Youth and Leadership Development in Malaysia

Youth associations, the age groups here range from 15 to 40, are essential to providing young people with the opportunity to experience critical non-formal learning experiences that cannot be learnt elsewhere. The marginalization of younger people from Malaysian society’s organizational power structures does not allow them to experience leadership.

These youth organizations have become the training ground to help teach young people leadership skills by allowing them to gain experience through community-based learning.  The learning of what is referred to as “soft” skills are important for career development, and not only.

It is often seen in Malaysia that the leaders of youth organizations become national leaders and leaders in the world of business. However, there is a barrier between the Youth and Sports and Education ministries and Youth and youth leadership associations.

Proper co-operation would allow the youth associations to work with the schools as co-curricular bodies and could help provide students with non-formal, enriching educational opportunities. The association members could also take the role of mentors to the school-goers. Youth associations could play a holistic and supportive role within the school environment and for scholars at a younger age. The average leadership training age is now 25, whereas, if it was implemented at school going age, it would be 15; a whole 10 years earlier.

At a younger age, youth association membership would mean that scholars will learn some of the important leadership development skills that will help them to either serve their country or enterprises. Whether their own or multi-nationals.

Finally, perhaps even though youth and leadership development counts as non-formal education, it can still stand side-by-side with formal education to encourage lifelong learning. It can help produce service-oriented youth who are ready to tackle Malaysia and the world.