GMF#22 | Slaying the Play at Give.Asia's Yearly Glow Up
TL;DR:
At Give.Asia, we believe the most important part of our journey isn’t the destination or the milestones—it’s the company we keep. Once a year, our team from around the world gathers to reconnect, play, and bond. This year, we came together in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for a week of food, fun, and friendship. From the Jumplah “floor is lava” game to go-kart racing, we celebrated what makes us passionate about doing good: the people behind the scenes.
The Company We Keep: Brad Pitt’s wisdom resonates—what matters most is the people we share the journey with.
Global Team, One Bond: Once a year, Give.Asia’s team gathers from across the globe to reconnect and play.
Fun in Johor Bahru: From local food hunts to go-karting and the Jumplah “floor is lava” game, the team made lasting memories.
Friendship Fuels Passion: These moments strengthen bonds, inspire learning, and reignite the drive to do good.
Here’s to the Next Adventure: Together, the team proves that kindness starts within and ripples outward to the world.
The Journey, the Destination, or the Company?
I was doom-scrolling on TikTok recently (we’ve all been there), and I stumbled across a clip of Brad Pitt sharing some wisdom:
“What’s more important, the journey or the destination? Neither. It’s the company of people.”
That line stuck with me because it’s so true. At Give.Asia, we have a dream, and we give it our best. But truth be told, there are times when we have no idea if what we’re doing is working or if we’re making any progress at all.
What keeps us going, what lifts us up when we’re down, is the company of people—the bonds and friendships we share as a team.
A Time to Play
Once a year, we make it a point to come together to play. It’s something we look forward to because our team is scattered across the globe, and this annual gathering is the only time we’re all in the same location, face to face.
This year, our “play date” was in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. People flew in from all corners of the world—Mansur from Turkmenistan, Aggie from Hong Kong, Sang from Vietnam, Kei from Korea, and more.
Food, Fun, and Friendship in JB
Our base was at the Z Hotel, just across from the CIQ customs. From there, we set out to eat, play, and make memories.
Eating Like Locals
We dove into local specialties, crowdsourcing recommendations from Google reviews and travel blogs. From Oriental Kopi to Hai Kah Lang and Hua Mui, we tasted it all. And when we needed a break from curries, we found comfort (and some nostalgia) at the IKEA cafeteria.
Playing All Day
We kept the fun going from morning to night. At Toppen Mall, we tackled the viral Jumplah “floor is lava” game and shared plenty of laughs. We tried our hands at crocheting arts and crafts and even hit the tracks for a high-speed go-kart challenge.
Building Bonds and Learning Together
This annual gathering isn’t just about food and games—it’s also a chance to hang out, make new friends with the team’s latest members, and learn from each other. We talked, laughed, and shared what makes us passionate about doing good, reigniting the fire that brought us to Give.Asia in the first place.
In the words of Gena, “It’s been slaps.”
Looking Ahead
As we head back to our corners of the world, this week reminds us of what truly matters. At Give.Asia, it’s not just the journey or the destination—it’s the people we share it with.
To our amazing team: Thank you for your energy, your heart, and your commitment to doing good. Here’s to the next adventure, wherever it may take us. 🌟
