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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—Many hours of planning went into this project to ensure all the logistics were in place. With the support of the Malaysian government, the participants of the 10th RYS actually enjoyed four star hotel accommodations! It was a relief for them to return at the end of the day to the comfort of a hotel room with a warm shower and air conditioner!
The 10-day project was divided into two parts. The first part of the program was in Kuala Lumpur. The service project consisted of some heavy brick and cement work, painting and clearing the grounds of a dilapidated Primary School. A 100-member work force was led by 10 contractors and the project was completed as scheduled. The second part of the project, the reflection was held in the north, in Penang. A bus ride of five hours took the participants to the project site at a beach! It was a wonderful experience for them. The project at Penang was sponsored by the Penang City Council.
The thrust of the RYS project was the multicultural and interreligious experience. Participants came from 12 different nations, making the service projects very much like a mini-UN activity! The participants were able to feel the joy of selfless service while putting into practice the virtues of cooperation and working beyond the barriers of language. Practical peace building skills were learned.
In the closing remarks it was stated that RYS in Malaysia has grown to a new level since its inception in 1992. The audience was asked, "Who will organize the next RYS in Malaysia?" All answered "Me!" There is indeed much hope for RYS in Malaysia. The seed of peace has once again been firmly planted.
Participants: 112
Religions Represented: 8
Nations Represented: 14
Duration: May 29 - June 7, 2006