SRI Aman Girls Secondary School proudly announces their success in coordinating another wonderfully diverse event, the tenth Sri Aman Environmental and English Youth Leadership Summit (SAEYLS), which was held from August 2nd to the 6th.
The organising committee of 32 students, aged 15 to 17, managed to organise the event online from their respective homes with the help of their teacher advisors. Never once did the Covid-19 pandemic come up as an obstacle or excuse to not celebrate SAEYLS’ 10th year anniversary.
As many as 38 schools from 10 different countries like Thailand, Pakistan, Mongolia, Indonesia, and Brunei, joined in.
This year’s programme played its role in sparking discussions of topics that affect youth from all around the world. Regardless of religion, social status, age, and gender, 76 secondary school students came together through Zoom to share their insights on shaping a better world for the flora and fauna that live alongside us.
SAEYLS 2021 consisted of four separate online forums which discussed important research categories, namely ‘The Environment of The Future’, ‘Ecological Crises’, ‘Education: Then and Now’ and also ‘Youth Health and Wellness’.
To add on to the splendour of this event, two competitions were also held. The well-renowned film writer Nik Jassmin Hew and the founder of Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia, Andrew Sebastian joined along in being the head judge in the panel of judges for each competition.
On the first day of SAEYLS 2021, the opening ceremony was officiated by Puan Hajah Anismah Binti M. Noh, the Director of Education from the Selangor Education Department, as well as Pn Salwani Binti Muhammad Zain, the principal of Sri Aman Girls Secondary School when they gave their opening speeches.
Next, the event was adorned with festivity and fun during the Eco Icebreaker activity that was participated by all the delegates of SAEYLS 2021, as well as the organising committee. This activity’s purpose was to cultivate friendships amidst differences in background.
Another notable feature during the Opening Ceremony was the showing of the Eco Band videos that participants from 13 schools had worked hard to put together. The smiles, laughs and compliments that were exchanged - albeit online - was another form of proof of new bonds being formed.
The second and third day was intellectually driven, as the forum sessions began for SAEYLS. Participants had to present their views on issues that have sparked worry for the whole world.
A few of the topics touched on by the delegates included obesity among the youth, threats to aquatic life, forest rehabilitation, as well as the importance of mental well-being in education. Needless to say, the participants opened the eyes of the attendees and raised the awareness of those who watched the live-streamed event on YouTube.
The fourth day of this event was the Eco-Model Building and Short Skit competitions that involved about 32 participants.
With the given theme of ‘To Resonate with Nature’, the participants who participated in the Short Skit competition touched the hearts and skillfully showcased each participant’s acting talents with flair. This competition was judged by Nik Jassmin Hew, Jasmin Hassan dan Resh. Meanwhile, the Eco-Model building competition was themed after local endangered animals.
The participants drew attention to their talent and creativity by producing intricately designed models using only recyclable materials. Many attendees who were watching live on YouTube were impressed by the artistic endeavours. It was judged by a panel of judges comprising Andrew Sebastian, Dr Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad and Nurul Amalina Che Ariffin.
The closing ceremony was kickstarted with a closing address from Pn Azlina Hussin, the assistant director of the planning and management sector of the Petaling Utama District Education Office followed by a speech by the SAEYLS 2021’s organising chairperson, Kaeyshia L. Kesh.
The ceremony also premiered the screening of a series of webisodes that the delegates and participants put together to demonstrate the ways to live everyday life with eco-friendly elements incorporated.
Following shortly after, was the announcement of competition winners. The champion of the Short Skit Competition was Syumaila Nur Rania Binti Salihin from SMK (P) Sri Aman. Meanwhile the 1st runner-up was Vo Le Bao Vy from Lawrence S. Ting School, Vietnam and the 2nd runner up was Warit Charaspreedalarp from Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, Thailand.
The winner of the Eco Model building competition was Elijah Kesh Cinco Rosales from Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas Campus. The first runner-up was Ameera Aniqa Ansary from SMA Negeri 10 Samarinda, Indonesia and the 2nd runner up was Sufiya Waheeda from MRSM Kuala Klawang, Malaysia.
It goes without saying that SAEYLS 2021 demonstrated its theme, “Youth - The Root of Change”, with utmost sophistication and flair. The organising committee hopes this inspiring event will continue to bring youths from all corners of the globe closer together in order to bring forth a greener and brighter future for many more years to come.
As former US First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson once said, “The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” – The Vibes, August 18, 2021
