First time in history! 2024 Asia Pacific Leadership Workshop in Muadzam Shah

What an incredible November journey it has been! For the first time, the Asia Pacific Leadership Workshop was hosted in history, and the Malaysian chapter had the privilege of welcoming Global Peace representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, and the Philippines to the vibrant town of Muadzam Shah, Pahang

Muadzam Shah may not be the first location that springs to mind for an international leadership summit, but this small yet developing town, with a population of around 30,000, is where the Malaysian chapter’s most important initiatives took root and proved to be the ideal setting to unite leaders from five countries!

Muadzam Shah, with its relaxed vibes, became the ultimate connector, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience of leadership, collaboration, cultural exchange, and yes TRANSFORMATION!

The warm welcome and local delicacies and culture at Pinang village (Kg, Pinang)

The journey began with a cultural welcoming dinner that set the tone for the rest of the experience.

The evening was nothing short of spectacular as the delegates arrived by bus, greeted by the villagers, and crowned with the Tempok. The Tempok, a traditional Orang Asli headgear, is worn by the givers when welcoming guests and also given to the guests as part of the ceremony. It’s a beautiful tradition that symbolizes respect and unity. The air was filled with the serenades of a gong and violin, with 80+ year-old Nenek Poin playing a special tune for our guests.

The food was nothing short of amazing, but what really made the evening unforgettable was the warmth and the collective effort behind it! The villagers worked together on everything from the decorations to the atmosphere, creating an experience that celebrated their culture and the genuine connections shared throughout the rest of the evening!

A deep dive into leadership at UNITEN (UNITEN Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Campus)

Over the next two days, the workshop was a whirlwind of transformation. The theme was clear – leadership starts with character.

Mr. Ingill Ra kicked off the session by emphasizing that true transformation begins with oneself. By strengthening our own character, we play a part in driving positive change in the world around us. He urged us to view leadership as a framework where character serves as the strongest foundation, and the essence of transformation lies in developing people of character.

Ms. Ann Marlita further solidified this message during her session, where she explained how nurturing character in leaders is key to creating strong organizations. When leaders are grounded in character, they become the driving force behind organizational success and growth.

A leader is more than just a person who can manage a team but someone who is able to manage themselves.
In the framework of personal and leadership development these two days it is clearly notioned that all human dimensions require growth, character isn’t the only dimension but also relationship, vitality and knowledge.

Transforming leadership with lifelong character and holistic growth

Putting Learning into action through Service Days

The service days began with an experience, where the Asia Pacific team got to see up close the on-the-ground work being done by the Malaysian chapter. It was a chance to witness how their collective efforts are making a real difference in the communities.

Syntropic Agroforestry in Sualang Village

The team was welcomed by vibrant sunflowers symbolic plants tied to the service work in the region.

p/s Sunflowers are known as the service plant that is used to mulch the plot so it can nourish the whole ecosystem.

Syntropic Agroforestry stands in stark contrast to traditional monocropping, fostering ecosystems where vegetables, fruits, and native species thrive together. This method not only restores soil health but also helps combat climate change by acting as a natural carbon sink.

This time, the team rolled up their sleeves to participate in land preparation firsthand, and yes, they even had fun digging up sweet potatoes along the way!

Education engagement in Binjai Village

Later that afternoon, the team continued their service in Binjai Village, a pioneer village for the Malaysian chapter’s education initiatives. Binjai is home to the Forest School, the first of its kind in this region. Education hasn’t always been easy for everyone here— (read more about their stories here)

The team bonded with the children through engaging activities, including bamboo cooking, while learning about each other’s cultures. The children were full of energy and participation. 

Everyone shared a few words in their native languages, and to top it off, they joined in a dance that celebrated their shared experience.

Lighting up Batu 3 village with installation of Solar Street light

On the final day of the workshop, the team visited Batu 3 village for one last service day. This visit took the international team to a closer look of the Malaysian All-light initiative in lighting up Orang Asli villages with solar street lights. Each corner of the communal area was illuminated!

A big thank you to Mr. Leonard Fastino (Executive Director, Global Peace Foundation Philippines) for his generous donation, which helped fund the purchase of materials for this project.

Cultural night

To close out this amazing journey, we gathered for a cultural night that brought together the unique traditions of everyone involved. The evening was filled with music, dance, and performances that celebrated the diversity of our group!

A big thank you to all the chapters involved, GPF Cambodia, GPF Indonesia, GPF Philippines, and GPF Korea for bringing the energy, commitment, fun and passion to this experience!

Looking forward to what’s next as we continue this journey of leadership and growth together!

A shared path of growth and empowerment

The 2024 Asia Pacific Leadership Workshop in Muadzam Shah was an opportunity to turn leadership theory into real-world impact. After two days of engaging workshops and deepening our understanding of leadership, the focus shifted to service.

Working alongside the Orang Asli communities, we put our learning into action and contributing to meaningful projects while building connections that will last far beyond the workshop. This experience made it clear that leadership is not just a set of ideas, but a commitment to turning those ideas into something that truly matters.

Written by,

Sofia Aminudin

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