Malaysia
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through the Global Mission has positions available in Malaysia for ELCA young adults,
ages 21-29. Volunteers must be flexible and able to work cooperatively, in good physical health, emotionally resilient, and culturally sensitive. They must also be willing to engage in inter-cultural issues, serve in diverse communities (both ethnically, socio-economically and inter-faith), have a commitment to live simply and to learn basic communication skills in Bahasa-Malaysia.
Context
The YAGM program in Malaysia is new for 2009-2010. Many exciting opportunities await the volunteers who will live and serve in the city of Kota Kinabalu, which will be the site of the placements in this inaugural year. Kota Kinabalu is often called K.K., and it is a city of 500,000 people and serves as the capital of Sabah state (eastern Malaysia), formerly known as Borneo. Our host will be the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM), which is a member church of the Lutheran World Federation. Originally founded by Chinese immigrants, the BCCM today is a church that includes indigenous Malaysians as well as Chinese. Several churches in K.K. also have English-language services.
Websites for more information
What opportunities are available?
Placements are still to be determined, but examples of possible placements include education, child care centers and teaching English. At one placement volunteers will assist teachers of elementary children from Indonesia who are not eligible to attend Malaysian schools. This outreach program of the BCCM provides children with an opportunity to study the regular curriculum to prepare them for further studies, either in technical schools in Malaysia or in schools in Indonesia should they return there. Another option is for volunteers to assist teachers at an orphanage home
for neglected, underprivileged and abused children. In addition, volunteers will regularly participate in congregational programs, such as worship, youth and music, scouts, and camps.
What Is Provided?As a Young Adult in Global Mission, you will have the opportunity
to learn more about yourself, grow in faith, and increase in understanding of your place in God’s world. In addition, you
will receive:
- 35-40 hours per week work assignment
- Housing (varies depending on the site – home stay, shared housing, apartments, on-campus housing, etc)
- Food (either provided with your housing arrangement or by cash allowance)
- Pocket Money
- Vacation time as determined by country program
- Orientation in the US at the start of service
- Training conferences, retreats, and seminars throughout your period of service
- Opportunities for reflection, study, prayer and community building
- Supervision and support through your placement and an in-country program coordinator
- Airfare to and from your home and Israel
- Medical Insurance
- Student loan deferment
What Is My Commitment?
- Attend the Discernment Event weekend in mid-April
- One year of service, beginning in mid-August with orientation
- Raise at least $4,000 towards program and support costs (let staff know if you have questions or concerns)
Applications received by February 15 will be given first priority. Final deadline for applications is March 1.