Sick of waiting for a better Malaysia? Do something about it at Youth PACT 2022!

Most young Malaysians have probably heard their older relatives complain about the younger generation being “too loud” with our opinions. Heck, if we had a ringgit for each time we got told to “be more grateful”, we’d probably have enough money to pay off all our student loans one-shot.

But honestly, they aren’t wrong, cause Millennials and Gen Zs are the most passionate about our social issues. Just look at new organizations like Undi18 and MISI: Solidarity that have been taking Malaysian social media by storm! And if you’re one of those young Malaysians who’s wanted to start making a real impact, chances are you’re wondering how you can actually get started.

Well, luckily for you, we have just the event!

The online festival that’s bringing together young voices to… talk.

Of course when we say talk, we don’t mean simple small talk. We’re talking about REAL conversations revolving around important topics, like human rights and social justice issues in Malaysia; things that you wouldn’t usually discuss during your typical mamak-sessions.

Co-founded by Taylor’s College and the Malaysian Institute for Debate & Public Speaking (MIDP), Youth PACT (a.k.a. ‘Youth Partnership in Action to Change Tomorrow’) is an online festival that’ll feature valuable discussions amongst young Malaysians through constructive activities, such as:

1. Youth Manifesto

The Youth Manifesto will platform the voices of acclaimed Youth leaders to present their hopes and demands for the changes they want to see on various social issues, while also sharing about the initiatives they are championing to achieve a better Malaysia.

Session: Saturday, 8 January 2022 (10.00 am – 12.30 pm)

2. Workshops

Through these workshops hosted by esteemed names in Youth advocacy, attendees will be able to pick up important tips and strategies on topics like:

• How to make their Instagram advocacy impactful
• Ways to measure the impact of their projects and campaigns
• Using principles of innovation to address social injustice

Sessions: Saturday, 8 January 2022 (2.00 pm – 3.30 pm) & Sunday, 9 January 2022 (2.00 pm – 3.30 pm)

3. Youth Forum

Youth politicians and leaders from various political parties come together in this forum to discuss the prospects of increasing youth involvement in politics, addressing shifts in the local political landscape, as well as their aspirations for a better Malaysia.

Session: Saturday, 8 January 2022 (4.00 pm – 5.30 pm)

4. Youth Mentorship

Experienced youth leaders share their personal stories and the lessons they’ve learned through the years, as well as tips and tricks for young change-makers, in mentorship programs that aim to lead for meaningful change on various social justice issues in Malaysia.

Session: Sunday, 9 January 2022 (10.00 pm – 12.30 pm)

All of the activities will be hosted by prominent figures from 15 different youth organizations, which would be a great way for young Malaysians to learn from these young, prominent leaders and change-makers.

“We hope to bring to the limelight the opinions, perspectives and lived experiences of our youth on these important topics, while debunking the myth that our youth are uninterested or incapable of providing meaningful contribution to nation building across the political, economic and social spectrum.” – Emellia Shariff, CEO of MIDP.

Speaking of youth leaders…

Wonder what Youth Leaders do? Here’s your chance to ask them!

It’s definitely worth noting that the event will feature some of Malaysia’s biggest youth voices as speakers and moderators, such as Rashvin Pal Singh of Me.reka and the Biji-Biji initiative, along with youth political leaders like Shahril Hamdan from UMNO, and YB Syed Saddiq from MUDA.

So, if you have any questions about making change, or even if you just wanna ask your idola what they had for breakfast, here’s your chance because the festival will have a Q&A session where you are encouraged to ask as many questions as possible. Also, if the speaker happens to be available, you might just be lucky enough to even chit-chat with them after the event is over!

Additionally, those who are looking to get connected with the workshop’s speakers and moderators can also reach out to the organizers via email, who will try their best to put you in touch with them (with their consent of course!)

Wanna get started? Here’s how you can sign up!

Ultimately, the festival aims to become a platform for young Malaysians from various different backgrounds to come together to learn, grow, and discuss these important topics regarding the country’s social, political, and economic issues.

“Similar to how we have crafted our Taylor’sphere ecosystem that nurtures the intellectual, practical and creative intelligences of students, we hope platforms such as Youth PACT will enable youth to learn, engage, discuss and develop solutions to create societal impact.” – Josephine Tan, Taylor’s College Campus Director.

The festival will be held virtually via Zoom and Facebook Live on the 8th and 9th of January 2022, and is all-inclusive, with sessions also being translated into Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia (BIM) live, so that the deaf community can also take part and contribute to the conversations.

So, if you’re a young Malaysian who’s looking to start making an impact, you can take the first step towards change by signing up for Youth PACT by clicking here!