In conjunction with the Season of Creation 2025, themed Peace with Creation, Caritas Penang organised a three-day, two-night immersion camp, inviting young adults to spend a night in the jungle with the Orang Asli community.

YOUMAD 2.0 is the fruit of prayer and a collaborative effort between Caritas Penang, Penang Diocesan Youth Network, World Youth Day Pilgrims, and Malaysian Care, designed to empower young people to make a difference. The camp aimed to help young people understand climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities through hands-on experience. It was a reflective journey designed to help participants see the realities on the ground, discern them in the light of the Gospel, and be inspired to take action.

Rooted in Scripture

The programme incorporated Bible study materials from the Season of Creation 2025. Each day, participants gathered to reflect on the Prophet Jeremiah, share their thoughts, and pray for a change of heart. This Bible reflection formed the heart of the YOUMAD 2.0 camp, preparing participants spiritually to understand their purpose and calling in joining the camp.

Through this session, Caritas Penang hoped to nurture in young people the spirit of reflection and prayer, for without it, life can become barren and lack direction.

Br. Solomon, a seminarian on his pastoral year at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Kampar, facilitated the reflection sessions. He guided participants toward a deeper understanding of their faith, their responsibility as children of God, and their duty as stewards of Creation — caring for nature, animals, and the poor.

Experience the Life of the Orang Asli

On the second day, participants spent the entire day at Ladang Care, an Orang Asli demonstration and research centre in Kampung Sungai Cincin, Perak, established by Malaysian Care to support Orang Asli initiatives.

Participants joined community work by helping the workers clean the sheepfold, fertilise the fruit trees and vegetable plots, gather firewood, clear fallen leaves, and tidy up the pathways — the simple, everyday routines of the Orang Asli community.

This was followed by an awareness session led by a coordinator from Malaysian Care, who shared their inspiring ministry among the Orang Asli — a mission deeply rooted in the Gospel’s call to love our neighbours. Their dedication and sacrifice in serving alongside the Orang Asli have helped rebuild lives and communities, bearing witness to the transformative power of love lived out through faith.

Participants also met members of the Temiar and Semai tribes, listened to their stories, asked questions, and formed genuine friendships.

Abang Prima, a Temiar man from Slim River, shared how his village was transformed through Malaysian Care’s empowerment programmes — from lacking basic infrastructure to now having proper roads, housing, clean water, and electricity.

Another inspiring story came from Adik Alang, a 19-year-old youth who was once illiterate. With the help of a pastor who reached out to his village after a major flash flood, he received the opportunity to study in town. Eight years later, he is fluent in both English and Bahasa Malaysia and joyfully shared his story with the participants. His testimony deeply moved everyone, showing how a single act of love can change a life.

The female participants were also touched by the sharing of Orang Asli women, who spoke about their daily struggles, work, and faith — and how they overcame hardship through the support and love of fellow Christians.

In preparation for dinner, participants were divided into groups and guided by the Orang Asli to collect firewood, gather vegetables, handle meat, catch fish, and build a fire. In the jungle, they became students once again — learning survival skills from the Orang Asli.

The second day ended beautifully with praise and worship around the campfire. The Orang Asli Christians and Catholic participants sang and prayed together, lifting their voices in common songs of worship amidst the beauty of nature. Laughter, music, and gift exchanges filled the night. Under a sky glittering with stars, accompanied by the sounds of flowing rivers and chirping crickets, the group ended the day in deep gratitude for God’s creation and for the spirit of solidarity and joy.

Call to Serve

On the final day, the camp concluded with a call to action. Caritas Penang reminded everyone of the Church’s mission entrusted to every Christian — to know God and to make God known through love and service to others.

Participants exchanged words of hope and prayer, followed by an invitation to volunteer with Caritas Penang in its social mission.

Before the camp began, participants were asked to share their expectations — some hoped to make new friends, others to experience the village life of the Orang Asli, to learn about care for creation, or to discover ways to serve. Their responses revealed a deep thirst to strengthen their faith and love.

Through the YOUMAD 2.0 experience, Caritas Penang hopes that these young people have found what they were searching for. The camp is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey — one that calls them to serve the poor and to care for God’s Creation.

“That the joy of Jesus and His delight may be in us, and that our joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.” – John 15:11

United for Peace with Creation

As the global Church celebrates the Season of Creation and the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2025, our community unites under the theme “Peace with Creation.” The Neighbourhood Clean-Up, held on 4 October 2025 at Flat Taman Pulasan, Bukit Minyak, Penang, was jointly organised by Caritas Diocese of Penang, the Penang Island–Northern Creation Justice Commission, the Penang Diocesan Youth Network, and the Penang Refugee Network.

The event aimed to raise awareness on caring for our common home and to strengthen bonds of unity with refugees, reflecting the Season’s call to restore peace and justice to the Earth, inspired by Isaiah 32:14–18. Rooted in the spirit of Laudato Si’, the initiative invites us to rediscover our shared home as a place where every person, regardless of origin or circumstance, finds dignity and belonging. By caring for the Earth together with our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters, we affirm that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony — between people, and with all of God’s creation.

Small Acts, Great Love

The neighbourhood clean-up brought together parishioners, youth, refugees, and local residents who shared a common desire to care for creation and for one another. With gloves, bags, and open hearts, participants spread out across the surrounding areas and green spaces, collecting waste and sorting recyclables.

“Love, overflowing with small gestures of mutual care, is also civic and political.” — Laudato Si’ 231

What might have seemed like a simple act of cleaning became a living expression of solidarity and stewardship. In each shared smile and gesture of cooperation, the message of Laudato Si’ came alive. Every piece of litter lifted was a reminder that ecological conversion begins with small steps, and that peace with creation is built through community effort and compassion.

Job Scope

• Assist in planning and carrying out community outreach programmes.
• Assist in volunteer management.
• Assist in disaster management.
• Assist in case management.
• Organise and coordinate formations, workshops, and training programmes.
• Plan and coordinate awareness and advocacy campaigns.
• Support the Penang Diocesan Lenten Campaign.

Key Responsibilities

• Reach out to suffering and vulnerable communities to assess their needs and prepare reports for intervention.
• Build connections with parishes, church ministries, Caritas networks, NGOs, CSOs, faith-based organisations, and government agencies to explore collaboration opportunities.
• Coordinate volunteer assignments, gather feedback, and address concerns or complaints.
• Participate in the Emergency Response Team during disasters, assisting in initial assessments, monitoring the situation, response, and post-disaster recovery programmes.
• Develop and propose training plans for volunteers.
• Plan and implement awareness and advocacy campaigns based on local needs.
• Assist in designing and running the Penang Diocesan Lenten Campaign to inspire and equip Catholics in charitable works.
• Assist in managing the organisation’s social media accounts.
• Support the Bishop of Penang as needed.
• Collaborate and work as a team to discern and carry out the will of God in this ministry.
• Nurture a life of prayer to sustain the responsibilities of the role.

Requirements

• Have a heart for humanitarian work and community development.
• Possess the desire to love and serve the suffering poor.
• Have a listening heart and an understanding mind.
• Able to converse well in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese or Tamil (multilingual ability is an advantage).
• Good communication, coordination, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to write reports, plan activities, and manage documentation.
• Basic digital literacy and ability to manage social media accounts.
• Willingness to travel and work with communities in different locations.
• Openness to work in a faith-based environment and to grow in a life of prayer.
  

On 5 September 2025, the Feast of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Caritas Penang held a day of prayer, recollection, and planning for the Board members and staff of Caritas Penang, Lighthouse Feeding Centre, and St Joseph’s Home at the Monsignor Aloysius Spirituality Center (MASC), Penang.

The day began with a memorial Mass for St Mother Teresa, celebrated by Fr Joachim Robert and Fr Andrew Khoo, and attended by around 20 participants. Following the Mass, Fr Andrew Khoo led the recollection, drawing from the spirituality of Caritas Malaysia’s guiding principles. These principles form both our inner disposition and motivation (“Being”)—Sanctity, Synodality, and Solidarity—and our communal efforts (“Doing”)—Subsidiarity, the Common Good, and Co-responsibility. He also reiterated the call for a Synodal Church, walking together in Communion, Participation, and Mission.