July 9, 2015, by Communications
Deciding on Nottingham
Before completing my final year in BSc Technopreneurship in Asia Pacific University (APU), formerly known as APIIT or UCTI, I always knew that I have to get a MSc degree in order to go the extra mile. Furthermore, I was thinking about doing it in another country for the necessary exposure. So I went surveying for universities at educational fairs held in both KLCC and Mid Valley and gotten quite a fair amount of pamphlets, brochures and educational booklets. After filtering all the information, I came down to a narrow list which includes University of Nottingham, Manchester, Southampton and a few others. In the end, the University of Nottingham caught my attention the most for what the course can offer. It is also one of the places I wanted to join for my undergraduate but at that time, the Malaysian Campus was quite a distance away and wasn’t as convenient.
My initial application was to go for International Business because that was the course I have interest in, but I chose to switch. Which turns out to be a blessing in disguised for me to go for MSc Entrepreneurship. The reason for the change was because I scored 2.97 instead of the required 3.0 CGPA for my undergraduate to obtain an offer. So the University had to review my results. Fortunately for the course I’m applying, Business-based modules was the main focus, and not the IT subjects. After the review, I’ve gotten a call from the University to switch the course from International Business to Entrepreneurship. Citing the reason because I have done similar subjects and IB would just be repeating what was learnt before while Entrepreneurship would provide a different learning platform.
Taking into consideration, it was also a good option for me to understand how businesses work and what makes them tick and what not. Thus realizing my goal to study in the United Kingdom.
Concluding MSc and What’s next?
What inspired me to be part of World Vision in the first place? It was from when friends asked me along to participate in the 30-Hour Famine Camp back in 2012. Before that, I already heard of the 30-Hour Famine movement but was fasting on my own. The experience in the camp was worth it as I was also able to understand things that are often overlooked in life because we don’t see them. The hard fact is, poverty and hunger is as real as it gets and it’s a real challenge for those affected by it. After being a volunteer at the main countdown event in 2013, I wanted to do more and when I saw World Vision promoting the Famine Advocate program, I was immediately intrigued by it. That was during my final year when I asked them about it, unfortunately it was a busy period for me and a year’s commitment is required to an advocate so I had to put the thought behind me and went to University of Nottingham for my Masters right after my degree.
Nearing my final months in my MSc in the University of Nottingham, my plan was to look for a company to join in the UK so I would gain some other experience whilst I’m there and if that didn’t work out, I would take a shot at applying to become a Famine Advocate which is something I felt I have to do in my life. In addition, being an advocate will also enable me to learn something different as it requires me to advocate as the position implies, for those who need a voice in curbing famine and bringing a better life to them and in the meantime inspire and motivate others to join in the cause to end hunger. To encourage people to play their part despite big or small, be it as a donor, 30-Hour camp leader, camper or even a Famine Advocate. After going through multiple selection process, I was lucky enough to be one of the four advocates for 2015. From here, I got to understand how monthly contributions from Child Sponsorship Programs work to benefit the people under World Vision’s care in all the different Area Development Programs (ADP) around the world.
One of the requirements and duty of a Famine Advocate is that we have to share our experience of our study-trip to Cambodia. Not only that we have to share our stories in 30-Hour Famine Camps across the country, but we also have to participate in various fundraising events and also interviews by local medias. I believe this experience in presenting to large crowds can help me grow and learn which can be a useful skill when I step into the corporate world. And besides, being an advocate also has its own challenges and responsibilities as a youth leader who plays a crucial role in promoting what we do. Though it is hard sometimes, but to look upon the faces of children with smiles on their faces when we were there to teach them and all makes all the effort worth it. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that what we do can help change their lives.
Lesson learned
With every 4 out of 10 people living without a toilet and 1 out of 9 people in the world do not have enough food and go to bed every night. I find that there is a responsibility from us to help elevate these problems and be part of a global movement to eradicate hunger and poverty. It is important to help others as well instead of just people around us because kindness and love should not be limited but spread out. Food is also hard to come by as time is needed to grow them, so we should not be taking it for granted and wasting them.
Below are some pictures to show our journey in Cambodia during the study-trip.
Advocates, World Vision staff from both Malaysia and Cambodia
Understanding their source of water for daily usage
Learning to use soap for hand-washing to promote hygiene
Cooked for a family we visited to encourage healthy eating
At a water filtration plant that produces clean water to sell it to local populaces
Blog post is written by Isaac Ng Yung Hyun.
Stay connected with Isaac on his Facebook.
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