Leadership Camp for Children

These are the messages disseminated by young participants of the Leadership Camp. To me, it is a wake up call to us the adult on how the children and youth feel and wanted to be accorded fair treatment in the city planning and development process. It is also a call for greater and mutual collaboration amongst different stakeholders. We, the adult have normally presumed that children and youth are too young the age to make a rational decision for their own, or even to express their opinion. It is us, to decide for them the best. Generally, we have not taken views and opinions of the children seriously. We have always said that children need protection and guidance, and most of the time absolute control. The room for their equal participation is very limited. Hence, it is always between you and me. What my parent want me to do or What I am asked to act for my own good. It proved me wrong after attending the Camp briefly and listened to their thoughts during the closing ceremony. Their views are so constructive, creative, compassionate and make sense. They asked the adult of not doing anything for them without them. They are ready to be involved and consulted as well as implementation.

On 8th December 2009, a total of 35 children aged 14-17 years old attended the Leadership Camp at Selesa Resort, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang. The Camp was organised by MBPJ in collaboration with Community Support Network and Generasi Gemilang and supported by UNICEF. The Camp is an introductory session for the PJ Child Councillors prospects, part of the strategies for an initiative to develop PJ as a child friendly city as provided for under the Chapter 25, Agenda 21 and Convention for the Rights of Child.

I am confident that with this group of children around, the initiative of making PJ a child friendly city is attainable.