GULL Asia: Updates

GULL Sarawak:
Corporate Business School launch, 19 June 2009
Pictured (left to right): Dr Thomas Anak Buan, GULL representative, Sarawak, Dr Anuar Abdullah, GULL representative, Malaysia, the Right Honourable YB Sharifah Hasidan Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Dr Richard Teare, GULL President at the corporate business school (CBS) launch, Hilton Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia on 19 June 2009.

The Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL) provides a customizable system that companies, associations, social and community groups and other organizations can use to create an ‘own brand’ corporate school. The purpose is to integrate learning and working in a practical, affordable way so that participants can earn recognized qualifications by addressing organizational challenges and their own learning needs.

Global Lifelong Action Leaning Centre, Sarawak

Following GULL Asia’s CBS launch in Kuala Lumpur in April, 2008, the team has expanded its work by introducing GULL to Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, with State Government endorsement.

Government building, Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia

GULL’s work in Sarawak is led by Dr Thomas Anak Buan, Director of the Global Lifelong Action Learning Centre, Kuching, Sarawak.

Thomas is supported by an experienced team and has plans to introduce GULL to the community, small companies and entrepreneurs and to government agencies involved in human capital development initiatives and in particular, the Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy.

Thomas (second right)

Pictured left: Pre-launch luncheon meeting at the home of Dr Abang Abdul Rauf, Assistant Minister for the Environment, State Government of Sarawak.

Can GULL support social enterprise?
YES! A prime example is Joy to the World Community Services (JWCS) Malaysia, founded by Pastor Joseph Tang and his wife in the early 1990s. It began without any funds or resources and although Joseph pastors three small churches, he knew that his congregation could not afford to support a wider ministry to orphaned children. Today, JWCS cares for several hundred people and the work is expanding rapidly. It also encompasses the elderly and people with special needs. Joseph will not turn anyone away who is in need of love, shelter and care.

From the outset, Joseph sought to address the funding problem by developing a unique social enterprise model. He calls this ‘TSR’ – training, service and revenue. First comes love and acceptance: Joseph, his family, staff and volunteers try to reflect God’s love in action. Next JWCS focuses on skills – for life and for work so that everyone has a practical role and the youngsters are prepared for life. Joseph has started numerous small businesses so that his orphaned children and others from disadvantaged backgrounds can develop life skills in a working environment.

Pastor Joseph Tang, Founder and Chairman, Joy to the World Community Services

A wider vision for GULL in China and SE Asia
Pastor Tang has recently opened a mission training school in China and he hopes that his students will aspire to replicate the social enterprise work that he is leading in Malaysia. Working with Dr Vincent Tang, the GULL Asia representative, the GULL system will be deployed to support the full range of Pastor Tang’s mission training and social enterprise activity. As this pilot work develops, GULL aims to extend its integral mission support throughout SE Asia – starting in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Pastor Tang has initiated many projects for the development of skills and confidence among disadvantaged youngsters. For example, he recently started a bakery business which is trading successfully and providing workplace training. GULL will support these and other trainees by certifying the evidence of learning and application as it accumulates, on an incremental basis.

Adam Leow, Joseph Tang and Vincent Tang

GULL is a not-for-profit foundation registered in California, USA. GULL is recognized by the Government of Papua New Guinea & endorsed by other Governments, Leaders & Institutions.