Melaka Youth Peace Culture Festival – Initiating a Wave of Peace from Within One’s Own Life

SGM Melaka held three Youth Peace Culture Festival shows at its culture centre on 14 and 21 December 2025, attracting approximately 700 attendees. Brought to life by 91 performers and 71 event staff who overcame various challenges, the event was a resounding success.

Themed “OMBAK” (Wave), the festival featured a stage play seamlessly integrated with diverse cultural performances, poignantly illustrating how peace begins within the family and expands outwards to the community, much like a surging wave. The programme included percussion, gymnastics, choral singing and traditional dances, and concluded with the warm and uplifting song “A Little Happiness.”

An exhibition was also set up to introduce SGM, alongside a photo booth and merchandise stalls, making the event one to remember.

Lim Kai Chuan, a young teacher from Melaka, felt the vibrant energy of the youth during the festival and expressed deep admiration for their professionalism and passion. He urged young people to stand at the forefront of the era, promoting peace through daily actions, such as upholding dignity and practising active listening to find consensus amid differences, and collectively drive the peace process forward.

For Winnie Poh Ying Mun, the energetic dances left a lasting impression and the festival was a joyful one. In addition to commending the youth for their vitality and seamless synergy in delivering the brilliant performances, she also stressed that peace is not a distant concept and everyone can become an envoy of peace in daily life.

When Mission Calls, Everything Falls into Place

Twelve-year-old Lim Zyann was invited by her aunt to perform in the culture festival. Not being a member of SGM, she is a school cheerleader who frequently participates in competitions. Due to her strong dance background, she was selected for several performances at the festival, such as the junior division dance and Portuguese cultural dance. As both the festival rehearsals and her school practices were held on weekends, she had to manage her schedule carefully. Under her mother’s guidance, she successfully balanced both commitments, ultimately achieving great success in both her school competition and the culture festival performances.

Tai Ke En was posted to Tanjong Malim, Perak to teach. Although she initially felt disappointed at being far from home, she shifted her perspective after receiving encouragement from her seniors in faith. She began to see the posting as her mission and found a profound sense of fulfilment through her dedication. 

Participating in the culture festival presented a significant challenge; due to the commute and the difficulty of securing bus tickets, she often had to conduct rehearsals online with her stage partner. She was deeply inspired by her lines in the play, realising that one’s mindset can truly transform their circumstances. As her seniors taught her, as long as one works diligently in their current role, wherever they are stationed is the best place to be.

Reported by Khoo Poh Chin, Tan Seu Siun, photographed by Eu Jie Li and Nelson Tan