KOTA KINABALU: Kebun Atuk Farmstay in Telipok, here became the location of knowledge adventure for 112 participants and 20 officers of EVO Camp organised by Sabah Progressive Parti (SAPP) Youth wing last weekend.
A total of 10 panels who are professional in their respective fields including international class, social media influencers and Sabah Cultural Board, also contributed their expertise to make the camp a success.
The camp received support and visits from young leaders of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). They also participated in the traditional ceremony of putting on scarves as a sign of acceptance of new EVO Cadets.
SAPP Youth Chief Jamain Sarudin said the EVO Camp aims to provide historical education, teamwork and critical thinking skills through workshops held for Sabah youth.
“Realising the responsibility of preserving and restoring the culture of the nation, since last year Evo Camp introduced a cultural dance education. For this time, besides dance, an important aspect of building a national culture is the specialisation of mother tongue,” said the Political Secretary to Sabah Chief Minister.
The EVO Camp participants showed their talents and abilities in reading poetry, rhymes and stories in various mother tongues such as Dusun, Kadazan, Murut, Rungus, Bajau Samah, Iranun, Brunei Bongawan, Kedayan, Chinese Hakka, Bugis and Javanese. He himself spoke in Bisaya language at the closing ceremony.
SAPP President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, in his speech stressed that every individual should speak in their own mother tongue because language is the soul of the nation.
He said the concern over the extinction of mother tongue is because most young people usually speak in Malay and English as well as Mandarin.
“As a result of changing times, mastery of mother tongue continues to decline and it needs to be corrected,” he said.
He also invited Evo cadets to explore education in high-tech fields in the future.
In addition to learning activities in the camp, EVO Camp participants also had the opportunity to visit museums and historical monuments as well as volunteer to clean up mangrove forest areas at Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary which is also known as “KK Wetland”.
“The organisers of EVO Camp would like to thank all parents who have given permission for their children to participate in this camp and hope to continue this programme in the future,” said Jamain.