If you are a young adult interested in improving your leadership qualities, then the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) which will be held in Port Dickson from March 4 is just the thing for you.

The three-day motivational camp organised by the PD Rotary Club promises to be a short but effective training programme for potential leaders aged between 18 and 25 years.

Scheduled to be held at Port Dickson’s Eagle Ranch, RYLA 2010 will include outdoor team-building activities as well as talks on a range of topics including the importance of communication skills in effective leadership, problem solving and conflict management, building self-confidence and ethics of positive leadership.

Among the speakers lined up are clinical psychologist and radio personality Dr Paul Jambunathan as well as retired deputy commissioner of police and former internal security and pubic order deputy director Datuk Arthur Edmonds.

Organising chairperson Tessie Martin said the RYLA camp, which aims to turn local youth into good leaders, was first held in the country in 1971 and has been an annual fixture since.

“We are a service-oriented club. As such, it is our duty to give back to the community and RYLA is among one of our many efforts to do so. In this case, the focus is on youth development.

“Although this year’s RYLA theme is ‘Towards 1Malaysia’, it must be said that Rotary International (consisting of clubs worldwide) has always been a non-racial, non-political and non-religious organisation, which makes it easier for people to interact with one another,” she said at a press conference at the Royale Bintang Resort and Spa in Seremban recently.

The programme, which is held in Rotary districts worldwide, benefits thousands of young people every year.

In fact, said Martin, the RYLA certificate which is handed out to participants who attend the camp, was something to be proud of.

“Employers look out for leadership traits in potential employees and the RYLA certificate is one that is recognised for its quality,” she said adding that employers who were familiar with RYLA usually sent selected employees for the short camp.

The upcoming RYLA camp is limited to 100 participants and those interested have to hand in their applications before the closing date on Feb 28.

To sign up, participants can approach their local Rotary Club for application forms.

All applications will be vetted and a short interview will be conducted before potential candidates are selected for the camp.

Partcipation fee is RM470 per person although the cost is usually fully or partially subsidised by the sponsoring Rotary Club.

For details, Martin can be contacted at 012-928 5259.

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