[AIESEC] Local Leadership Development Seminar

Hey readers.

It's a new month and time for a new post. This time it's about another conference. It is called the Local Leadership Development Seminar. This conference is held for the new members who have recently join AIESEC and for them to learn more about AIESEC and to bond with their fellow newbies as well as the senior members and EBs for 3 days and 2 nights. Recently, my fellow AIESECers just returned from Gohtong Jaya, where the first LLDS of term 2012/2013 was held and based on the pictures and sharing during the AIESEC Gathering on Tuesday, they sure had lots of fun and gain lots of knowledge. That of course, reminded me of my first and only LLDS to date.

This LLDS was held from the 25th - 27th May 2012 at Barre I.J. Centre in Cameron Highlands. We left Taylor's around 12pm and on our way to Cameron Highlands, we stop at an R&R centre. At that time, the bus broke down and we had to wait for an extra bus to send us to the location.

The bus broke down

While waiting for a new bus to send us to the venue, that R&R centre was where the bonding started. We got to know each other better during that time and it was a blessing in disguise. Played lots of games to ease the boredom as well as getting to know the new members and teach them some AIESEC culture.

Bonding with AIESECers, new and old

About an hour or two later, the bus finally arrive and off we go to Cameron Highlands. The bonding continue in the bus as well as pictures being taken for memories.

Posing on the bus with Kay

 About 5pm plus, we finally arrive at our destination: Barre I.J. Centre, Cameron Highlands.

The place where we stayed for 3 days and 2 nights

The moment we arrive in Cameron Highlands, I got out of the bus and scream out loud somewhere along the lines of "I FINALLY MADE IT TO MY FIRST LLDS!!!". I was that excited and relieved that after being in AIESEC for more than 2 years, I finally made it and was looking forward to the next 3 days in LLDS.

We were greeted by the awesome OC Team and they provide us with the keys to the dorms. After settling down, we proceed to the plenary hall where the EBs and facis were there to greet all the delegates. What more to kickstart LLDS with a number of square dances led by yours truly. After that, it was followed by the introduction of the OCs, Facis and the chair of LLDS, Imran a.k.a. My Name Is Imran, and EB Team - Current and Elect.

OC Team (L-R): Kristy, Masuma, Keli and the OCP, Ramadhan

The Facis (L-R): The Chair, Imran and the facis, Ravi and Carmen

The current EBs (L-R): Raymond, Wei Lim, Amy, Wan Sin, Alex and Carmen

The EB elects (L-R) Hoe Yen, Zee, Lee Min, Elleen, Elwin and Carmen

Carmen introducing herself as one of the facis

We had an ice breaking session to know the delegates, facis and OCs better. Once we had completed the ice breaking session, it was time for dinner.

Ice breaking session with Zhen Hao

Doing the 'dinner chant'

Picture time after dinner

Throughout the 3 days, the junior and senior delegates learn topics related to leadership, AIESEC, soft skills and world issues. The EBs current and elect had feedback sessions and department planning in their own respective departments.

I was involved in the LC simulation, which provides a delegate a chance to operate their own local committee and understand how each department works in AIESEC.

Working hard to prepare LC Simulation with Gabriel and Ravi

In charge of the Finance and Administration booth.

After that, the delegates had to come out with their own projects in which they go out to approach random strangers to raise awareness about the project they have created. It was fun to see the ideas they have came out with and the approach they use to create an impact to the community. Some groups did about HIV/AIDS while another did about environmental awareness. All in all, it was great to see these delegates make an impact to society despite being in AIESEC from a few weeks to a few months.

With Team Shabuya

A conference is not complete without roll calls and square dance. =D

Square Dance Time! - Lips Like Sugar

Poto teaching us a roll call

In LLDS and like all other conferences, we had sugar cubes, which are messages meant to inspire and motivate people to do well in AIESEC and in life.

Sugar cube envelopes of the facis, EB, EB elect and OCs.

We had something call the guardian angel where each person is assigned a guardian angel which they provide gifts and other forms of blessings to provide them with motivation and inspiration.

Gifts from my guardian angel. =D <3

After 3 days and 2 nights of fun and learning, it was time to head home. Everyone had an awesome time at LLDS and they use it as a springboard to progress in their AIESEC journey be it the new members or the current ones.

Group photo <3

Taylor's even did a write up on LLDS in their internal magazine. How cool is that?

A write up on LLDS in the second issue of Taylor's Student Experience Magazine

I certainly enjoyed my LLDS. How about you? This is one of the many opportunities that can be obtained in AIESEC, conferences where you get inspired by others and others are inspired by you.

That's it from me. Till then, have a nice day. =)

[Photo credits to Joey, Wan Yu, Kay, Neil, GG and Winnie]

[AIESEC] First AIESEC Conference

After a long hiatus, I am back blogging again. Well, there is this National Recruitment Blog Campaign organised by AIESEC Malaysia and the theme is 'My First...'. It got me thinking what are the firsts that I have done throughout the 3 years that I have been in AIESEC and one that really stood out in my AIESEC journey is my first AIESEC conference. In the AIESEC network, there are 470 conferences held annually and the thing about conferences is that it is the place where a person can find the inspiration to do well in AIESEC and in life. I was inspired by people in conferences and I managed to inspire people as well.

Despite being in AIESEC for 3 years, I have attended only 4 conferences and all these conferences took place in the same term, 2011-2012. These conferences included my first national conference, Malaysia Leadership Development Seminar (MyLDS) though it was only for a day, my first conference organised by my local committee, Taylor's University, which is Local Leadership Development Seminar (LLDS) and the LEAD Conference 2012 which was held on the last day of the term. 

Regional Leadership Development Seminar 2011 at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Regional-Leadership-Development-Seminar-2011/232034146844122

However, there is only 1 conference that has remains close to my heart and that conference was the first ever conference that I have ever attended. That conference is the Regional Leadership Development Seminar (RLDS) which was held from 28-30 October at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) in Semenyih, Selangor. It holds a lot of memories and it was one of the many highlights of a very successful term in AIESEC.

RLDS 2011

RLDS was co-organised between three local committees (LC) in the central region which are UNMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Delegates were not just from these 3 LCs but other LCs as well which includes Taylor's University (TU) (there were 14 of us), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and even a delegate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). There were approximately 200 over delegates and 13 facilitators in this inaugural conference chaired by Jing Wen, the former former Local Committee President of UKM. 

LC TU Jumpshot

On the first day, was the opening plenary where the chair, the facilitators and the organising committee of the conference were introduce to the delegates present as well as a presentation of what the conference is about. After that, it was the ice breaking session where delegates got to know each other better. Moving on, the delegates were split into two tracks, junior track and senior track. In the senior track, we learn about first impressions and leadership style. Below is a picture of what impression that people had of me. We also formed teams for activities that will held throughout the conference and went on to be one of the 2 senior teams that won the night activity.

People's first impression of me.

During the evening plenary, we had another square dance session and a personal first for me which was leading the plenary square dance. If leading at least 20 people in my LC to a square dance is normal, imagine leading 200 delegates square dancing. It was unbelievable and it still give me the goosebumps every time I think about it. From there on, I led the square dance throughout the conference and it just got everyone dancing as well. This lead me to learn more than 20 different type of square dances and that number is rising. That's a rap for day 1.

Square Dancing to Green Light.

Another Square Dance, Double Vision.

On day 2, we learn about ineffective LC operations and how to improve on it, types of motivation and grooming the perfect leader. After lunch, the seniors were split into two more tracks, the senior members track and the Executive Board track. In the senior member track, we were sharing our AIESEC experience within ourselves and what are our future plans in AIESEC.

During the senior member track.

 The most interesting part of the day was the LC Simulation, where delegates experience and understand  how a LC functions. Each of the presidents were in charge of a country and I was the Local Committee President of China for that few hours. It was chaotic yet exciting as I had to guide and educate my team on what each department does and how does it function. At the same time, I learn more things about the LC and about myself.

LC Simulation with my team

Day 2 ended with a different sharing sessions. I attended the session which was conducted by &samhoud.

End of Day 2

On the final day of the conference, both juniors and seniors combined together for the I & The World session where we discuss about global issues happening around the world. I went to 2 sessions which were Achieve Universal Education and HIV/AIDS. From these sessions, we discuss about the topics that we were given and had to write it on a mahjong paper in which we had to present it in the plenary hall.

Presentation time.

 The last session of the day was back to separate tracks. In the senior track, the Member Committee of AIESEC Malaysia conducted a session on AIESEC 2015 and how we can create an impact to youths via the programmes available in AIESEC.

 At the end of the conference, we write each other sugar cubes, which are messages that motivates each other. Most of my sugar cubes were mainly about how I inspire some of the delegate through dance and I feel touch that I could inspire people just by dancing. We also had a sharing session where delegates were given a chance to go on stage to share their experience. I went on stage and did that which is something I am proud of and was actually overwhelmed by the overall experience at RLDS.

Sharing during the closing plenary.

Took a group photo at the end of the conference and exchange contacts with other delegates. I kept in touch with most if not all of the delegates as I met them at other AIESEC events and conferences.

Group photo at the end of RLDS.
"Today is where your begins"

And that was my first AIESEC conference. This is just one of the many experiences that I have gain in AIESEC.