Little did they know that they would return from it transformed, having gained new knowledge, new perspectives and, perhaps most importantly, new confidence in themselves.
Organised by Small Changes Malaysia, the Ngembak Blaja! Leadership Luminary programme provided 55 underprivileged Form 4 students from local schools SMK Paku and SMK Bako with insightful sessions on English-proficiency development, leadership training, and critical life-skills learning.
“Ngembak blaja!” is an Iban phrase that translates to “let’s learn!”
Held from April 25-27, the fully residential camp provided a safe and inclusive environment in which the young participants could express themselves and discover their full potential. It was the follow-up to one of Small Changes Malaysia’s pilot initiatives, Operation Balajalan Abagas, which was held in Sabah in 2023.
“Our organisation is turning 15 and, reflecting on our progress, we realised we had to bring our mission to every state in Malaysia,” said Syafiq Jamali, president of the Klang Valley-based NGO.
“Having started in Sabah, we decided that this time, we wanted to focus on Sarawak.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking, planning a programme that was quite far away for many of us. But we wanted to bring some of what we had been doing in the peninsula to East Malaysia.
“We believe that whatever benefits students in West Malaysia have been having, students in East Malaysia should receive them, too.”
Established in 2011, Small Changes Malaysia is a youth-led initiative on a mission to instil social consciousness in its volunteers, and help transform them into compassionate leaders and advocates for others.
It also hopes to serve as a platform for individuals, especially those from underserved groups, to empower their communities.
“Ngembak Blaja!” was built around the “5Cs” of youth development: character, competence, connection, caring, and confidence. Participants were invited to join in a variety of fun and educational activities, including icebreakers, discussion sessions, learning modules and games.
Project director Aiman Zakaria said he was impressed by the Sarawak students’ willingness to learn: even the quieter, shyer participants opened up by the end of the camp.
One of the camp’s highlights, he shared, was a reflective module called “Dear Me”, which ended with participants and trainers alike in tears – in a good way.
“Overall, I think this was received very well,” he told FMT Lifestyle. “There were a lot of tears when the programme ended, with many participants saying they wished this could continue. Many of them said they had gained a lot of new understanding from the camp.”
He also expressed his gratitude to The Axiata Foundation for their financial support.
Aiman noted that he was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the students bonded, despite coming from different schools and backgrounds.
“By the second day, they were already cheering one another on. They would help each other during challenges, and some participants would even stay back after activities ended to help their peers. It was very touching.”
He and Syafiq hope every participant returns from the camp with lifelong memories, and use what they have learnt to make a difference in the lives of those around them.
As for the future, Syafiq hopes to bring the programme to more parts of East Malaysia, especially the more rural areas. There are also plans for follow-up sessions, which would involve Small Changes Malaysia checking in on the “Ngembak Blaja!” participants after two years to see how they had grown since their first meeting.
“We hope ‘Ngembak Blaja!’ has planted a seed of continuous learning in the students. We hope they will always be hungry for new knowledge and experiences, and that they will never stop challenging themselves,” he concluded.
For more information on ‘Ngembak Blaja!’ and other educational initiatives, visit Small Changes Malaysia’s website and follow them on Facebook.