A total of 139 Junior Divisions, marching towards the future as Youth Division!

The 4th Junior Division Graduation Camp was help on the 5th and 6th of December, 2008 in the SGM Cultural Center. 139 Junior Divisions and 92 PICs enjoyed themselves in such a meaningful and unforgettable graduation camp.

Being involved in group activities, training ourselves and to learn to be independent is one of the graduation camp’s aims. There are activities and games that challenge us from several aspects.

The first day of the Graduation Camp is pack with active activities. They include “The life of Nichiren”, “Spirit and Footstep of Daisaku Ikeda”, “Itai Doshin Go! Go! Go!” and “Recycled Robot-Designing Competition”.

“The Life of Nichiren” is an outdoor game. 7 stages of games are designed specifically for the JDs in order to provide them a better understanding about the life of Nichiren Daishonin. The games include important historical incidents such as the Birth of Nichiren, the Tatsunokuchi Persecution and so on. After being grouped, the JDs would have to overcome each stage of the game with the spirit of team work. Every now and then we could hear their loud laughter and their motto around the kaikan! In the same time, JDs get to understand the hardship of Daishonin’s challenge and his noble philosophy through these games.

The second activity – “Spirit and Footstep of Daisaku Ikeda” is a board game that takes us back to Mr. Ikeda’s childhood, youth, and when he was challenging on his way to become the president of Soka Gakkai. In this game, we will learn about Mr. Ikeda’s human revolution. This game is about how Mr. Ikeda’s human revolution gets to change the fate of everyone, and how he fought with his mentor, Mr. Toda.

There are 4 stages to this board game, each filled with traps that are waiting for you. If you were unfortunate, your progress might be dragged down by these traps. Each question comes with a story or incident about Mr. Ikeda, as long as the questions are answered correctly, you get to move on! Thus, it’s important to pay attention to these stories!

The results seemed pretty good this time! There are four groups that have almost got full marks from it, and the rest of them passed the game successfully. This shown that the JDs have a very good understanding and knowledge towards their mentor, and this should be the effort of every single PIC from their respective regions.

By the time these two games are finished, the JDs’ understanding among each other would have been better now. Hence, the next activity that they’re going to challenge is “Itai Doshin Go! Go! Go!”. This is a game that basically requires the spirit of team work as they face the challenges. This is an activity where we could see the PICs throwing their selves to encourage the JDs.

As for the “Recycled Robot-Designing Competition” at night, JDs are challenged on the aspect of creativity. Within a given time frame, JDs are required to design a robot with the ability to solve the issues of the global environment. At the end of this activity, they would have to present their work and show their potential. Surprisingly, the design, function, and even the way they present are tremendous. These JDs’ creativity is so pure and we can never neglect the potential in them.

Other than these games, there are two activities in the camp that require the JDs to be independent, which are self-preparing dinner, and tent setting. This helps the JDs to understand the hardship of doing the things on their own without the help of their family. Before they go to bed, there is a session of “pillow talk” where PICs and JDs will share some experience and stories.

The second day of the camp is filled with passive activities. First of all, there will be a sharing of a video on the topic “Greatness of the Infinite Power” which will lead to a small group discussion on the topic “My Dream”. From the video sharing, JDs get to see how two of the major roles in the video realize their dreams with the guidance from Mr. Ikeda while they go through challenges and hardship. Following up will be the small group discussion and sharing on our dreams and how we realize these dreams.

Following up will be the graduation ceremony where graduation certificates will be awarded to the JDs. Plus, we’ve even invited the Chief of High School Division to introduce the activity and meaning of HSD.

Lastly, the Chief of Junior Boys Division, Foo Keh Chong will conclude the camp with his sharing. These include Nichiren Daishonin’s none violent challenges, Daisaku Ikeda’s human revolution and the motto of the Junior Division: When there’s hope, there’s future; When there’s courage, we could defeat anything; When there’s friendship, our life becomes meaningful!

Other than strengthening up JDs’ understanding towards Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda, President of SGI, we also try to implant a sense of belonging to the organization in every JD through these two days. In the same time, together with “hope, courage, and friendship”, everyone vowed to be the rising suns of the 21st century that are continuously creating values in life.

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