The 6th EWRF Leadership and Survival Camp 2004

News from the Newsletter of Education, Welfare and Research Foundation, Malaysia Issue. APRIL, 2004   Not as easy as I thought These bicycles were dismantled and transported from Kuala Lumpur. Obstacles for cycling. A lot of trouble taken by MVFRA members to set of the cycling circuit. Check out our new cycling graduates.They seemed pleased with their Certificate of Merit for cycling. The 6th Development Camp “Roll check, safety briefing. Please obey the law of jungles” .. says Saravanan ..Hey… you like our hat. Cool huh! Hold it… is that a Gun! Oops sorry its water pistol in the hand of a MVRFA member. No more chicken for me. EWRF- Johor Bahru branch The camp was held from 13th to 16th March 2004 at Hutan Rekreasi dan Taman Herba, UTM Skudai; a secondary forest located at the fringes of UTM. A total of 77 students participated from 12 secondary schools with 15 facilitators from UTM, 3 from MPTI, 3 volunteers, and 12 trainers from Malaysian Fire Volunteer and Rescue Association (MFVRA). The theme of this camp was “SUCCESS IS NOT BY ACCIDENT”. The first day (13th) programme was conducted by UTM students and the following days by MFVRA. The students paid RM50.00, whilst some had subsidy, however the cost per student amounted to RM160.00. The direct cost for the camp was RM12,000,00. The camp participants comprising Form One students were selected via the State Education Department based on their potential for improvement and targeting for the lower income group.  Teachers from participating schools dropped by to understand the camp objectives better. All participants had to sleep in tents and the highlights were a Camp Fire on the first day followed by Jungle Survival skills (slaughtering a chicken, boiling eggs using a bamboo, etc), war games, making a hat, hammock, ladder, flying fox, public speaking, etc. The final day ended with a special event with the courtesy of MVFRA on teaching students on road safety with an actual Mock Up of a Cycling Safety Test Track. With 6 bicycles, the cyclist had to wear the necessary safety apparels rode through specially set up road obstacles and safety signs which a cyclist could encounter when cycling on the road. This programme took about 5 hours. 10 students scored 100% on cycling safety and were awarded a certificate of merit. The camp organizers, facilitators had placed participants’ Safety First whenever a programme was organized. Students were taught to take care of the environment including clearing all the rubbish at the end of the camp. A special word of thanks to Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Johor (Mr Vijayan and Mr Saravanathan), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and their 15 facilitators and Malaysian Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (Capt. K Bala,  Sgt (Ir) K Thevindran and their elite team of 12 trainers, including 3 ladies). Appreciation to Mr N Muthusamy (camp coordinator), for job well done.