Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience 2006

Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience 2006

From the Star 08/05/2006,

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/5/8/central/14138940&sec=central

After participating in the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience (CXIWE) last year, Ng Pei Ying and Ong Szu Mei have become changed persons.

They are more aware of the values of conserving and preserving the environment. Besides broadening their knowledge of the world, Ng and Ong also had the opportunity to meet like-minded youths and learn from each other's cultures.

Two lucky teenagers will get their chance to participate in the wilderness experience this year as Cathay Pacific Airways Limited has launched the 12th chapter of CXIWE project yesterday.

Two Malaysian youths aged between 16 and 18 years old will be selected for this project, which will take place from Aug 22 to 30 at Botshabelo, South Africa.

The Malaysian ambassadors will be flown to the South African wilderness to join more than 50 youths from South Africa and Asia Pacific Rim countries for the nine-day ecological project.


What Is The Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience?
Cathay Pacific is committed to the communities we serve and to Hong Kong. We accept our responsibility towards the environment and are very aware that its future depends on the young people who are going to be the decision-makers of the future.

It is in this spirit that Cathay Pacific has sponsored several hundred specially selected young people to participate in the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience since 1994.

There you will have the unique opportunity to make friends with delegates from other countries with cultures very different from your own. You will be exposed to the natural, unspoiled environment and will begin to understand the impact that man has made on the delicate ecological balance of the earth. Through this experience it is hoped that you will take home the messages learnt and apply them in your own life and home country.

The Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience widens the horizons and expands the world view of the young people who have taken part. If you would like to join us on this voyage of discovery, if you are keen to raise your self-awareness and self-confidence, if you would like to act as an "Ambassador" for your country, then we invite you to apply right away.

Application
Application for the Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience 2006 opens now! Young people between 16 and 18 years old from the following countries are invited to join. For more information, please click on the following link according to your residence for local application details:

http://www.cathaypacific.com/my/aboutcx/community/0,,109751,00.html

I applied for the CXIWE some time in April last year, and was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the three participants to represent Malaysia to the 2005 edition from the 27th of July to the 5th of August. Prior to that, a one day selection camp was held at The Farm, Lenggong, Negri Sembilan.

The build up to the event was tedious. We had to discuss about what items to bring as well as how we would present Malaysia. We even had to go to one of the CX staff's house to be judged on our cooking.

The CXIWE event was very fun. We had the opportunity to go on wilderness rides, see real life wild animals (including the Big 5), sample the cooking of other countries' delegates as well as hear them present their country. Other activities conducted includes a mock wedding, a mud fight and campfires.

All these aside, attending CXIWE will be an unforgettable experience. Lifelong friendships will be forged, while knowledge will be gained and views expanded through the discussions of world issues with other delegates.


By Lim Yangli
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Lim Yangli is currently temporarily enrolled in college to attend economics classes when he feels like it. He will be going to UWC Costa Rica this fall on a full scholarship. In the meantime till then he will be travelling and bumming around a lot. He is a former student of Wesley Methodist School (sadly) and MJSC Jasin (now known as Tun Ghaffar Baba MJSC). Contact him at limyangli at gmail dot com.