September 30, 2007 was the day. It was about 2.30pm in that Sunday afternoon. Project Plus 8 facilitators, group leaders, some representatives, YSS officers and the invited guests together around 150 people had gathered in Hotel Seri Malaysia, Ipoh. It was a grand and eloquent function. YB Dato Seri S Samy Vellu, Minister of Works and the Founder/Patron of YSS officiated the function.
Other invited guests who were present included YB Dato G Palanivel, Deputy Minister of the Women, Family and Community Development, YB Dato S Veerasingam, Deputy Minister of the Internal Trade and Commerce, Datin Usha Veerasingam, YB Dato Davendran, YB Dato T Rajagopalu, YB Kamala Ganapathy, YB Dato Ganesan, YB Senator Rajaram, Dato Daljit Singh, Dato Sankaran, Mr Navamukunthan, Ms Vimala Nair, Mrs Thangeswari, DSP Chan, representatives of Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Hindu Youth Organisation and Malaysian Indian Youth Council and Mr Prakash Rao and Suraindran of Sri Murugan Centre.
The ultimate focus of the function was to launch Project 8 with the concept booklet on Plus 8 programmes ‘hot and straight from the oven’. While the booklet covered both in English and in Bahasa Malaysia the concept, process and methodology adequately, the new edition of ‘Samugam’ magazine covered them all in Tamil with stories of the Project Plus 8 officers and also the facilitators. It was a very simple launch but the message promoted was very profound and every one present felt that it made a lot of sense.
The programme in all its entirety was conducted in Tamil. The programme started with the welcoming address of Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, the Executive Director of YSS. In his address he mentioned about how the very genre of the thought behind the project emerged. The idea was to identify the critical need area, which when addressed can reduce future mishaps occurring within our community in a proactive manner.
The audience were briefed on the total concept behind the project Plus 8. Questions such as what, why, how and what expectations were covered by me. Mr KA Gunah elaborated on the Project Plus 8 journey thus far. While he gave some basic information on the activities completed and the partners he also covered some qualitative indicators such as what are some experienced positive outcomes, challenges encountered and lessons learnt through the implementation of the Plus 8 Project so far.
Then came the launching address of YB Dato Seri S Samy Vellu, which was like the luscious plum on top of the icing of a cake. It was an address full of affirmation and positive insights for the project that greatly encouraged all partnering in the process. He emphasised that we need to be intelligent in identifying and assessing the needs and issues of the community and act appropriately. To strive this point home he used the imagery of fishing in the pond, which is full of fish and throwing the fishing hook in a futile exercise in a pond where there is no fish. It brought in a lot of chuckles of amusement from the audience but made them think as well.
Dato Seri advised YSS to do accurate tracking of all the young potentials who are going through the activities of this Project Plus 8. He also encouraged and challenged all partners to be ‘change agents’ in the lives of these young people. Then he gave away the certificates of appointment to Project Plus 8 facilitators and group leaders. The session ended with a photography session and a sumptuous hi-tea. The eye catching uniform of YSS officers and facilitators was another attractive ‘+’ ‘+’ subject for admiration.
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