1. A Rotary Club of Bukit Kiara Sunrise Project
Communication Release
CR 201002-0003
Feb2010
Inaugural REF Youth Mentoring Workshop
The REF has very clear objectives. And these are
to:
 Assist students stay in full time education and
provide them with access to appropriate “life
skills” training opportunities.
 Provide students and their families with a
network of opportunities so as to expose them
to a range of career choices.
 Develop students to their full potential by
helping them “be the best they can be”.
 Nurture students into good citizens who will in
time involve themselves in activities for the
betterment of their own communities.
The participants at the Mentoring Workshop
“With the many negative influences on our youths
Sunday, 31Jan2010 – The Rotary Club in society today, such as drugs, sexual
of Bukit Kiara Sunrise Education promiscuity,
Fund (or “REF”) conducted its first Youth
Mentoring Workshop. About 38 volunteers
attended the one-day workshop conducted by
qualified psychologists from the Faculty of
Behavioral Science of HELP University College.
Besides Rotarians and some members of the Inner
Wheel Club of Kuala Lumpur, many of the
participants were friends of Rotary. The objective of
the workshop was to introduce volunteers to the
REF Youth Mentoring programme and to equip
them with basic skills on mentoring.
Trainers Justin (left) and Eric
violence and excessive video gaming to name but
a few, we are faced with a big challenge, if not a
dilemma. Are we over-whelmed? Certainly, if we
“Are we over-whelmed? Certainly, don’t lift a finger to do something, we might as well
if we don’t lift a finger to do assume that the battle is lost,” says Rotarian Yau
something, we might as well De Piyau, subcommittee chairman for the REF
Youth Mentorship Programme.
assume that the battle is lost.”

2. effectively give hope to these young students. We
can give them a better start to a better life.”
Participants were briefed by Rotarians Yau De
Piyau and Grant O’Malley on the nature and scope
of the programme and in particular their roles and
responsibilities as future mentors. Mentors will
eventually be teamed with “mentees”, i.e. students
who have been given Education Assistance
Awards (EAA), the REF’s financial assistance
programme.
Rtn Yau explaining the “Role of a Mentor”
The REF believes in order to achieve the above
objectives, it must get closer to the students and to
go beyond just giving them money. The REF has a
number of initiatives and has identified that
mentoring is one answer
“We can’t be all things to all people. But together,
we can do this. This is well within our abilities,” says
REF Chairman Dr Yee Yoke Leong. He adds, “More
than merely providing financial assistance, with our
programmes we are transforming lives and
changing mindsets for the better. Through A cross-section of the participants
mentoring and personal nurturing, we will more
Rotarian Grant points out, “Based on the contact
time that volunteers are able to afford, the REF
Mentorship programme is restricted to providing
assistance and support to students on improving
their academic results and exposing them to the
range of academic opportunities that are available
to them. Mentors are advised not to make any
interventions related to social or psychological
problems. If they encounter them with the
students, such issues may be referred to
professional counselors whom the REF can
engage should the need arise.”
Rtn Grant describing the “Mentoring Process”
"Through mentoring and personal
nurturing, we will more effectively
give hope to these young
students. We can give them a
A breakout session at the workshop.
better start to a better life.”

3. Trainers Eric Amaladas and Justin Yap from Help
University College provided training in areas such
as “Developing a Student Centered Approach”,
“Basic Skills for Mentorship” and “Effective
Interviewing”. The workshop also covered
important areas such as “Learning Styles” and
“Basic Listening Skills”. Indeed, “listening” was
emphasized as one of the most critical skills a
good mentor has to have.
Participant Rotary spouse Mun Yee and Rtn Poay Lim
REF Youth Mentorship Programme (YMP)  Provides feedback on observed
The objective of the YMP is to create a pool of behavior, encourage desired behavior
effective mentors to provide guidance and and report on performance
counseling to recipients (awardees) of Education  Where appropriate, establish and
Assistance Awards (EAA) from the REF to enable maintain ongoing contact with school
them to achieve academic success and be useful and parents – discuss mentee’s
members of the Malaysian society. progress to ensure success
 Provide access to life skills courses
What is Mentoring? when available
Mentoring refers to a development relationship in  Meet mentee at regular intervals
which a more experienced and knowledgeable
person (mentor) helps a less experienced and The scope of the YMP is limited to helping the
knowledgeable person (mentee) to develop in a mentee achieve their academic potential and
specified capacity. In the context of the REF, it is make the best choices for future education or
the more experienced and knowledgeable career. The YMP can offer the mentee benefits
Rotarians or volunteers guiding the awardees that their caregivers may not be able to. This is
(mentees), supporting them in completing their through exposure to people who can be role
education successfully, building their confidence models and to events and opportunities. REF
and transitioning them to higher education or the mentors will not have involvement in emotional
workforce. problems. Volunteer REF mentors are not
trained counselors or social workers. They
What is the Role of an REF Mentor? must not undermine the caregiver’s role. There
The REF mentor has two major roles, namely: should be no strong emotional attachment as a
volunteer REF mentor is “just passing through”
1. Compliance Role, e.g. the student’s life.
 Liaison between REF and mentee. Ensures
mentees understand REF expectations The REF Mentoring Process
 Ensure that financial assistance is used for  Interview – controlled by REF awards
the intended purposes subcommittee
 Ensure that mentees work hard, observe  REF main committee
good attendance, maintain appropriate considers/approves applicant
conduct and improve academic  2 mentors assigned per awardee
performance (mentee)
 First meeting with mentee to introduce
2. Support Role, e.g. the mentor and scope of YMP
 Be a role model and provide support and  Subsequent meetings (ideally monthly
positive encouragement but minimum once every 2 months, 8+
 Be a resource person on educational times per annum)
problems and provide information on  Mentor support group feedback
careers & career development meetings (every 3 months, minimum of
3 times per year).

4. Mentoring Programme. It will prove that as
volunteers, if we put our hearts and minds to it,
we can make a significant impact in helping
youths in our communities develop positively.”
At the end of the workshop, 10 Rotarians were
appointed the first mentors under the Youth
Mentorship Programme for the six awardees that
are currently under the REF.
Role play between trainer Eric and Rtn Poay Lim
Participants were put through a mixture of role plays
and breakout discussions, together with lectures.
Pek Ling, a participant from the Inner Wheel Club
says, “This is an important workshop under the REF
“Our programme is not limited
by money, it is only limited by
the number of hands and feet
we can enlist and deploy.”
“…as volunteers, if we put our
hearts and minds to it, we can
make a significant impact in
helping youths in our
communities develop positively.”
Rtn Angie (left) appointed mentor by President Frances
“After this workshop, know that you will all now
be frontline community service givers, expected
to show warmth and the human touch, without
which all the money in the world will make no
impact. After today, you are empowered to make
a positive difference to young lives. Our
programme is not limited by money, it is only
limited by the number of hands and feet we can
enlist and deploy,” says President Frances Po of
the Rotary Club in her closing remarks.
Rtn Karen (left) appointed as mentor by President Frances
The RCBKS Education Fund was officially launched on 14Nov2009 as a project of the Rotary Club of
Bukit Kiara Sunrise. The objective of the fund is to support the development of youths of age 15-19 from
lower income families, who desire to “help themselves” become useful members of society, by providing
them with education opportunities, leadership training, values education and mentorship, putting them on
the start of the road to a better life. For more information contact ylyee@pc.jaring.my