Dr Denison Jayasooria : YSS Executive Director

YSS will be celebrating the Staff and Volunteers Appreciation lunch on Nov.2, 2003 with Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu and a Special Buka Puasa Gathering in appreciation of all the government agencies that are working together with YSS on November 4, 2003 with YB Dato Dr Siti Zaharah. In preparation for this function Dr Denison Jayasooria reflects on the founding vision, framework and programmes in a two part series with this being the second article.

YSS has been very active on the ground and in partnership with other Indian based organizations and neighbourhood committees, YSS has managed to carry out 1,226 activities over the two years of implementation. Six areas stand out as priority programme areas that have been the core activities of YSS.

1. YSS Neighbourhood Development Initiatives

A major strategy adopted by YSS is the formation of local neighbourhood committees at squatters, long houses and low cost flats. The rational for these is the realization that social support and social control mechanisms are weak in urban communities. These need to be fostered and strengthened in order for local people to take greater ownership and control of local issues and concerns. Mobilising, Organising and Enabling local residents to take ownership of social programmes at the grass-roots is very important. YSS organized many local leaders training programme to build local capacity in running local affairs.

Over the past two years YSS has established 40 local neighbourhood committees in 8 states (Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Wilayah, Pahang, Negeri & Johore. At the local levels under the co-ordination of ground leaders they organize community gatherings, youth activities, computer & IT programmes, camps for children & youths, underachievers educational programmes and self-help women groups.

Dato Seri S.Samy Vellu’s direct field visit to the YSS neighbourhoods draws out the whole community to come out for the gatherings.

Change at the neighbourhood level takes time but the process has begun and in due time the social support and control networks will provide the foundations for building a holistic community, which is progressive and secure.

2. Family Development Initiatives

The family is the foundation for community and society. The YSS studies show that dysfunctional families breed anti-social children and youths. While YSS builds the capacity of local leaders, in a similar way strengthening the family base is essential especially in instilling greater family values and responsible parenting.

In this context YSS networks with the Family Planning and Development Board (LPPKN) that is responsible for family development. With the support of LPPKN, YSS launched a training programme for Assistant Registrars of marriages from Hindu temples and the Hindu Sangam. After the training of the leaders, YSS together with the various religious groups has been undertaking pre-marriage courses, effective parenting and happy family seminars.

3. Overcoming Educational Underachievement Among Youths

The YSS studies reveal co-relations between educational underachievement and anti social behaviour tendencies among youths. Youths doing badly in school often manifest anti-social tendencies such as absenteeism, vandalism, disobedience, rebellious & delinquent behaviour, school flights, lack of concentration in studies.

YSS launched programmes targeting academically weak students in primary and secondary schools. Students with D & E grades are provided with additional academic guidance and encouraged through motivational programmes and camps.

There are about 50 teachers or co-ordinators of the YSS groups with over 1,000 academically weak students.

4. Working with High Risk Youths

YSS is targeting real problem youths residing in squatters & high-rise flats who have some exposure in crime and violence directly. This is specific targeting and YSS is working with the Police and the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation in carrying out this special and systematic intervention among a very high-risk group.

YSS on identifying these youths has been organising the youths and running such programmes as anger management workshops, awareness on available skills training, therapy and support groups and social development programmes through social activities and games.

A major break through in policy intervention is the agreement by government to open Giat Mara to Indian youths and 665 places especially for dropouts and academically weak students have been allocatted. Over the next few years we can see these opportunities being enlarged for Indian youths.

5. Fostering Patriotism among the youths through National Service

Instilling and fostering patriotism is very critical especially in building young people to have a deep sense of responsibility for the community and nation. YSS has been directly involved in four ways.

Firstly, YSS mobilized the views of IBOs through a dialogue session with the Minister of Defence where we presented the views of Indian youths and their aspirations through National service. Secondly YSS has been working the Biro Tata Negara in recruiting the trial run youths (44 youths from Sept. 1 to 28, 2003 at UUM at Alor Star. Thirdly, assisting the National Service Department in recruiting facilitators from the Indian community, and

Fourthly, YSS is preparing the neighbourhood module in the community section of National service programme together with a number of NGOs.

6. Economic Upliftment Initiatives

Low-income families need capacity building efforts in enabling the families to enlarge their income base. This is clearly possible through micro business opportunities and access to credit schemes. Local individuals were given a new opportunity through the BSN Micro Credit Scheme.

Access to micro credit scheme was made available by the government through the BSN programme and over 1,060 applications through YSS have been approved valued at RM10.5 million. This opportunity has a direct and tangible impact at the grass roots.

Other skills such as budgeting and financial planning on the theme of living within your means are other initiatives by YSS with other agencies. In this case the Bank Negara published 10,000 copies of the booklet in Tamil. YSS took the initiative in translating the document into Tamil and made the appeal to the Central Bank.

Future Challenge

What is essential for the future is for YSS to scale up operations and enlarge its outreach. This requires not only funds but also the co-ordinating personal. One effective way is enlisting more Indian Based Organisations involved in working in a systematic and professional way. In order to realize this YSS must be involved in more capacity building programmes by motivating and equipping other organizations.

Another challenge is for YSS to become a sustainable organization. This further requires financial stability and regular source of income. Enlarging our volunteers is another way of not depending on full time paid staff. Developing sustainable structures and mechanism is critical in the next phase of programme sustainability.

The issue of organizational sustainability also depends on how the current YSS Board and management staff enlist and effectively equip staff not only with management competencies but also the vision and passion to be persistent in fostering social change.

(Submitted on 26th October 2003)