What is it about Borneo Youth Declaration (BYD)?

Borneo Youth Declaration (BYD)

Introduction

Initiated by the organizer of Tomorrows Leader Summit 2011 (TLS 2011), Glenreagh Sdn. Bhd., this declaration was meant to help the voices of the youth in Borneo specifically, and youths over the world to be heard by leaders of various government and NGO’s organization. Quoted from Sarawak Bloggers, BYD is a

“…pre-policy document with actionable items and definable project recommendations. It provides a lasting impact on the day to day lives of the Youth in the ASEAN region. The attendees of the TLS will therefore be eligible to help to shape the future thinking of the generation by putting in their input for the BYD during the TLS, and hence hopefully it helps future generations to have a clearer goal of what they could do for their state, country and region.”

From the organizer itself, BYD is

“…this document will contain the outcomes and decisions reached by those attending and it is envisaged that it will touch upon areas where the youth feel the need to express what directions need to be followed for the sustainable development of theirs and following generations.”

These statements clearly said that the delegates from TLS decide what must be put inside the declaration. The declaration is based on the theme, Developing High Income Youth.

On 20^th March 2011, supposed to be only one and a half hour was allocated for the discussion and adoption of the BYD draft. It does not happen.

What is inside the draft

TOMORROW’S LEADERS SUMMIT

‘DEVELOPING HIGH INCOME YOUTH’

18^th – 20^th MARCH 2011

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Borneo Youth Declaration

We, the participation of the Tomorrow’s Leaders Summit convened in Kuching from 18^th – 20^th March 2011 in Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia to discuss on the selected theme of “Developing High Income Youth”. Various speakers from different fields of expertise shared their knowledge and experiences with the participants following which they took part in the group panel discussion that highlighted the goals of the summit.

The guiding principles for this declaration were based on the following objectives:

-          To provide a focal point for enhancement of tomorrow’s leader in all fields of endeavor making a positive contribution to the society;

-          To enhance and promote this important sector as a requirement for sustained development;

-          To gather local experts, leaders and specialist to share their views, knowledge and expertise to develop thought leadership;

-          To be an arena for discussion, networking and collaboration to stimulate the growth and development of global youth leadership sector;

-          To facilitate the resolution of problems and issues;

-          To highlight areas of economy value and to facilitate the required investment into the future; and

-          To facilitate the exchange of information and to coordinate global cooperation.

The participants attended multi-disciplined workshops and the Youth Transformation Lab where they made the following recommendations:

·         Establish a common ground to address the educational imbalance between the generations by providing the youth with various structural leadership platforms that will involve them in the decision making process.

·         Acknowledge and develop the economic value of young people in order to generate high income youth.

·         Create and develop policies that will promote the role of youth leadership in the democratic process.

·         Create and develop sustainable action plans that help to provide equal opportunities for both genders in urban and rural areas for the development of high income youth.

·         Create awareness among the young people with an emphasis on social media to spread knowledge and skills with the use of local, regional and global programs to assist in addressing the potential growth of high income youth.

·         Provision of entrepreneurship development opportunities and necessary resources to the youth by all the stake holders.

·         Ensure efficient and functional budgetary provision to create training and mentoring centers that will enable youth to develop the skills that will allow them to participate in knowledge economy.

·         Enable youth to overcome barriers and promote their participation in a borderless knowledge market economy through the use of science, technology and innovation.

·         Make use of globalization to encourage the development of human capital among the young people which will lead to sustainable development of the community at large and produce high income youth.

·         Mobilize and utilize the young people intra and internationally for the improvement and development of their communities of origin to encourage the positive effects of brain gain and repatriation of knowledge resources.

·         Assist the youth to identify market gaps and exploit them to help increase the personal. Local income potential while providing necessary goods and services in a sustainable manner.

·         Fast track highly capable young leaders who possess the required social, emotional, mental and physical quotas to push them to the forefront so that they can be role models to the youth.

·         Take responsibility in using their creative abilities to develop new high income opportunities for themselves.

In conclusion, we the participants of the Tomorrow’s Leaders Summit recognize and acknowledge the importance of youth leaders and the development of high income youth. We also recognize that the implementation of the above recommendations will only be achieved with the support of the public and private sector. However, the success or failure of the implementation of these recommendations ultimately lies with each individual.

-end-

20^th March 2011, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

From what I read and go through this draft and I think most of the youths that attend TLS would agree:

1.       Most of the ideas come from the theme ‘Developing High Income Youths’ forum. Questions to ponder on; Do the youths that listen understand the theme clearly or do they have the same idea of the theme with the panelist? Maybe they have different ideas on what they think about the theme.

2.       It stated that the recommendation was based on the workshops and Youth Transformation Labs. Weird as none of the youth remembers doing the draft during Youth Transformation Lab, and even the workshops I attend, did not require us to draft an idea and submit them. From what I read, the recommendation was just a gist of our workshop. It does not reflect what we want or what we thought. Most of time, what youths do during the workshop is sit and listen. I did not go to the Youth Transformation Lab, so I hope there is someone outside blog about it, or tell us.

What the youths of Borneo says

However, the youths of Borneo attending the TLS did not agree with the content of the draft. Arguments were made by youths. Majority of the youth feels that they did not involve in making the draft and the efforts in making this a reality are blurry. Some recommendation made by the youths include form a bodies of youths from Borneo to operate the process of the declaration.

The delegates admit that they do not know the procedures in making a declaration. This shows that the youth of Borneo particularly does not want to accept things that they does not understand.

The organizers said that they did mention BYD on the website, expose and advertise about BYD. They even said that they are sorry the delegates did not read the article. I read these articles before the event, but I still think that it is not generous enough; making the youth’s feel that something more has to be done to make BYD a reality.

Websites that mention BYD:

1.       http://www.tomorrowsleaders.biz/b-y-d/

2.       http://sarawak-bloggers.org/borneo-youth-declaration-at-the-tls-2011/

Many youth agree that early BYD draft doesn’t not reflect what they want. The youths says that:

1.       Not many youths involve making the draft.

2.       Only a little portion of youths from all over Borneo (with majority from Sarawak), and some from the all over the world are there to discuss it.

3.       The draft is too sudden. The youths are not satisfied because for 3 days in the summit, a draft was presented without awareness. During the presentation of the draft, it hits the youth that the presentation is very not appropriate. They are many things should be done. They feel that they don’t even know how to make a declaration. They should know more about the declaration and did not agree right away to whatever people serve them. They feel they should understand the procedures, and a 2 hour discussion is not enough to come out with a declaration that will benefit all.

4.       Some people did agree with the recommendation, but they also want to be involve, and would like more youths to be exposed to this issue.

The Borneo Youth Declaration was delayed. No understanding between the youths and organizer were made. Youths agree to have BYD, but not at that moment. Decisions were made, and this is what both parties agreed on:

Another conference for the youth leaders to understand how to develop an international declaration.

1.       Proposal research and findings on what the youth really want. This was agreed as there is a lack of understanding of the Youth of Borneo.

2.       Set up an executive committee bodies lead by Borneo Youth, members of Borneo Youth and neutral representative.

3.       Workshop and training to develop a policy or document in the process of making international declaration

4.       Agree that each of the component areas of Borneo has sufficient representation in any committee. (Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Kalimantan, Labuan)

These agreements were write by the organizers, however, I did change it a bit ;).

In case you are wondering about TLS:

1.       http://www.tomorrowsleaders.biz/

2.       http://sarawak-bloggers.org/get-free-passes-to-the-tomorrow-leaders-summit-2011/

3.       More link in link (2), there are many bloggers write about TLS, just visit their blogs.

Conclusion.

Frankly speaking, I am aware that there might be not further effort made by the organizer. To organize this kind of thing is not easy. The main organizer has to get sponsors, and have to plan lots of things. I don’t think they expect that this kind of thing will happen. Now they know that they should not play around with Borneo Youths. We can be fierce in protecting our rights.

 I personally would like to make BYD a realization, not just for youths in Borneo, but also youths elsewhere, especially those from the developing country and third world country. I am sure that the voice of youths from these countries was not heard by anyone.

So, here I call all the youths to stand united. During the BYD discussion, Youth Works Asia, whose CEO is Mr. Bernard Hor, has given his commitment to help us make this a reality. Now, it is our turn to commit. Will you?

Devotional pages for BYD.

Towards the Realisation of Borneo Youth Declaration.

1.       http://www.borneocolours.com/bc-buddy/groups/viewgroup/53-Towards+The+Realization+of+Borneo+Youth+Declaration

2.       http://www.facebook.com/pages/Towards-the-Realisation-of-Borneo-Youth-Declaration/197816553585584?ref=ts

leaders of 2-hour group discussion on BYD

one of the youth from UITM speaks his opinion,

Bernard Hor, CEO of Youth Works Asia

2 of the youths leaders, the young women sitting is the spark that leads to the debate

youth from Sabah, founder of borneocolours.com

organizer and the moderator for BYD session.

some of the information might be not correct. If it is not, please comment to correct it. Thank you.