The redesigned Lasallian Formation Camp (LFC) saw its revival last December 5-11, 2024 with 12 Year 12 students participating in the seven-day Lasallian mission and cultural immersion program organised by St. Joseph’s Institution International School (SJIIS) in partnership with the De La Salle University – Dasmarinas (DLSUD) at Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines.
Mr. Nurjufri Edrus, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Malaysia in Manila, welcomes SJIIS students in the opening program of the Lasallian Formation Camp at DLSUD’s Ayuntamiento de La Salle Building. Joining in the welcome are Br. John D’ Cruz FSC and Br. Egbertus Jaikul FSC, Malaysian Brothers who are now affiliated with DLSUD.
The LFC offered students an opportunity to participate in service immersion at two locations: Bahay Pag-asa, a home for children in conflict with the law (CICL), and Balay Tuluyan, a refuge for abused females. Students got important insights into social justice concerns and learned about the difficulties encountered by these marginalised individuals through different kinds of activities.
Kirsten Yap shares, “I had many significant experiences, the main one being our visit to Bahay Tuluyan. As it was the first service opportunity of our trip, I was quite nervous about interacting with others from different backgrounds, and the language barriers I might encounter. This completely changed after the opening ceremony – the kids and staff were all so hospitable, hugging us, calling us ate, and trying to communicate even though we spoke different languages. Typically in Malaysia, only those who speak better English would come talk to us as the others were more shy, but at the girls’ home, everyone was so excited to interact with us and get to know us, although we couldn’t fully understand each other. A lot of us had to step out of our comfort zone when talking with new people and having to dance and sing (I really enjoyed that), so it was inspiring to see how passionate and interactive we were with the kids. I hope they had as much fun as we did, and we helped them forget about their struggles for at least one day.”
The camp also included a mission appreciation session at DLSUD, where students interacted with Senior High School students and shared their experiences, and sessions on Lasallian and Philippine Heritage.
Amisha Kaur Kaneswaran shared her meaningful interactions with the De La Salle Brothers at the Residencia De La Salle Community House at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute Campus, “we visited the Residencia De La Salle Brothers Community for dinner and had the chance to connect with Brothers from around the world. I spoke with a Brother from Congo alongside my friends. Despite the language barrier, my friend could relate to him as she is from China and faced similar difficulties with English when she first moved to Malaysia. Their conversation about the people in China was striking and it demonstrated the Lasallian virtue of Inclusive Community, as they bridged their differences and found common ground. It was a heartwarming experience to share dinner in the same hall, where every student was in conversations with different Brothers, exchanging stories and experiences. During this visit, I didn’t encounter any challenges, as the Brothers’ community was incredibly welcoming and wholesome.”
Students were given the chance to learn about the rich history and legacy of the Lasallian institutions in the Philippines and a glimpse of the Filipino heritage. The goal of the camp was to provide a deeper understanding of the Lasallian Core Values and tradition by experiencing what it is like at DLSUD.
Hopefully, the LFC 2024 can encourage the incoming Year 12 students to consider joining the LFC in 2025. It is a unique and rewarding experience that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on their personal and academic growth.
