Reported by
Mohammad Nurdhiyauddin bin Haji Nudin, Haji Muhammad Izzuddin bin Haji Nor Hisham, and Mohammad Wafiy Mustaqim bin Bahrin
As part of the Project Ripple Effect by the AJYELN Brunei fellows, a structured Masterclass Workshop Series was implemented to build the capacity of volunteers and students as youth advocates for sustainable plastic-pollution reduction. The program was designed around a train-the-trainer approach, equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to actively engage their communities and educate others. The masterclass was conducted in four thematic sessions—Leadership, Advocacy, Sustainability, and Environment—each addressing a core competency required for effective youth-led environmental action. In this activity, the workshop was facilitated by nine (9) facilitators from the 48th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP), with support from the organizing team. Following the masterclass series, trained volunteers were assigned to design and deliver school-based workshops focusing on practical and sustainable ways to tackle plastic pollution, thereby creating a ripple effect that extends the project’s impact beyond the initial participants and into the wider community.
Key Takeaways
- Participants learned to reinforce foundational skills through application: Covering foundational topics such as Active Listening was considered useful as it makes them reflect and remember the need for it in important settings. The program’s effectiveness hinges on moving quickly past lecture and focusing on high-impact activities (like the Art of Persuasion) to practically apply and reinforce these skills made them realize the critical role of it in leadership.
- Strategic communication and influence are key leadership outcomes: The activities successfully illustrated that true leadership is rooted in collaboration, effective communication, and acknowledgement, rather than just empowerment. Students learned how to use active listening and negotiation to persuade and influence others effectively, embracing the mantra: “The goal is the same, but our ideas are different”.
- Participants reflected on their needs and values as a leader: The exercise “What do you want to be remembered by?” relate to the context of being a “leader or mentor” highlighting the need for precise instructions to guide participants toward the intended learning goal.
Main Highlights
- Date: 8 October 2025 at 13:30 – 17:00 (BNT)
- Venue or location: Youth Hub, Stadium Negara Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei Darussalam
- Organizer: Din Din and Friend Team
- Facilitators:
48th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) Team
They are the 48th batch for the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) which is a month-long, international cultural and educational exchange initiative, typically conducted aboard a cruise ship like the Nippon Maru, that brings together approximately hundreds of young leaders, known as Participating Youth (PYs), aged 18 to 30, from the eleven ASEAN member states and Japan. Operating under the objective of fostering mutual understanding, goodwill, and regional cooperation, the program involves intense on-board activities such as discussion groups, national cultural presentations, institutional visits in various ports of call, and a critical homestay program component, all aimed at building deep personal connections and providing participants with the skills to address regional and global issues as future leaders.
- Participants: Participants are from local universities, higher institutions, and some of them are already employed. They ranged in age from 17 to 30 years old, with the majority falling within the 18 to 25 age group, with a notable high female representation, with 16 of the 22 participants being female.
- No. of participants: 23
Activities Implemented
Energizer and Ice-Breaking Activity
Participants were initially divided into groups for the energizer and were divided into groups after a short ice-breaking activity to self-introduce themselves to their group (5 minutes). Each participant had to give their nicknames, favorite food, and their hobby in a circle, and the next person had to do the same while mentioning the answers of the participant before them.
Project Ripple Effect and 48th SSEAYP Introduction
The participants were given a detailed introduction to the Project Ripple Effect program which includes the introduction of the organizers and the future workshops and forums that they will have to attend. After that, they were introduced to SSEAYP – the journey and how to join the program.
Leadership Talk – Active Listening
The 25 minutes workshop was successfully implemented with a focused exploration of active listening, positioning it as a fundamental skill critical to effective leadership. The talk guided the participants to reflect deeply on key practical steps, resulting in demonstrable learning outcomes centered on four (4) pillars: mastering techniques for full presence, utilizing verbal and non-verbal cues for effective acknowledgment, developing patience to facilitate complete expression, and practicing the discipline of withholding judgement to achieve genuine understanding. The session concluded by introducing a reflective quote from Miles Davis, “It is not the note you play that is the wrong note, it is the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.” This prompt was given for continued internalization that effective communication is defined not by the initial input, but also by the quality of the mindful response that follows.
Leadership in Action: Persuasion as a Superpower
The 50-minute activity on the art of persuasion was first introduced and identified as a core leadership skill. The activity then successfully introduced the participants to the three (3) rhetorical appeals of Ethos (Credibility), Pathos (Emotion), and Logos (Logic) using practical “I,” “Heart,” and “Mind” statements. Implementation involved two main activities started with a ‘Quote Recruitment’ exercise where three (3) volunteers applied the blended techniques to persuade their peers to join their group. For the second activity, with the same gathered groups did the ‘Persuasion Market’ activity where they were only allowed to use one (1) assigned appeal (Ethos, Pathos, or Logos) to pitch a sustainability solution, followed by a targeted constructive criticism session from the organizers and facilitators. The session concluded by cementing the key learning outcome that effective persuasion is rooted in influence and inspiration, requiring the strategic application of the three appeals only after actively listening to the audience’s needs.
Survival Scenario
The 35-minute activity was a high-pressure, scenario-based exercise where participants were divided into four (4) groups and were told to apply their knowledge of active listening and ethical persuasion to a simulated plane crash. Each group was challenged to use collaborative persuasion techniques during a strict 15-minute discussion to select only three (3) critical survival objects from a given list, with the underlying requirement being the careful consideration of all group members’ perspectives. Following their three-minute presentations detailing their chosen items and survival plan, groups received constructive feedback focusing on both the feasibility of their decisions and the effectiveness of their internal team dynamics, particularly how successfully they employed persuasion and active listening to achieve consensus in a crisis.
Legacy Letter – Debriefing Session
In this 30-minute “Legacy Letter” activity provided a structured opportunity for deep personal reflection on leadership impact, where participants were asked to write a letter addressing the fundamental question: “If you were to leave this group today, what do you want others to remember about your leadership?” Following this individual reflection and drafting period, the session transitioned into an intimate group circle where the participants shared their personal letters and aspirations, creating a psychologically safe environment that reinforced the core values of the group and encouraged vulnerability while cementing the importance of intentional, value-driven leadership.
Outcome
The Leadership Workshop by the AJYELN Brunei, co-organized with the 48th SSEAYP team, was designed to do more than facilitate first introductions and ice-breaking activities. Through a series of interactive and reflective exercises, the workshop encouraged participants to critically assess and strengthen their existing leadership capacities. By engaging in activities that challenged them to step outside their comfort zones, participants developed essential skills in communication, public speaking, teamwork, and self-reflection, while also gaining clearer insight into the core values they aspire to uphold as future youth leaders and advocates.
Across the three workshops and one forum, organizers and facilitators conducted continuous evaluations of participants’ engagement, leadership qualities, and collaborative skills. Based on this ongoing assessment, selected participants will be awarded Certificates of Achievement in the following categories: Top Outstanding Leader, Top Promising Advocate, Top Sustainable Changemaker, and Overall Active Participant. These certificates will be officially conferred upon completion of the Project Ripple Effect program, recognizing participants’ growth, commitment, and contributions throughout the entire initiative.
Feedback
Following every workshop and forum, we administer a post-event feedback form to serve as a comprehensive reference on participant satisfaction, provide constructive feedback to facilitators for the continuous improvement of their sessions, and gather participant expectations to ensure future facilitators can effectively tailor their upcoming workshops to meet expressed needs.
The following average ratings and answers that were taken from the form results:
- How satisfied were you with Week 1’s Masterclass: 4.44/5
- How would you rate the quality of the content delivered: 4.44/5
- How much do you think you have learned: 4.56/5
- What is the most meaningful lesson you have learned from this event?
The most meaningful lessons learned from the event centered on persuasion, leadership, and communication. Participants highly valued Workshop 2: The Art of Persuasion, specifically learning the foundational concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos, and expressed a desire to delve deeper into these areas. A key takeaway was the essential role of active listening and negotiation in successfully influencing others while acknowledging that “the goal is the same, but our ideas are different.” Participants also redefined their view of leadership, learning that it is not merely a display of empowerment but fundamentally relies on collaboration, effective communication, and skills like acknowledgment, with the realization that there is no perfect leader.
- Feedback on this workshop?
The event was well-received, with participants finding the masterclass fun, easy to understand, and the overall environment kind and inspiring, noting the great facilitators and a strong start to the program. While the content was useful, some sessions, such as the one covering active listening, might be more impactful with a shift toward applied activities and less whiteboard explanation, as participants felt topics like basic human decency and ethics were already understood. Specifically, the “Legacy Letter” activity could be improved by explicitly framing the question around leadership from the outset to avoid misinterpretation, a clarity point that was quickly resolved by the facilitators’ subsequent explanation. Overall, the event offers great exposure, and participants are enjoying it and eagerly looking forward to the next workshop.
- Would you be interested in joining another event by the 48th SSEAYP? If yes, what do you want to be included in?
There is a strong overall interest in joining future events hosted by the 48th SSEAYP, driven by a desire for personal and professional growth. Participants are keen to be involved in activities that will challenge them and push them out of their comfort zones. Specifically, they would like future events to include team-building exercises focused on understanding different group dynamics and how various people collaborate effectively. Other requested content includes practical sessions on leadership and volunteering and sharing the experiences and activities that the SSEAYP facilitators undertook during their own program, providing insights useful for personal and professional development.
- What do you want to learn for Week 2’s Advocacy Workshop with the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network (AYAN) Brunei Youth Chapter?
Based on participants’ input, the primary focus for Week 2’s advocacy workshop should be on practical application and modern relevance. Participants specifically want to learn about the importance and impact of advocacy, moving beyond theory to see it applied in activities. Key areas of interest include how to properly advocate in today’s world and for the current generation, understanding different techniques, and defining the qualities and skills such as leadership and communication that contribute to being a good advocate. Finally, there is an expectation for fun activities that also improve bonding among participants.
