"Run Tomo for Friendly Community Campaign 2024" Report
The Positive2U Life Education Center celebrate its 16th anniversary in August 2024 and establish the Positive Philosophy Association Malaysia to further promote life education. We firmly believe that mental health is an important part of overall health, and creating a caring and supportive community environment is the key to promoting mental health.
For this reason, we planned the “Run Tomo for Friendly Community Campaign 2024”, which includes 3 major activities:
- The 1st Positivian Global Mental Health Forum
- Run Tomo City Walk
- Green Carnival
Campaign background and objectives:
The campaign aims to call on the society to pay attention to the importance of mental health through education, advocacy and practice. We plan to use the following activities to make the public deeply understand the significance of mental health and support the construction of friendly communities with practical actions.
Expected results
- Increase public awareness and attention to mental health.
- Enhance people’s attention to jointly creating a friendly community and promote social harmony and stability.
- Increase people’s understanding of green and healthy lifestyles.
Day 1: 2024-09-07
The 1st Positivian Global Mental Health Forum (EDUCATE & ADVOCATE)
Investing in Mental Health to Cultivate a Friendly Community: Educate, Advocate, Practice
Location: KOMTAR Auditorium A
Number of participants: Nearly 200 people
Organized by the Positive Philosophy Association Malaysia and directed by the Positive2U Life Education Centre, Run Tomo for a Friendly Community Campaign 2024 successfully hosted the 1st Positivian Global Mental Health Forum on September 7, 2024, at KOMTAR Auditorium A. The forum brought together mental health experts from 7 countries, including Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Africa, along with nearly 200 participants. 🎉
The forum focused on building friendlier communities, raising mental health awareness, and establishing stronger local support systems. 💡 The opening ceremony was officiated by YB Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, Penang State Exco for Youth, Sports, and Health, who highlighted the importance of mental health in communities.
The Positive Philosophy Association Malaysia
aims to inspire more organizations through such forums, working together to promote community mental health and empowering individuals to live with positivity and resilience! 💪🌍
Day 2: 2024-09-08 (PRACTICE)
Run Tomo City Walk:
- Fort Cornwallis (Penang Island)
- Auto City (Juru)
Green Carnival
- Location: Fort Cornwallis
Run Tomo’s First Walk in Malaysia Successfully Concludes! 🎉
Organized by the Positive Philosophy Association Malaysia and directed by Positive2U Life Education Centre, the Run Tomo walking event was successfully concluded for the first time in Malaysia!
Run Tomo originated in Hokkaido, Japan in 2011. This year, it came to Malaysia for the first time and was held simultaneously in Fort Cornwallis and Juru Auto City on the same day. This is not only a walking event, but also a community movement that conveys care and warmth.
“Tomo” means “companion, relatives and friends, together, together” in Japanese, emphasizing the importance of accompanying friends with dementia and elderly people to go out for a walk, and conveying the concepts of kindness, dignity and care.
Fort Cornwallis (Penang Island)
Number of participants: More than 300
The President of the NPO Dementia Friendship Club, Prof. Satoshi Ide, shared how “Tomo” in Japanese means companionship and togetherness, emphasizing the importance of walking alongside dementia friends.
The Chairperson of the Penang State Committee for Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs YB Lim Siew Khim officiated the event, leading the 1.2km walk from Fort Cornwallis to Esplanade. 🌿
Auto City
Number of participants: more than 50 people
The Run Tomo walking event was successfully held in Juru Auto City, attracting more than 50 participants.
Everyone warmed up and walked together, and started a wonderful day with laughter!
Green Carnival
- Location: Fort Cornwallis
Number of participants: Over 1,000 people
In line with Malaysia’s ESG policy, this Green Carnival features 48 exciting booths!✨ From green and healthy food, eco-friendly products, health screenings, to workshops and live performances, we are promoting a healthy lifestyle and enhancing overall well-being. 🌍💪
Aligned with Run Tomo, we are advocating for building a friendly community where everyone, regardless of background, can live in harmony and enjoy a joyful environment, just like our carnival! 🤝
Campaign Results
Raising awareness of mental health
- Forum background: Through the Global Mental Health Forum, the public has a deeper understanding of the importance of mental health.
- Impact: The sharing of participating experts has enabled participants to enhance their awareness of mental health, understand the close relationship between mental health and friendly communities, and jointly build a stronger local support system.
Raising awareness of friendly communities
Activity goal: The purpose of the Run Tomo City Walk activity is to promote the community spirit of “companionship” and “care”, especially caring for the elderly, the physically and mentally disabled and patients with dementia.
Results: Through participating in the activity, the public realizes the importance of caring for vulnerable groups and understands how to build a more inclusive and friendly community through daily interactions and social support. The interactive experience in the event encourages people to pay more attention to each other’s emotional needs in daily life and promote the harmonious development of neighborhood relations.
Promotion of green lifestyle
Event Features: The Green Carnival showcases the various possibilities of a sustainable lifestyle through exhibitions of environmentally friendly products, healthy foods, workshops, etc., and encourages the public to choose a greener and more environmentally friendly lifestyle in line with Malaysia’s ESG policy.
Change in public awareness: Through the interaction of the Green Carnival, more than 1,000 participants have a deeper understanding of green lifestyles and environmental protection concepts, especially reducing the use of plastics in daily life and promoting environmentally friendly products.
Co-organisers and supporting organisation
The success of this campaign is inseparable from the close cooperation of all co-organisers and supporting organisation, who provided important support in various aspects to ensure the smooth progress of the event and achieve the expected results.
Co-organisers
supporting organisation
Sponsors
We sincerely thank all the sponsors for their strong support for the Run Tomo for Friendly Community Campaign 2024. It is because of their participation and contribution that this event was successfully held.
Conclusion
Thanks to all participants, sponsors and co-organisers
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all participants, sponsors, co-organisers and everyone who supported the Run Tomo for Friendly Community Campaign 2024. It is because of your active participation and generous support that the campaign could not have been such a huge success.
Looking Ahead
- In 5 years (2024-2029), we will build a friendly community network for Penang and even Malaysia.
- Together, we will create a connected, mutually supportive, humane, physically and mentally healthy neighborhood city.
- Let everyone feel cared for and supported.
- Let everyone have a healthy mentality.
Thanks Again
Finally, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all the participants, sponsors and co-organisers. Let us continue to work together to create a more friendly, caring and healthy society.
We look forward to seeing you all again at future campaign!
This is a public welfare event
We need your support to make it a success. Every contribution counts.
