From left to right, front row: Edwin, Joel, Jun Sern, Allen.
From left to right, second row: Wilson, Artisha, Amelia, Hany, San Yee, Sandy, and Wei KangEducation is about nurturing values and developing character. It is about returning what we have gained to our respective communities. It is therefore imperative for all of us to not only understand diversity but to appreciate and embrace it, so that we will live together harmoniously with mutual acceptance and respect. Diversity starts with understanding that each individual is unique and recognising our individual differences.
On 28th – 30th April 2014, KDU University College being part of the Diversity and Inclusion Youth Camp by sending participants and volunteer. A total of 10 students were there to learn the issue of diversity and inclusion and our student counsellor was a facilitator for the camp.
Sandy Lee, SHTCA:
"I am feeling happy and thankful that I had the opportunity to join this camp because I get to know with people from different cultures and races. Overall, the part that I liked the most is cultural night. All of them are lovely and have different styles in presenting their performance."
Wei Kang, SHTCA:
"Before I went to this camp, whenever I see people with black color skin, I think that these people are dangerous and I won't talk to them. It's because of my stereotype mind set. I never thought about how they think and what they feel until some participants of the camp who was a victim that experienced this situation before shared about their experience and feelings."
San Yee, SCCA:
"My facilitator said bullying is a big no-no to him. No one has the right to bully anyone. The bully is the one who is weak, not the victim. He really took good care of my group and he gave us many opportunities to speak out. That was where I gained my confidence. Well, I'm glad that I went for this camp."
Jun Sern, SCCA:
"The most important thing that I would never forget is that "Commitment leads to action; Action brings your dream closer." However, we need to step out from comfort zone in order to achieve something that we really want."
Joel, SCCA:
"I like the concept of this camp whereby it focused on people's mindset living in a society full of diversity instead of camps on educational purposes. It is a great way to meet new people in this kind of camp which allows you to learn more of the lifestyle and background of people from across the globe."
Edwin, SCCA:
"Although we all come from different countries with different cultures and speak different languages, I felt glad and touched to see that we are able to unite as one during the group sessions by communicating in English. Not only that we learned about cultures and accent of their English, the meal we had also from different countries too."
Artisha, SCCA:
"This camp does show that every one is the same, no matter what colour, where they come from, what religion they are, we are all the same. What I like the most is the cultural night where everyone cheers for each other no matter what mistake we did, dancing together, coming together as one. It made me felt touched and happy that everyone can be together as one."
Amelia, SCCA;
"It made me understand people who are different in skin colour, culture, age, religions, background and gender. Also, the collage was very interesting. It somehow made me understand what kind of person I see myself as."
Wilson, SCCA:
"Diversity & Inclusion Youth Camp 2014 has given me a strong platform to improve myself on my action and my thinking when I am out in the society. Besides that, when I am a leader next time, it has given me the opportunity to understand my peers, so that we would not be bias or stereotype the peers around me. This camp has also given me a hand on my career to embrace the diversity of the different people in the office."
Hany, Counsellor:
"It was a meaningful journey for everyone in the camp to shift our paradigms on diversity and inclusion from narrow and self-centred to broad and open-minded. Let's celebrate diversity and be kind to everyone surrounds us."
