After a two-year hiatus, Antarabudaya Malaysia leaders had a first in-person meet-up session with Board members, staff, chapter and alumni leaders converging in Kuala Lumpur for a weekend.
The group of 30 participants began the weekend by taking stock of the past with a Reflections session that shared the pain and challenges of the past two years. Some lost loved ones, some went through depression and mental anguish during the lockdowns and the many movement restriction periods, while others shared their anxiety and restlessness over when normal life would resume. The sharing session proved cathartic and the evening ended on a positive note.
The next day, all participants had to reconnect with the AFS mission and vision by first assessing one’s own strengths and weaknesses, then the effectiveness of their respective chapters or alumni and Board before looking at the organization from a national level through a SWOT analysis and how to stay relevant.
Antarabudaya Malaysia’s 15th AGM was held in conjunction with the Leaders Meet-Up and the meeting proved lively and interactive with the presence of distinguished returnees from the 60s and 70s and even two Past National Directors.
The highlight of the weekend was a session with Antarabudaya Malaysia’s Mentor and Advisor, Datin Yasmin Marican. The author of a black book on branding, “The Right to Brand”, Yasmin shared her theory of branding and its three pillars with participants, resulting in a blueprint for action that could re-energise volunteers with a new purpose and direction.
