Hope2Kids breaks record with career aspirations camp for kids

The Hope2Kids Soft Skills & Career Aspirations Camp, held on August 22 at Andalas Sports Complex in Klang, broke attendance records by welcoming 507 children from 16 shelter homes and informal learning centres across the Klang Valley. This record-breaking event, recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR), aimed to help underprivileged children discover their strengths, build confidence, and envision their potential futures.

Founder Sarah Callista Ng, a 19-year-old youth-led non-profit founder, envisioned a camp that would bring children from diverse backgrounds together for a day of fun, teamwork, and exploration. Participants engaged in activities such as building catapults, solving mysteries, conducting experiments, and even experiencing life as doctors and police detectives. Activities were meticulously designed to enhance communication, teamwork, leadership, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

One notable highlight was the Career Marketplace, featuring 35 interactive stations that allowed children to immerse themselves in various careers. For 13-year-old Kirina from Noble Education Centre, the catapult challenge reinforced her interest in engineering, while the Career Marketplace introduced her to new possibilities, including a newfound aspiration to become a doctor after participating in the doctor station.

The camp also emphasized social connections, with several participants forming friendships across different shelter homes. Ng recalled a group of four girls who became fast friends during the event, and another participant expressed relief at realizing he was not alone in his experiences. Outdoor activities provided additional opportunities for teamwork and building confidence among the young participants.

Ng hopes that the camp instilled a sense of self-discovery and aspiration in the children, helping them identify potential career paths, boost their confidence, and strengthen their teamwork skills. She expressed enthusiasm for future editions, aiming to expand the range of careers and hands-on experiences available to young participants, further encouraging them to dream big.