AN OUTREACH programme dubbed “Self-esteem Camp for Youths” have been keeping some 43 youths busy and active during their school holidays for the last five days with positive, energetic and challenging activities to test their courage, physical strength and mental endurance.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the five-day programme at the Water Sports Complex in Serasa and Pelumpong Island in Muara aimed to keep the youths active by taking up healthy and challenging activities during their holidays.
Youths aged between 16 to 19 from all four districts took part in the programme that began in March 21, 2010.
Accompanying them on these activities were 12 volunteers from the four districts, eight of whom were in charge of guiding and conducting the activities while the other four were responsible for looking after the youths during the course of the programme.
On the first day on Sunday, the participants took part in activities such as learning first aid, climbing Bukit Tempayan Pisang, how to set up camp, tie knots and cook their own food at Serasa beach.
Their second day came with much more of a challenge as the participants were tested in an activity called “Water Confidence”, whereby they learned how to get used to being in the water and how to properly swim before being able to proceed to the next activity, kayaking.
A male participant takes part in a blindfolded obstacle course, while guided by verbal instructions from his friends. Picture: Courtesy of Mohamed Nasir
For the kayaking activity, the participants were divided into four teams consisting of 10 to 11 people and kayaked about 11.6km to Pelumpong Island. Upon reaching the island, the participants set up camps where they stayed until their return to the mainland yesterday.
During their stay on the island, the youths took part in more activities that involved leadership and teamwork skills such as orienteering, where the participants had to use a map and compass to navigate through an orchestrated course of 15 checkpoints.
The youths also learned to clean their campsite and other facilities nearby.
Socialising activities also took place during their time on the island through campfire stories and exchanging of personal experiences.
Yesterday, the group made their way back to Serasa beach in the late afternoon, which was followed by the cleaning of their kayaks.
Today will be the last day of the programme and a closing ceremony will take place at the Water Sports Complex at Serasa beach before the participants return to their respective homes.
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