The Star BRATs

For those of you not knowing what's BRATs(Bright Roving Annoying Teenagers), it's a young journalist programme under The Star. Basically journalism is not the main focus of the programme but more of a platform. BRATs is an experience for youth to be involve with the communities, issues, environment and so on. By having the media (newspaper and internet to be particular), that's how the youths voice out and be heard.

There will be 3 workshops per year. That's the very first stepping stone for any BRATs-to-be. Participants were shortlisted among many who sent in their essays as their entry. This is not any English camp where only people with extraordinary vocabulary will have the highest chance of being selected. It's just to ensure you have the basic command of English and writing. (Ever seen a newspaper article filled with jaw dropping '7 tiles Scrabble' words all over it? No right?)

I've been in BRATs since i was 16 years old, back in 2003. I could barely describe it briefly how it's like for me, but the BRAT's experience has been amazing and life-changing(if that's the role it has done) for me. I'm still not an excellent writer, but it did change the life of an ordinary quiet, shy and reserved guy (don't laugh! it's all true). From the participation in various activities and programmes, it gave me great experience and opportunity to gain more confidence, outspoken and whatnot.

Yes, I'm ain't a teenager no more. But yet I still keep coming back.
Why?
As simple as I enjoy being involved in it. I do hope it will make an impact to other young teens as it did to myself back at the days.

I lost count of the stuffs i participated or helped out. But i certainly do remember my own workshop. Like any other workshops (although i participated in only one workshop), it was filled with fun, excitement and of course some stress too. You all know what I'm taking bout :)
Bout a month or two after i 'graduated' from BRATs, i volunteered to help out for this Shelter Boys camp at The Farm, Lenggeng. That was my very first volunteering job. Like a ball down the hill, it just start rolling and still rolling till now.

Apart from volunteering, there's the senioring too. BRATs considered this the utmost privilege.
Remember the workshop I mentioned? For each workshops, there will be 4 older BRATs selected and 'sort of' being the facilitator. It includes taking care, guide, entertain, and in particular angle,mentally torturing(lol) the participants.

So yeah, whoever gets selected to be a senior will get alot of jealousy and awe from the rest. Of course you wouldn't be able to see the stress the seniors went through :)
No doubt it's fun. Be able to meet other seniors and participants as well. I'm not quite sure what are criterias or requirements to be selected as one. But it took me 2 years before I seniored my first workshop, and half a year to senior my first Junior BRATs workshop.
Some only took like few months (damn it!).

All in all, there's a lot to be done as a BRATs, besides senioring and volunteering. There's the Ole BRATs pullout published on the last Sunday of each month. Which most oversea BRATs took this opportunity to contribute stories/experiences when studyin abroad.
Oh yeah, another excitement will be seeing your own article (and possibly picture) in the newspaper :)

Feel free to drop any comments or questions. I suppose I'm able to answer most of the questions, being a 'veteran' BRATs. Haha...