KUCHING: A youth programme, Paint the World International Concert, organised by an international movement called ‘Paint the World’ will be held on Feb 15 at the old building of the State Legislative Assembly.
The concert will be from 2.30pm to 5pm. Entrance is free for an audience of around 750 people.
The participants are from Spain, Serbia, Georgia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Brunei and Malaysia.
Guest speakers are Georgia’s Youth Ambassador to the United Nations and founder of Paint the World, Lika Tirikashrili as well as Malala Yousafzai and friends Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan.
Aziza Aznizan, founder of Paint the World Malaysia, said the event was not only supported by teams of young people from Miri and Kuching, but also by teams of Paint the World branches from Indonesia, Georgia, Russia, Oman, Serbia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Swaziland, Spain, Egypt, Kenya, UK, Timor-Leste and West Malaysia.
She said this year, volunteers from more than 12 countries would join in.
Lika said the project was aimed at getting youth more aware of the underprivileged in cities world-wide such as orphans, the deaf and mute, the blind, old folks, cancer patients, people with Down syndrome and those with autism.
“We are also promoting creativity, diversity, independence, active participation, passion and unity among the youth while carrying out projects for the disabled … unity through charity. We want to make this world a better place to live in,” said Lika at the press conference after meeting with Tourism, Arts, culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The organisers said they would invite disabled children to the concert where they would be regarded as the VIPs of the day.
The purpose of the concert is also to share knowledge of sustainability, wildlife preservation, women’s right to education, youth leadership and entrepreneurship and giving opportunities to youngsters to debate ideas and encourage them to brainstorm solutions to help Sarawak.
It is a platform for the young to be heard. This concert aims to increase their participation in state affairs as well as challenge their critical minds and shape them to be intellectual individuals.
A conference will be included in the conference via the invited speakers from various countries, thus making it an educational concert.
Abdul Karim who was also present at the press conference urged the public especially youth to attend the concert as it will be very entertaining.
“I know because I have attended it before,” he said.
