PTW youth movement spreads to Namibia and Kenya

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Aziza (second left) and other PTW members prepare rice and salad for Namibian children.

MIRI: The Paint the World (PTW) youth movement recently expanded its programme into the continent of Africa with the setting up of two new branches in Namibia and Kenya.

PTW Malaysia founder Aziza Aznizan said she had worked with her fellow high school United World College (UWC) classmate Rebecca Woermann from Namibia and her university mates from EU Business School Spain on the new branch in Namibia.

Aziza with a Namibian child during a visit to an outskirts village in the country.

“Activities included playing with the children in the outskirts villages and preparing a food kitchen, involving almost 200 children. We cooked rice and made salad for the children while telling stories about Malaysia, El Salvador, Spain and other countries where the movement operates.

“It was indeed an amazing experience,” Aziza told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Shortly after the trip, Aziza received the state-level Anugerah Perdana Belia Negara (Individual Female Category) from the Youth and Sports Department. She has been shortlisted to represent the state in the national level award.

Aziza and five university mates accompanied by Rebecca also flew to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to launch the Paint the World Kenya on May 13, which happened to be her birthday. The 10-day PTW Kenya project was organised by Aziza with assistance from her classmates Hafeez Virani and Muhoho Kenyatta.

“The activities during the 10-day programme included visits to villages, orphanages, autistic and cancer societies and also helping out with baby elephants and planting trees,” said Aziza, who regarded the setting up of the two new branches as her ultimate birthday gift this year. Apart from Africa, PTW conducts programmes in several other countries including Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Timor-Leste and Swaziland.

Aziza, who hails from Miri, hopes to return to Malaysia in October to intern at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports for a few months.

“I wish to contribute to the youths of Sarawak,” she added.

Aziza (third right) in a photo-call with Minister of Tourism and Wildlife Kenya, Najib Balala (centre) and other PTW members. The PTW delegates had a discussion with Balala on ways to collaborate through PTW projects such as bringing orphanages to the national park.