The 88th International Committee Meetings (ICM) of SCI International was held from 4 to 8 December 2024. This year, SCI Malaysia became the host organization. After a series of organizational meetings within the SCI International network worldwide, a post-mini camp was held in the same area from 9 to 12 December 2024.
ICM is a 6-yearly meeting that brings together SCI branch organizations and activist groups worldwide. This 6-monthly meeting aims to discuss strategic decisions of the organization. During the ICM, this is also the time when they elect IEC members and the new SCI International president who will serve for the next year.
The 88th ICM activity was opened with a Peace Conference by SCI Malaysia. This opening activity was inspired by SCI International’s mission to achieve world peace by running an international volunteer program. The activity was opened with a traditional dance representing the three largest ethnic groups in Malaysia, which are the Tamil ethnic group, the Chinese ethnic group, and the Malay ethnic group. This activity was then continued by inviting speakers and inspirational figures who are also actively involved in prevailing world peace.
ICM is not only an event where SCI branch organizations and activist groups from all over the world meet but also discusses what possibilities for similar cooperation can be created to achieve the organization’s goals in the future. At this ICM, SCI International is carrying out several innovations in future cooperation strategies to open up opportunities for cooperation with other organizations, communities, or groups that can expand the impact and as a strategy to overcome the decline in the number of volunteers globally.
After the 88th ICM series closed on December 8, 2024, some participants continued their participation in the mini post-camp, a 4-day workcamp held by SCI Malaysia. The mini post-camp series began with a visit to SMK Saint George Taiping. We had a sharing session with school principals in their school museum. They open their school for any ethnicity or religion aimed at prevailing for peace on this earth.
Before we continued our activities, we had the opportunity to enjoy local dishes at a traditional market in the middle of the old town of Taiping. After that, we visited the city forest park which is famous for its peace walk path. Residents often do activities here. This park is like a place for diverse Taiping residents, to interact with each other. We also enjoyed the expanse of the surrounding natural landscape which is beautiful and clean and met a very unique local monkey species.
Then we visited one of the modern factories that market natural water in the Taiping plateau which is rich in silica which is beneficial for the body. At the end of the first day of the workcamp, we had the opportunity to visit a charcoal factory that is famous for its quality charcoal which has entered its third generation. The fame of its charcoal quality has even reached the cherry blossom country of Japan. Until today ended with dinner at one of the Chinese restaurants on our way back to our campsite.
On the second day, we visited Penang Cheshire home. Volunteers from all over the world provide services such as cleaning wheelchairs, as well as cleaning and rearranging the warehouse in the physical training room. This place is a place for people with disabilities. Inside, there are various facilities that support the activities of people with disabilities who are sheltered in this place.
After tiring of completing the task, volunteers are invited to visit a place to eat Tamil Malaysian food that has a unique image and inspires the surrounding community. Anyone who eats at this place can take food from the buffet that has been provided in sufficient quantities and pay as they wish. This reflects the humanitarian mission carried out by this place for the people who live around this location.
After lunch, is free time that volunteers can use to do activities outside of the daily volunteer routine. In the afternoon we were escorted by a very enthusiastic tour guide explaining every inch of the area we passed. We had the opportunity to visit several locations starting from the old city of Taiping with its very famous mural art, and visiting the Penang fishing village which is now transformed into a fairly interesting tourist destination. We had the opportunity to visit the floating mosque. a mosque that survived the tsunami disaster in 2008. I had the opportunity to worship in this place and it became a moment that I will never forget in my life.
On the third day, the volunteers continued their mission to the Little Sisters of the Poor, a place initiated by a Catholic organization to accommodate the elderly. The volunteers worked together to clean the windows and doors of the building, prepare lunch for the residents and gave them small gifts. During lunch, we had time to sing songs together to enliven the atmosphere welcoming Christmas which will fall this month. We also had the opportunity to visit and shop for some of the residents’ works in their small gallery. The works displayed are the works of the residents who are a group of elderly who are sometimes looked down upon.
In the afternoon, after we said goodbye to the volunteers who went home that day, such as Kola from Nigeria and Osi from Belgium, we continued our journey to Penang Hill. Uncle Stephen and other SCI Malaysia colleagues allowed us to climb to the highest point on Penang Island which allowed us to see the island from all sides. By taking the cogwheel train we reached Penang Hill quickly and enjoyed the natural beauty that was still pristine. There stood a sturdy Hindu Tamil place of worship and a mosque side by side which illustrated the harmony of life across ethnicities and religions on Penang Island in particular.
On the fourth day, it was our farewell day, we were busy packing our things to leave the campsite. Some volunteers stayed until the next day and some went home that day. Me and the Italian volunteer Matteo, decided to leave the campsite early in the morning around 00.30 via the Sungai Nibong bus terminal. We chose to leave early because I had to catch a flight in the afternoon in Kuala Lumpur, while Matteo would continue his journey in Kuala Lumpur for the next few days. Some volunteers who left the campsite after us continued their journey to several destinations such as Langkawi or also went back to explore Penang or returned to Kuala Lumpur.
Memories in each workcamp always have their specialness for me. I joined the workcamp in 2009 at the red-district kids education project in Semarang, Indonesia, until continuing in 2012 when I became the coordinator of the short-term volunteer program until 2015. In 2017 I founded the Bhumi Horta Foundation, a foundation that focuses on agriculture inspired by my experience in the climate for peace by SCI International network, in the period 2013 – 2015. In 2018, I decided to synergize with SCI to develop SCI in Indonesia in the long term.
My participation in the 88th ICM and the mini postcamp in Penang by SCI Malaysia was a moment for me to return to the world of SCI, meeting old friends who turned out to still be involved in the same field. Meeting and reconnecting with what I experienced from 2009 to 2015 was a very extraordinary moment for me. Moreover, SCI Malaysia has supported our movement in Indonesia since we started to promote our programs in Indonesia again. Meeting the SCI Malaysia team directly again, Uncle Stephen and Aunty Sue, Akak Nurul, Dato Athi, Aunty Veronica, Aunty Valery, and many more. Please don’t be mad if I forgot your name, but I will put our memories in my heart for the rest of my life. Thank you so much to SCI Malaysia for doing such wonderful work. Hope to see you again on another occasion and further cooperation. Hugs and smiles for Sany for sunny country, Indonesia!
