A total of 33 students were sent off in year 2019 and the total number of participants includes the Semester Program, Year Program and Trimester Program for both Southern and Northern Hemisphere (SH and NH cycle). For the SH cycle, 17 Year Program, 9 Semester Program and 5 Trimester Program (under the PEACE Project) participants have successfully completed the program. 2 students went for NH Year Program to Brazil and Denmark, to complete their program by July 2020.  A total number of 66 students received full scholarship this year to go for the program. The scholarships are the Asia Kakehashi Project under MEXT Japan and the KL-YES Program, a program funded by the US Department of State.  We hope to expand the list of countries for this program in future.

40 students were selected for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Semester Pogram to the United States for 2019. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, this program provides scholarship for secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim population to spend up to a year in the United States. These participants serve as “youth ambassadors” of Malaysia, in promoting mutual understanding by forming lasting relationships with their host families and communities. The staff together with the YES Alumni played a big role in preparing the students at the Pre-Departure Orientation. A luncheon invitation was forwarded to the students by the US Embassy during their visa interview session at the Embassy.  This gave them the opportunity to meet with the US Ambassador, HE Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir and mingle with fellow American representatives.

A meeting with officials during a courtesy visit to the Malaysian Embassy in Washington in April proved fruitful where future PSD Interviews were concerned as the embassy agreed to work together for a smoother and more efficient process.  We also shared information about YES Program and appreciated their generosity in conducting interviews for our YES students in DC.  Amongst those we met were officers from the Public Service Department or JPA, Education Malaysia and MARA.   11 students attended the interviews in April 2019.

fruitful where future PSD Interviews were concerned as the embassy agreed to work together for a smoother and more efficient process.  We also shared information about YES Program and appreciated their generosity in conducting interviews for our YES students in DC.  Amongst those we met were officers from the Public Service Department or JPA, Education Malaysia and MARA.   11 students attended the interviews in April 2019.

During the recruitment campaign for 2019,  chapters and volunteers displayed strong support and enthusiasm in promoting  AFS programs.  School road shows conducted from the month of January until April by staff of the National Office and chapters/volunteers had successfully attracted close to 1,848 applications. Overall, student applications have increased from the previous year’s recruitment period. An increase in numbers from a few states also shows that the AFS programs have reached a wider target audience over the last two months.

23 Malaysian students were selected together with 3 students recruited from Brunei for the 2019 batch.  They departed for Japan in August for a 7.5 month-long program .  Prior to that, these students attended a 3 day pre-departure orientation, in preparing them for their new experience in Japan.  A small lunch reception was hosted by Japan’s Ambassador at his residence before the students began their journey.This project is a fully funded program granted by MEXT (Japan Ministry of Education & Technology), an initiative meant to build bridges between high school students in Japan and Asia.  Students from 20 selected Asian countries get the opportunity to study in Japan for 6-10 months, being hosted by a Japanese high school with homestay or dorm-stay to obtain exposure and experience to Japanese education, culture and way of life.40,000 Japanese high school students and 1,000 Asian high school students will be impacted by the project in developing global competence of Japanese high school students through intercultural experiences without going abroad, and it will provide Asian high school students with educational and cultural experiences in Japan.

For the 2019 DOMEX, 4 participants had the opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year hosted by Pahang Chapter while another 5 participants experienced the festival exchange celebrating Hari Raya Haji, also organized by Pahang Chapter. Prior to that, they attended an orientation before the commencement of the program to prepare them for this intercultural journey.  This project was launched in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of AFS Malaysia in November 2018.  The Domestic Exchange (DOMEX) Program  is a one-week exchange program for Malaysian participants to experience different cultures, religions, practices, aspirations and value systems. DOMEX participants will stay with a host family and experience what it is like to be a Malaysian from the perspective of another race. During the program, participants will take part in cultural activities and learn more about the religions, culture, practices, aspirations and value systems within the diversity that Malaysia has to offer.We want to expand the community outreach and provide scholarships to ensure that more people from diverse and under-served communities can participate in and benefit from AFS programs and initiatives.

For students who participated in the student exchange program, students received full scholarships and offers made for school based program only. Below is the list of scholarships received for 2019:

AAI Outstanding Volunteers Workshop

In conjunction with the annual AAI Meeting, this time held in Kuala Lumpur.  Terengganu Chapter President, Mr. Long Tin Piau – voted Most Outstanding Volunteer, was selected to receive the award as well as attend the Workshop.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

An appreciation buffet dinner held at AFS NO on 22nd February 2019 to celebrate and appreciate our volunteers who have been active and assisting chapters and National Office throughout the year.  A personal Thank You card & AFS collar pin was presented to the volunteers as a token to commemorate the function.

AFS Club launches for the year:

• SMK Bukit Mewah, Seremban on 1st Mar, 2019 – the start of a series of AFS Club launches for the year
• SMK KGV Seremban on 8th July, 2019
• Seri Utama International School, Kuala Terengganu on 3rd August, 2019

Chapter Presidents Meeting

Held on 14th – 16th June 2019 which coincided with the NH18 End of Stay Farewell Dinner.

Chapter & Volunteer Development Dept. Series

Rat Race 101 was on 28th Sept, 2019.  Volunteers came together to play a game on smart investments where they were given a tip or two on sound financial planning.

Sabah Chapter – The chapter, consisting mostly school teachers, was formed in January 2019.  Ms. Tok Fen Fen has volunteered to lead the chapter

AFS YES Alumni Learning Teambuilding Workshop on 1st – 3rd March, 2019 – A weekend of training and handover work by the former committee to the new committee

JB Cultural Walkabout – An initiative by Johor Chapter where chapter volunteers, host families, host students and also members of the public participated in a walkabout that was loosely based on a famed American TV reality show, The Amazing Race

Among the activities in which Alumni were involved in were: YES Alumni activity in April on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) called Sign of Care, YES Think Tank in June, YES Alumni Committee Meeting on SOP collaboration with AFS National Office in July,  YES Alumni Shutter SPED on 23rd – 25th August

The department had a buka puasa with Damansara Chapter in the month of Ramadan at Royal Selangor Club hosted by Chapter President, Mdm. Santhi M Raju

Melaka Chapter was formed in June.  A long-time volunteer Mdm. Jenny Kho is leading the chapter.  Their first major hosting was the Short Term Exchange of the NH19 batch.

Some prominent international visitors made courtesy visits to the National Office, including Ms. Hiro Nishida – Secretary General of The Kamenori Foundation, Japan.