With the ongoing chaos and wars all around the world, it is disheartening to live a peace and tranquil life as a citizen. The youth in Malaysia are concerned and a minority of them wholeheartedly do their share of contribution towards the betterment of mankind. Here is an example of one of the uniformed body youth organizations, that is the St. Johns Ambulance Malaysia, which I was part of one of its division structural build-ups in the year of 2000.

The name St. John Ambulance or better known as �St. John� is synonymous with First Aid and other humanitarian services as well as all over the world. As the leading First Aid organization in Malaysia since 1908, the St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM) has been rendering First Aid and Home Nursing services to the needy in almost all public and private events throughout the country.

Our motto �Pro Utilitate Hominum� - For the Service of Mankind - is a millennial-old tradition of serving the sick and the suffering.  With over 60,000 volunteers nationwide, our members have dedicated over 3.6 million man-hours annually in the service of mankind. These volunteer Officers and members are found at all sporting events, festivals, parades and other functions big or small. They are ever ready to serve, come rain or shine, anytime of the year. They also assist in disasters like floods, fires, landslides, plane crashes, etc. (the most recent global �disaster� which we gave assistance was the Tsunami that hit Banda Acheh in Indonesia).

As a former president of one of its primary divisions in the state of Selangor, Damansara Jaya Cadet (youth) and Adult Division collaborates and strives for providing community services such as 24-hour emergency as well as non-emergency ambulance services and, helping the old and the needy with the assistance of generous corporate bodies. Thanks to them and the regional headquarters, the division is able to provide emergency First Aid services along the North-South Highway during the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri (the new year of the Malay calendar) and the Chinese New Year holidays. We also give a helping hand in providing medical assistance during the Thaipusam (Hindu�s celebration) in Batu Caves itself. The main objective of these exposures is to nurture young generations with leadership capabilities, cultivate awareness and nurturing the desire of wanting to contribute to the society. Besides that, we also serve as a means of platform for teenagers to experience of the �medical field�.

We do participate in Training Camps, Competitions, Conferences, Officers� and N.C.O.�s Training Courses, Seminars, Workshops, etc. to enable them to stay at the peak of their efficiency. The Cadets, who are the younger members of the movement are trained in leadership as well as in various skills through the Cadet Proficiency Badge Scheme in order to mould them to become good and useful citizens ready to play their part in nation building. On the other hand, we also do encourage our members to go out and disseminate the knowledge of first aid to teachers, friends and the general public alike.

In peace time, the members have expended their efforts in providing First Aid and Home Nursing training to the Royal Malaysian Police, the Scouts Association, Girl Guides� Association, Tow Truck Drivers, Factories, Schools, Hotels, etc. This has enabled the SJAM to further its vision of being a well-organised body dedicated to the relief of our lords and masters - the sick and the suffering, in peace as well as in war. This is something that all of us can be truly proud of in contributing positively and significantly for the betterment of mankind.

From our humble beginning in the medical services of the British armed forces and the then Federated Malay States� Railways, our men and women received their baptism of fire during World War Two through the British Medical Auxiliary Services (MAS) in providing humanitarian aid and relief to the casualties of the war. Now, we serve a different purpose, that is, �a vision to mould youth to be a full fledge leader of tomorrow !

�Pro Utilitate Hominum� - details adopted from SJAM national headquaters, Central Selangor Area headquarters and also Damansara Jaya Division members.