Recently, DJP had the wonderful opportunity to bring students all the way from the American School Of Doha (ASD) into three different site locations in Peninsular Malaysia.  It has been an exciting 6 days in all!

The kids got to experience many things they could not do back in Qatar - jungle survival skills, rowing, camping, catching big insects, spotting wild animals, spelunking and many other exciting things……including playing in the rain!

One of the sites is inside the ancient jungles of Merapoh National Park, Pahang. They got to catch fish with their bare hands, submerged in waist-high mud! They also got to inspect a giant ant nest uplose, walked in the footsteps of wild animals, visited the home of thousands of bats (not forgetting, having their feet buried in heaps of bat guano!), preyed on by leeches, experience Chinese New Year with the locals and mingled with the local kids at a local football match. Plus many more enriching experiences!

At the end of the journey, each individual stepped out of their world just a little bit to discover more about other people around them and the world outside. In doing so, they also discovered more about themselves.

Here’s a pictorial story of the journey in Merapoh.

Spotting elephant tracks en route to Gua Gajah.

The seemingly treacherous climb into the cave.

At entrance of the cave, learning how stalactites and stalagmites are created.

At every meal, each group takes a turn to serve the others.

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Learning the art of Chinese calligraphy.

In the spirit of Chinese New year, we got the kids to make lanterns and other decor using the ‘Ang Pau’ or red packets.

Feeding the piranhas and other fishes at the fish farm.

The breathtaking view at the fish farm.

Mud fest! Kids catching fish with just their bare hands.

Showing respect to your elders by offering a cup of tea on the first day of Chinese New Year is a prevalent practice among the Chinese. However in this case, a cup of milo will do!

We were greeted by the God Of Wealth himself at the temple doors!

A group picture at the temple entrance for memories!

Taking a breather in the temple in the cave, after climbing up a million steps!

Brrr!! The water was refreshingly chilling. Here are the kids having an ‘uplose encounter’ feeding the ‘Kelah’, an endangered fish species.

Once in a blue moon. Watching the solar eclipse from the jungles of Merapoh on the first day of Chinese New Year, was indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity for us.

Each of them wrote a personalised message for the students at SMK Merapoh before the friendly football match with them.

The messages were handmade creatively to add that personal touch.

Learning ‘Congkak’, a traditional Malay game from the students of SMK Merapoh.

Learning a traditional Malay dance.

Watch that ball! American School of Doha versus SMK Merapoh.

DJP wishes to say, thank you for the opportunity for us to bring you into the Jungles Merapoh!

Stay tuned for more pictures from “ASD - Discovering Belum” and “ASD - Discovering Gopeng”.

Recently, we had the privilege to run a programme for Maybank Scholars in Gopeng, Perak. The programme was called Ripples, it is a programme about leadership and critical thinking, two of the most essential qualities youths should have.

The highlight of the programme was the fantastic campaigns the scholars did in just one day! The campaign was about a Community Social Initiative (CSI), where each group was suppose to come out with one topic and create a video with a message, brochures and poster.

We had such a blast making the CSI project. Everybody was so into it. We even discovered some talented actors and actresses. The results were totally beyond our expectations. The creativity from the scholars shone through in every aspect, from the video shooting to materials used to the theme of the whole campaign.

We have posted their videos on YouTube to share with the rest of the world. We hope you enjoy the videos as much as we do.

Be the master of technology, not the slave of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiCtsfy9c5Q

Gratitude for parents everywhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5qaOj6bUGk

Preserving culture - You can make a difference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uujuP-a16c

The plight on abandoned old folks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_6_EqvdFgs

How do you motivate yourself? There is no one right answer. Different people will have different motivating factors. During our recent Train-The-Trainer session in Awana Kijal, we did a series of videos on the topic of self-motivation. The whole journey itself from the start of the session to the end revealed some inspiring lessons.

The video link below is one of those that we did during the session.

The Story Of Limbs

The cool dry morning had an air of anxiety and anticipation. The sun had barely awaken from its slumber when they trickled in two by two. None could have envisioned what they saw on the field of Taman DR, Ipoh that day. There were gigantic structures everywhere, the field looked like giant playground.

DJP had the honour of making The Star Trailblazer 2008 a memorable event for over 350 participants that day. Teams were grouped together into six individual clusters to compete against each other in various challenges. The clusters listened in anticipation when the chief marshal threw down the gauntlet. Each challenge was designed to simulate and reflect the rich history of Ipoh’s past. From the giant abacus to the ‘ore mining’ with the six feet diameter tray to the structure building of a kampung house - each cluster had complete all the challenges in order to earn their money.

The finalists were then whisked off to Papan, a tiny historical town about 30 minutes drive from Ipoh town. The challenges this time around were synonymous with the history of Papan, from Chinese Opera to the sewing of sequins on the Kebaya to the making of the Loy Cha dish, a local delicacy.

In all, it was quite as experience for us too. Final preparations started two days before the event. Coordinating over 70 marshals to prepare and move all these larger than life structures for the games was not an easy task. The smallest details had to be attended to, from logistics to the instructions given.

Behind the scenes, we were also rewarded with unusual but wonderful experiences. During the finals, when the rain poured down in Papan, that experience was just amazing. The old pre-war shophouse structures, the slow pace of the town and the peacefulness just somehow gave the impression that we were actually re-living the past.

We discovered other amazing things also, such as a Koi fish being reared in a drain in front of a coffee shop in Papan. You really do not get to see that anywhere in the city nowadays. The water was so clean that you could actually keep a healthy fish in there!

In all, we too enjoyed ourselves tremendously preparing and running the event. Seeing how successful the event went made all our effort worthwhile. To find out more about The Star Trailblazer 2008, please visit the links below:

R.AGE Trailblazer 2008
http://thestaronline.tv/default.aspx?vid=1761

Blazin’ Teamwork
http://thestar.com.my/youth2/story.asp?file=/2008/7/23/youth2/1633865&sec=youth2

Master Trailblazers
http://thestar.com.my/youth2/story.asp?file=/2008/7/23/youth2/1632755&sec=youth2

“Your Time Is Now”. This is something that the Petronas Keepers Of The Flame -1 truly took to heart with the project that they had planned out for Asrama Penyayang Nur Iman (APNI).

The morning of 21 June 2008 gave me a nudge- a reminder of why we, D’Jungle People, do the things we do- to make a difference. In this case, we witness how the Petronas Keepers 1 would help change the lives of the children at APNI- not just by a donated gift, but with the promise of a better future.

Getting onto the bus. Road trip!

The Keepers had a whole day of activities planned out, and I could see how excited the children were. But that was not what made my eyes well up. What inspired me was the fact that the Petronas Keepers 1 made it a point to not just throw them a party- one off- and ‘wash their hands’. It was obvious that this is not something they want to do to make themselves feel good, to feel smug that ‘I’ve done my part’. I sensed not a smidgen of self-importance in their interaction with the children.

The T-Rex who raps. Yo!

This community project is part of the Keepers Of The Flame programme that we had at Cameron Highlands from 12th-14th June 2008. This was a 3-day leadership programme that focused on the 8 Flames of Leadership: Compassion, Courage, Loyalty, Honesty, Integrity, Fairness, Responsibility and Humility. This community project gave them a chance to put these values into action, instead of just paying lip service.

One of the Keepers told me earnestly, “Emily, this (the project) must come from the heart.” And it shows. I am damn proud to say that I have a small part in this. During the programme, I felt that they would do big things, but to raise RM70,000 in less than a week is just awesome. To know that Petronas Keepers 1 have a long term plan for APNI makes me believe in Hope, and in the Good of People (as clichéd as this may sound), that we are able to make a difference once we set our hearts to it.

How many engineers does it take to assemble a table?

One of the keepers joked and said if the Flames ever started to die down, they’d throw me in (as firewood!) to keep the fire burning, but I can count on the Petronas Keepers 1 that this will not happen. Right? Boo Ya!!

Today I discovered the answer to one of the most sought after questions in the corporate world- How to have passion at work.

I’m sitting now at a little Malay stall in Port Dickson after conducting a session with a group of senior managers from a multi-national company. Just like many of our other sessions, I watched and observed as one participant in particular took part in the activities with total enthusiasm and energy. He ran around like a little kid in a candy store during the games and volunteered with total sincerity in any of the roles that he could contribute in. I watched in delight as he jumped up and down and nudged his colleagues with a wink and a laugh at lighthearted moments and I listened with my heart when he gave his opinions and viewpoints with total sincerity. Have we seen these types of people before? Yes, we have. Many times. What made him special then - He was 74. His name was Joe.

What makes a 74 year old take part so totally in exercises and discussions that he probably has taken part in many times before in his life? In activities that people decades younger than him are trying to get out of doing with the excuse “ it’s too tough la!”  What makes such an experienced man so willing to contribute and to listen to his colleagues and to me, a facilitator not even half his age?  I wondered silently as the day went on and his energy went unabated.

Then inadvertently he answered my unspoken questions as I listened to the group in their reflections. “We gotta have passion!” cried one of the VPs in the group. “When we have passion at work, we become more energetic and enthusiastic!” How very true I thought. Unfortunately, the day was drawing to an end and we did not have time to pursue the discussion. But as we were walking back to the function room, Joe came up to me and shook my hand and told me how much he had enjoyed the day and how much he had learnt from it. It was a humbling moment for me. As we chatted, he nudged me and said, “Lemme tell you something- when that guy spoke about passion at work, I wanted to share this with him but there wasn’t time. You know what? You want to have passion at work? That’s easy – all you gotta to is have passion for life. To have enthusiasm for life itself. Work or play, it doesn’t matter. Passion in life will show in all areas of your life. Work included!”

Wow! What a gem! How many of us have an enthusiasm for life? To grow and to live life to the fullest? To embrace each new day as if it would be your last? To care for your loved ones as though we’ve not seen them in a million years and might not see them for another million. All too often we go through day by day trying to make ends meet, and enduring life. Then we wait for those moments that define our significant moments unaware that they may have already passed us by. Why wait for something that we can be passionate about when we can be passionate about everything? To LIVE passionately. When that happens, we automatically become passionate at work. Why? ‘Cos that’s a part of life.

During a recent programme in Penang, we went out on numerous makan trips. We love our food adventures and being in Penang, we just had to go out and try some of the local delicacies there.

Knowing how hawkers tend to give out wooden chopsticks like there’s no tomorrow, we whipped out our own pair of re-usable stainless steel chopsticks and dug into the food. Sitting there having a meal together amidst the many patrons and hawker stalls, we actually felt quite proud of our chopsticks. We piled up the unused disposable chopsticks (about 10 pairs) and gave them back to the hawker.

We felt a sense of pride of what we did. Having conducted many programmes outdoors, we are disappointed to witness many forms of destruction to the environment. Piles and piles of rubbish are a common sight at picnic venues amidst the lush greenery of nature.

Bad, bad, bad for the environment!

DJP has always been a strong advocate for the environment. Every employee carries a personal pair of re-usable chopsticks and we often use them when we eat out. To help raise awareness and spread the message, we have imported 500 pairs of re-usable chopsticks to be distributed out to our corporate clients. They come in special casings with a clip. It’s very light and portable. Men can carry it in their pockets and women can put it in their handbags.

In a recent kids programme, our stainless steel chopsticks were sold out. We found that many of the younger generation loved it because it’s “hip” and “cool” to be carrying one around. Since the article came out in the Star newspaper, some of our personal friends have requested for a pair simply because it was ’stylish’.

DJP reusable chopsticks. Good for the environment and stylish too!

For easy mobility, the chopsticks come in two halves. All one needs to do is to assemble it by screwing the top and bottom half together (see picture above). So far, the trend of using re-usable chopsticks is not that popular yet in Malaysia, but we hope that it will catch up soon.

China uses about 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks annually, which equals to about 25 million full grown trees. Japan uses about 24 billion pairs a year. The depletion of rainforests worsens the greenhouse effect, disrupts delicate eco-systems and destroys home of endangered species.

This is what happens to disposable chopsticks. Such a waste and disaster to the environment.

Realising these effects, some companies in Japan and China have taken action to support the use of reusable chopsticks in their canteens. The Chinese government has pledged to reduce the disposables by 365 million to promote its goal of a ‘green Olympics’. DJP joins the ranks of ‘green’ companies worldwide through the use of reusable chopsticks.

We hope that in time, more companies will support the use of re-usable chopsticks and help save some trees.
The chopsticks are for sale at cost price (RM20) to participants on our programmes.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your role here at D’Jungle People.
I’m Mei Chin, the finance executive in D’Jungle People. I make sure all the accounts for D’Jungle People and the two other sister companies (Travel Tales and KL Scientific) are in order (as much as I can!). As mentioned, I do the accounts for D’Jungle People. I make sure all debtors pay up (!) and suppliers are being paid too. For the Year 2008, I will be assisting in monitoring the budget from various departments.

2. What is on your workplate right now?
Currently handling the accounts for Travel Tales and KL Scientific also. I have to make sure all the transactions have been keyed in, sales forecast for Year 2008, reporting…. and this goes for all three companies.

Am also pursuing my MBA part-time so I’ll have to make sure that I manage my time properly.

3. So what do you usually do in your free time?
Do I have any ? Well, a jog would be good. Or most of the time, just chilling in the room, listening to music and seeing if I can get my hands on any craft work.

During a recent trip to Phuket.

4. What is the furthest place you’ve been to for training?
I would say it’s Shanghai. One of the highlights in D’Jungle People.
5. What are you reading right now?
Well..at the moment, I’m trying to finish up the journals provided by lecturers. But trying to get my hands on magazines like The Economist and Bizweek.

6. Share with us one or two of your best memories you’ve had as a DJP facilitator.
It was during My 2Sen Worth race. Not a very difficult race, but a race with full of learning (for me personally) and how everyone came together to make it work. Another one would be when I was doing the most recent Star BRATs Programme. Sometimes you never realize how much impact you’ve made in the programme. To be honest, I never knew I did and like what John said in the most recent KOTF programme, you will never know when someone is looking at you for guidance, support and your leadership role. When I came back to the office, I received two e-mails from the BRATs saying how they look up to me and seeing me as a “big sister”. The e-mails were touching and nevertheless made me remind myself of who I am and what are the values and principles I hold strongly to.

For the next few weeks, we will be featuring a series of Q & A with the people behind D’Jungle People. Here, you’ll find that play is often a big chunk of what we do. Don’t get us wrong, we do take our work seriously but we make sure have lots of fun along the way! The first entry of our series is about our HR Manager, Joy.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your role here at D’Jungle People.

My name is Joy. I first came to  know about DJP when I was working in another multinational organisation sometime in 2005.  My life changing experience began in 2006 when I started helping out part-time as Facilitator and there was no turning back then.  I found what I wanted and that was to work with a group of friends to help other people in their career and personal development. In 2007 I took the extra step.  I joined DJP full time and since then, it has been a whirlpool of adventure.  My main role in DJP is Human Resources and Administration for the group of companies.

2. What is on your workplate right now?

As usual, month end is the time to get the $$ prepared to put food on our table.  The last 2 weeks of January 2008 has been hectic and I’ve been doing a lot of background work to support others to ensure the success of each programme.

3. So what do you usually do in your free time?

I do a lot of reading.  I read whenever and wherever (that includes the toilet ;-p)
I cook (and I think I am pretty good at it) and catch up on my house cleaning. If I have more time, my honey and I would go driving “tour d’ Semenanjung” for a leisure holiday or if we want to rough it out a bit, we would go hiking and camping.

Climbing up Gunung Ledang

4. What is the furthest place you’ve been to for training?
Thailand…in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai.

5. What are you reading right now?

Stephen Covey, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

6. Share with us one or two of your best memories you’ve had as a DJP facilitator.

I have many memories, but I would like to share the story of “Teh Candu” (Opium Tea! - direct translation).We felt ‘adventurous’ and wanted to taste what this tea is all about.We found the shop, tucked nicely in the corner of Barrack road opposite the post office.  The owner, who claims to be the founder of this tea was there to tell us the history and how it came about.

Yum yum teh candu. Word of caution: drink only if you want to be an insomniac for the night.

To cut the story short, we had 3 variations of it and we actually suffered side-effects.  We were hyper all the way back to KL.  All of us couldn’t sleep well that night (heart palpitations!) …. and we still wonder …. was there really opium in our tea?  We will never know the secret.  But it was one good glass of teh candu.