KidZania Kuala Lumpur CongreZZ 2015

Needless further introduction, we parents all know that KidZania is a role-play theme park for children. Founded and developed in Mexico in 1996 by Mr. Xavier Lopez Ancona, KidZania is a small-size replica of an actual city giving kids between the ages of four and fourteen job experience in advance. It is a place loved by most of the kids, including my two girls.

My elder girl - JR had wonderful time at KidZania Kuala Lumpur

Mummy will support you no matter you wanna become a fire fighter, sushi master or a lab worker. ;)

KidZania Kuala Lumpur introduced CongreZZ back in 2014. Wondering why is it call CongreZZ and not Congress? Because CongreZZ is very core, the word signifies the action of coming together. In choosing to replace the letter 's' with the letter 'z', the kids were alerting KidZania's constituency that this would not be their parent's or an adult's version of a congress, but rather, it would embrace the kids' own point of view and express the creativity, passion and resolve that embodies everything their vision stands for.

Congrezz is the legislative governmental body of Kidzania that is overseen by 20 children who are also referred to as Congrezz Kids were elected representatives and naturalised citizens. Voted into office, Kidzania Congrezz congregates quarterly at the city level to share ideas and voice opinions in order to keep Kidzania's spirit alive, current and socially relevant. The purpose and intent of these meetings are to benefit the Kidzanian community by discussing topics such as media, entertainment, education, literature, as well as sharing the main concerns of tourists and citizens of Kidzania.

Parade with CongreZZ Kids 2014 and New CongreZZ Kids 2015

First introduced to KidZania Kuala Lumpur is 2014, CongreZZ Kids are required to serve KidZania for a period of one year, in which a new election campaign will take place at the end of each team. The 2015 KidZania CongreZZ campaign attracted over 260 applications as opposed to 200 over applications garnered at the 2014 inaugural CongreZZ.

The 20 candidates were elected into office after a rigorous selection process that includes resume and video submissions, face-to-face interviews and finally an electoral campaign run in KidZania Kuala Lumpur for the people's votes. Al applicants are judged based on their exemplary aptitude in the areas of education, communication skills, creativity, respectfulness, articulation as well as overall personality attributes by the panel of judges whose expertise cover the fields of education, training and marketing.

Ms Susanah Abdul Rani, Governor of Kidzania Malaysia

Ms Susanah Abdul Rani, Governor of Kidzania Malaysia who presided over the occasion said "KidZania CongreZZ is an authentic and powerful development experience that will prepare its members for the real world. Through their participation of engaging forums and activities, they will exposed to situations and opportunities where they can exercise their independence, build their confidence, and gain skills in decision-making, critical thinking and communication."

Memento Presentation Ceremony to CongreZZ Kids 2014

In 2014, CongreZZ Kids members worked together to implement credible change to KidZania Kuala Lumpur, effectively tabling activities that both parents and children could participate together, as well as ensuring that posters be placed as reading materials for fellow children to keep entertained while waiting for their turn at the establishments. They also made other significant appearances in the World Summit on Media for Children - a global movement to develop and improve quality media for children, participated English Mania - the pilot phase by the Ministry of Education for the first-ever English based learning experience programme for students and teachers at KidZania Kuala Lumpur, and were actively involved in reforestation efforts under KidZania's 'Kids for a Greener World' environmental campaigns.

"It is a big responsibility that we are placing on the CongreZZ Kids, but it is through responsibility that they will develop a hunger to accomplish their dreams. It is an essential part of the growth and Kidzania Kuala Lumpur is proud to be able to provide an avenue to educate, inspire and empower children as they discover life in this city that is built just for them," added Susanah.

Benefits of being a KidZania CongreZZ Kid includes participation and decision-making on activity enhancement at KidZania Kuala Lumpur, an exclusive CongreZZ Kids Office Package that consists of a back pack, t-shirt, badge and stationaries set, a plaque in recognition of service to KidZania CongreZZ and complimentary monthly admission into KidZania Kuala Lumpur for the CongreZZ Kid and his or her four friends.

Named the 'Best Experienced for Kids' in Expatriate Lifestyle's Best of Malaysia Awards 2014 for the second consecutive year running. KidZania Kuala Lumpur goes beyond traditional teaching mediums to continuously look at opportunities to expose kids to new experiences and endless occupational possibilities. It has become the preferred place of co-curriculum amongst schools are more and more schools and children choose KidZania for out of classroom learning, to explore real life experience, learn about decision making and many more.

A big congratulations to all the 20 CongreZZ Kids, you guys are brilliant! As for me, I'm looking forward to the day my girls are eligible to enroll to KidZania CongreZZ. I’m sure they will learn a lot from the role. They will not only built up confidence but they will become a responsibility person eventually by participating the CongreZZ Kids activities.