SDSN Malaysia Youth Presents Mission Possible: Empowering Youth to Navigate the SDGs with Purpose
“Step into the realm of possibility!”
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Malaysia Youth are back and they have embarked on another journey to unite passionate individuals to become agents of change!
For the first time ever, "Mission Possible; A Workshop on Navigating the SDGs with Purpose" came into being. The workshop involved ten participants from multiple disciplines in an intimate setting to work on charting social impact from personal conviction using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framing tool.
The workshop served as a teaser experience for students interested in solutions building for the SDGs. Interested individuals would sign up to be a part of the SDSN Malaysia Youth core team to collectively design initiatives for campus impact.
“Mission Possible” brought together people from across Sunway University and Sunway College under a common purpose: to drive the SDGs forward, one step at a time. Leading the facilitation was Anita Paul, a certified trainer and a Service-Learning Advocate. The workshop wasn’t just about ideas - it was about ‘strategizing’ collective action.
Participants engaged in various interactive SDG-related activities specifically curated by Paul. The warm up ignited students’ agency as decision-makers. Paul’s dynamic facilitation allowed everyone to get acquainted within a short time span.
Social issues impact many people be it on a personal or professional level. To kick off the workshop, participants engaged in a 'Make a Stand' activity, encouraging them to explore and reflect on their perspectives regarding various challenges, from inequality to healthcare disparities, prevalent in our rapidly evolving world. Students were introduced to various societal and global issues such as “Acceptance of refugees” and “Hiring of ex-drug addicts”. By engaging in this interactive activity, participants not only had the opportunity to reflect individually but to also interact and connect with one another!
A key highlight of the event was the opportunity for participants to craft their very own initiatives to address societal issues. Divided into teams, each group selected SDGs that deeply resonated with them. This approach gave students the freedom to work across subject areas and bring together multidisciplinary approaches for effecting change. Through this, participants came to recognize the ability and influence they possess to enact meaningful societal transformation even through small efforts.
Students presented ideas for addressing societal issues related to their chosen SDGs. The themes raised were indigenous health and wellbeing, female empowerment and hunger and nutrition. These served as initial steps of solutions ideation, with students striving ahead despite each group’s varied background. Coming into dialogue to build for a common social impact is a skill required to problem solve for the SDGs. Students were encouraged to not let their ideas remain within the workshop, but to consider materializing these ideas in the future.
Towards the conclusion of the workshop, light refreshments were served, offering a chance for everyone to mingle, connect, and reflect on the insights gained. Participants then received a Certificate of Participation as a gesture of acknowledgment for their attendance.
SDSN Malaysia Youth is committed to the continuous growth and advancement of its team. The workshop concluded with a presentation of SDSN Malaysia Youth’s past projects and future goals. This workshop paved the way for dedicated individuals to develop solutions for societal issues. Fun and interaction spurred interest in embarking on this journey to make change and establish the SDG goals.
Numerous examples of local individuals setting up organizations in service of societal wellbeing inspired students to consider charting a social impact career.
A token of appreciation was also presented to Paul by the SDSN Malaysia Youth Team concluding the workshop.
The project organizers express a special thanks to the Facilities Service Department and Student Life for support in venue and marketing.
