day at 9.a.m. The theme for the meet this time around was and environmental one. This time around, facilitators from the The Awakening Team were invited to give a symposium entitled “Awakening the Dreamer; Changing the Dream”. The goal: to promote an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on this planet as the guiding principle of our times. Yes, even Harvey went “What?” In a nutshell, the three components which are environmental sustainability, spiritual fulfillment and social justice work hand in hand in order to promote change to the current state of our world. The idea of plainly going green would not work unless one feels a sense of satisfaction and the support of the society.

The symposium lasted for 4 hours, short as it may be, FT members were definitely glad to have learnt not only about how to work towards a sustainable world, but also that they are not alone in their strife. But that wasn’t then end of the weekend. FT members were given an assignment – to look up on issues of energy conservation, air pollution, water conservation and waste management.

Well, FT meet 2 was not all serious. There were of course, the all important late-night mamak outings, pillow talk, “dai dee” and pictionary! As simple as it may sound, those little unplanned activities are what made FT2 such a fun and rejuvenating weekend.

Well, after the weekend, Harvey was feeling refreshed, and the prese of the new semester suddenly seemed to have faded away. In his heart, he has also pledged to promote an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on this planet as the guiding principle of his times. And he is still wondering… How is he to draw “squirt” and “period” in Pictionary should he ever get the card…

Some pictures from the weekend:

Our Identity

This is the proposed logo for the FT. The original design comes from Mr Koi Lik Wai, former Michaelian.

Brief description and rationale of elements in design

- the main element visible is the star, formed by the pieces of irregular shape and sizes; this represents all the members of the formation team, striving and continuing the work of La Salle, represented by the star image that forms amidst the pieces.

- the pieces appear to be moving towards the star image, suggesting that our lives are focused towards our Lasallian spirituality.

Since this is going to be our logo, we are open to comments and ideas for modification. Hurry up, have your say!

FT weekend poster

[click to enlarge]
[click here for more details]

FT Weekend 2 - Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream

When? Where?
The programme begins at 9.30am, 22 Aug. It ends at 1.30pm, 23 Aug. Lunch is provided on Sunday.

The venue is La Salle Centre, Ipoh.

What will FT Weekend 2 be about?
We’re going green!! We’ll be running an environment-themed mini symposium, which will be conducted by an external group of trainers.

The weekend programme is called the “AWAKENING THE DREAMER, CHANGING THE DREAM”.

What’s “AWAKENING THE DREAMER, CHANGING THE DREAM”?
The Awakening the Dreamer (ATD) is a GLOBAL initiative aimed at bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Planet Earth.

We’re fortunate to have an external group, MY Awakening, to help us run the ATD programme for FT2.

More info on the ATD @ http://awakeningthedreamer.org/content/view/115/135

What’s in for me if I attend?
The ATD programme will be filled with eye-opening information, cutting-edge multimedia, and personal empowerment. It seeks to assist us in exploring not just our relationship with the environment/earth, but also our relationship with the community/social justice, and our own spiritual fulfillment.

No worries, we’ll not gonna bore you with statistics and facts that you already know.

And of course, we’ll have the captain ball, board games, mamak-outings etc for everyone to rekindle old friendships and make new ones!

How do I signup?
Contact ISAAC @ aisaacstephen@gmail.com or 012-4856471 / 016-5439940. Let us know when will you be arriving and departing. Alternatively, just drop us a comment on the blog!

Hope to see you there, signup today!

Calling OTs for LEAD

Dear FT members,

We are approaching LEAD season and
we are recruiting LEADOTs now.

As you know, LEAD is a minimalist programme and spaces are limited
so SIGN UP NOW!

Please refer here for more details on our 3 LEAD camps lined up for this year, and don't hesitate to contact ISAAC if you need more information.


Thanks!

Asli Day Out

Click on the pictures for a clearer view.


Picture montage @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMXOivUw-zw

Lasallian Expedition and Development Camp

Dear all,

We would like to confirm 3 LEAD camps happening in Aug / Sept.


1) St Michael's Institution, Ipoh
Prep meeting
Date - 1 Aug 2009
Venue - La Salle Centre, Ipoh

Camp - 28 to 30 Aug 2009
Venue - Ulu Kenas, Kuala Kangsar



2) La Salle, Klang
Prep meeting
Date - 8 Aug 2009
Venue - School

Camp - 4 to 6 Sept 2009
Venue - to be decided


3) St George's Institution, Taiping
Prep meeting
Date - 15 Aug 2009
Venue - School

Camp - 11 to 13 Sept 2009
Venue - Ulu Kenas, Kuala Kangsar


Those who are interested in being OTs for the above programmes,
kindly email or call ISAAC directly at aisaacstephen@gmail.com or 012-4856471


Call him now! He is still waiting for you.

A True Xaverian Story

FT Member Vincent Ooi, an alumni of St. Xavier's Institution, gives his first hand account of Bro Paul's retirement ceremony which was held on 19 June 2009. Thanks Vince.

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It always feels good to be walking along the hallowed corridors of my alma mater, St. Xavier's Institution. Although, this trip I made last Friday morning, with my bunch of good old friends, I felt a slight tinge of melancholy and sadness. It was no ordinary occasion that was unravelling in school that day, in fact a momentous event I'd say, and a new beginning for St. Xavier's Institution.

Yep you guessed it right, I was in school for Bro. Paul's retirement ceremony. For those of you who don't know, Bro Paul Ho is the last Bro. Principal of a Lasallian school in Malaysia. His retirement marks, quite rightly the end of the La Salle Brothers principalship in all Lasallian schools across Malaysia.

Besides having the distinction of being the first locally-trained Lasallian Brother to head a school, he is also the longest-serving Brother Principal in any Lasallian schools in all of Malaysia. So naturally, the occasion was a huge one to savour, and it took me a while to realize that after Bro. Paul leaves, the school is bound to have changes.

SXI will have a first lay-person principal for the first time in its 157 years of existence, and I'm sure, his arrival will be a much-anticipated one, not only for the current Xaverians and teachers, but for us old boys as well.

The ceremony was simple, and the presence of many other old boys marked an even more fitting tribute and a testament to Bro. Paul's leadership and influence in the school ever since 1993. Also present was Bro. Karl Wolff, former Bro. Principal of SXI who is currently residing in the school grounds, Bro. Thomas Lavin, Bro. Director for Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, Bro. Anthony Rogers, Bro Director for Malaysia and a few other distinguished guests and representatives from the Ministry of Education.

A few teachers and administrators took turns to give their congratulatory speeches to Bro Paul for his contributions all these years, and when it was finally Bro. Paul's turn to speak, all heads turned towards his direction. After all, never again will the current Xaverians, and us old boys, and the old boys before us see another white-robed figure strutting down the school corridors, shouting out instructions or giving advice while still maintaining their presence.

His last message was filled with encouragement, for staff and students alike, and that hoping at the same time the Lasallian legacy will live on, even though the Brothers will no longer be there to head the schools.

Rightafter, Bro. Paul was asked to complete a symbolic act - cutting of balloons and releasing 'em up into the sky, which also at the same time marks the end of the special assembly.

As a personal reflection, I'm deeply grateful for Bro Paul's services to the school, and indeed feel very privileged to have attended school while a Bro. Principal was still presiding over the school. My 7 years in school (including Sixth Form) was definitely the best times of my life thus far, and I'm glad to be a part of the Xaverian heritage.

However, my worry is: Will the first and the next lay-man principal of SXI understands the heritage and the legacy? Will there be drastic changes in school, in terms of its policies and direction? Will he/she be an Old Boy, or an Old Lasallian at least? One can only hope for the best, and I am surely doing so, for the sake of my alma mater.

Happy retirement Bro. Paul! Thank you for your 16 years of invaluable service to the school. May you be blessed always..