Project Malaysia '08

Over the next two weeks Arthur and I will be co-mentoring the three project leaders for Project Malaysia '08. Their job is to create and run the project. This includes developing the project goals, choosing team members, raising funds, and coordinating resources. We advised them on weekly conference calls as they put things together over the months leading up to the project start. While on the ground they will run workshops, organize the schedule with activities, service programs, conflict resolution, and liaison with the media. We will assist them by observing their leadership choices and their interactions with the team while providing feedback as necessary.

These 3 leaders are remarkable young people. Their dedication and hard work is commendable. They took a huge risk by creatively breaking away from the usual project model. They also had to struggle with an already rigorous MIT schedule but they pulled it of with no excuses. Wesley is the public face of PM08. He made all the connections with our partners and sponsors. He seems destined to do some great things in public office some day. Tuan brings a great energy to the group. He’s always making sure that everyone’s staying motivated and is well respected for his humility. Kai is the organized, discipled one. He had the very difficult task of fitting all their ambitions into a short 2 week program. He’s the one who keeps the trains running on schedule which can sometimes be like herding cats. He’s not at all shy about taking control when necessary and stepping aside to let others shine when appropriate.

The rest of the team consists of 25 college students, with exceptional drive and ability, chosen from all over the world including, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, NYU, Harvard, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Their job is to mentor 25 local Malaysian high school students by creating workshops on topics like service, environmental awareness, leadership, fund raising, public speaking and generally inspiring them while giving them the tools necessary to succeed. They will help the high school students to develop and lead their own service programs, with an environmental emphasis. The local students are expected to continue the programs they themselves have designed and recruit their own teams through the rest of the year and hopefully beyond. Towards that end, SEALNet will provide a small seed grant to three projects.

Also an immense support to the team are Nicholas, Gianne and Pui Yee who are Malaysian volunteers who have been coordinating all the logistics on the ground before and during our trip.

SEALNet runs similar projects, each with their unique project focus, throughout South East Asia. Some examples are deworming in the Philippines, English language lessons in Vietnam and HIV care in Thailand. The organization has been growing rapidly in membership and reach in the few short years since its inception. I decided to work with the organization when I met with project leaders from the previous year. This group is just as enthusiastic.