Rotary Community Heroes of Hope

How Rotary Exchanges Shaped A Lifesaving Purpose

• Judy Zulfiqar

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What if the exchange trip you took as a teenager ended up saving your life years later? We sit down with Kamal Kenny from Malaysia to trace a journey that starts in Interact, winds through Rotary’s Group Study Exchange in California, and collides with a medical crisis that would test anyone’s limits. Kamal opens up about living with host families in Thailand and Japan, learning the rhythms of community service from the inside, and how those early lessons in empathy and adaptability shaped his work in healthcare and, later, his path back from organ failure and an induced coma.

Kamal walks us through the vocational side of Rotary’s exchanges: observing hospital operations in the U.S., comparing insurance processes, and translating those insights into practical changes in Malaysia. When his kidneys failed, and doctors doubted he’d return to teaching or even write again, he reached for the same tools service had taught him—patience, purpose, and teamwork. The result is a powerful blend of survivor perspective and policy know‑how. He now channels that lived experience into NGO partnerships, drafting guidance for maternal and adolescent health and mentoring young people who want to serve with impact.

Across the conversation, we highlight how global service experiences can build durable resilience, the kind you need when life goes off script. You’ll hear the role Rotary families played across borders, why cultural immersion beats quick fixes, and how to turn personal trials into community outcomes. If you’re considering hosting a student, applying for an exchange, or encouraging a young leader, this story shows how those choices compound across a lifetime.

If you would like to purchase Kamaal’s book follow the link: https://books2read.com/u/bzlrnZ

If the episode moves you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—who in your life needs a nudge to start their own service journey?

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SPEAKER_02:

Hello and welcome to the Community Heroes of Hope, a podcast where we shine a light on the remarkable individuals and projects in Rotary District 5330 that bring hope and change to our local and global communities. I am Judy Zelficar, your co-host and the current district governor of Rotary District 5330.

SPEAKER_00:

And I'm Nyron McLean, the Rotary District Governor elect. Together we're diving deep into the heart of the community service, showcasing the impact of dedication and collaboration in addressing some of the most pressing challenges our communities face.

SPEAKER_02:

Each episode will tell stories of incredible people making a difference, innovating solutions, and inspiring others to take action.

SPEAKER_00:

We'll also be giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the projects that are transforming the lives and will discuss how you too can get involved, contribute, and be part of the positive change. Whether you're a seasoned Rotarian or just looking to give back, this podcast is for you.

SPEAKER_02:

So join us as we explore the journeys, challenges, and successes of people like you who have stepped up to make a difference. Let's celebrate the spirit of community and the power of hope together.

SPEAKER_00:

Don't forget to subscribe to the Community Heroes of Hope on your favorite podcast platform. Stay with us on this journey of inspiration, and let's spread the message of hope further than ever.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you for tuning in. Let's get started. All right, we are here today with Kamal Kenny, who is all the way from Malaysia. This really shows that Rotary is truly an around the world organization, right, Nyron?

SPEAKER_00:

It's quite exciting, and Kamal, we're very happy to have you here. And we know that uh I don't even know what time is it over there in uh in Malaysia, actually, right now.

SPEAKER_01:

It's almost 1 a.m.

SPEAKER_02:

We got you up in the middle of the night. Kamal has a very interesting story, but first I want to start with Kamal. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience as a Rotary uh group study exchange team member?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, I'm uh personally uh before I actually went into Rotary, I was actually uh in the Inter uh club. Um I was the Interact Club president at my school. Um even during then, I was very much involved uh with a lot of community outreach programs at uh both the state level and the national level. I have attended uh many uh conferences. Um I did um at that point of time, uh being a teenager, I did attend a group study exchange program to Thailand um under Row Tree, uh, which gave me exposure on uh how is uh international uh uh bilateral um um relationship and the need for us to actually uh meet people abroad. And I've also uh on my other side I've hosted uh um other uh interactors, uh one from Japan um who actually came and stayed, uh a Japanese girl who came and stayed in my house under under row three and the exchange program, right?

SPEAKER_02:

The student exchange program.

SPEAKER_01:

Correct, correct, correct. No, that was not um GSE. GSE is actually for young, uh younger adults, but then that was row three interactors, interactors under row three. So uh I also hosted uh my family, in fact, uh hosted a group of students from Thailand. So we have hosted two uh different countries, uh one from Japan and uh another from uh Thailand, and then uh after I finished my um undergraduate, I went on to um enroll with uh Road Track, and then um that's when I was actually um uh asked to uh apply for GSE program. I thought uh GSE program, uh which is a group study exchange program, was a very, very eye-opening and interesting program. Um in fact, I initially had opportunity to come to Nevada, um, but I guess uh it didn't uh work out. So I re-applied um and then um I got the opportunity to come to California. That was in year 2005, 20 years ago. Um so and tell me how yeah, go ahead, Naira.

SPEAKER_00:

Well well, come on, let me let me let me slow you down there because I the you you unpacked a lot of there, uh a lot of information there. But I thought I remembered hearing you say that you had a group study exchange studying bilateral relations in Thailand. Is that is that correct? Come on, that was as that was in the interact or rotoract years or how? When when did as an interactor? So there was a a group study exchange as an interactor. And so what did you learn um with this process and this group study exchange regarding bilateral relations? And I guess it's the relations between Malaysia and Thailand.

SPEAKER_01:

Um so um basically um we get to uh uh host them. So um I initially hosted um the uh Pai uh children, uh my family, uh they were hosting them, and then um after a period of time, we get to travel uh to Thailand. Um they was we traveled to several parts of Thailand and we lived in uh Rotarian houses. So they hosted us as foster children. So um it was a uh close to two-month program, and uh during this period uh we were hosted by at least uh three, four families in uh several districts. So um in the process, we get to attend meetings and see uh get involved in cultural activities in the community, so there's a lot of exposure that's happening for uh a person to understand uh the the issues and um the cultural awareness of a particular uh country, community.

SPEAKER_00:

So how how did that shape then um did that have an impact on you in terms of either helping you decide what you wanted to study in college or how you approach things in college? How did that experience with the bilateral relationship with with Thailand help you move from teenagers to into adulthood?

SPEAKER_01:

Didn't basically uh impact on the peak of my vocation, but it definitely had impacted uh in my choice of wanting to do a lot of outreach programs. In fact, um uh I had been very involved in movements locally in Malaysia to do programs for children as well for um uh um issues pertaining to adolescent health and um issues pertaining to mental health and uh uh several things. So that was definitely um the breakpoint uh has a road tractor, has an interactor of being understanding uh has a uh young person. It's not basically going to school and coming back for you to also understand that there are a lot of exposure that you can actually um get and uh be involved as a young person.

SPEAKER_02:

How about your group study exchange as an adult when you came to California? What was the focus of that particular program?

SPEAKER_01:

That was basically um I had at that point of time worked in a hospital so um as a very young graduate, and then the fact that had um been able to come and work back in a several hospitals in California, so that was a really good experience because I was able to uh compare how the policies and setups of different uh sectors, and for me personally, was healthcare. So when I came um for the uh groups study exchange program, there were five always uh so people of different vocations. So there was a banker, there was an engineer, and I uh coming from a healthcare background, I was attached to hospitals, so I was able to get exposure of how the healthcare system in um in US has compared to Malaysia.

SPEAKER_00:

So, what what were you able to bring back from that experience that you were able to apply as a medical professional in Malaysia once you once you returned from California?

SPEAKER_01:

I could when I came back, in fact, I would it was really, really eye-opening for me because when I came back and continued working in several hospitals, I was able to uh give uh thoughts and ideas, how does a different uh setup, especially in the states, uh how's their national healthcare policy and how's uh patient uh care different? And uh when we spoke about several meetings have had locally on insurance processes, I was able to uh um tie back ideas how of how a setup in the states have been uh when they actually approached to uh policies impacting on uh uh insurance and healthcare services.

SPEAKER_02:

And you had your own healthcare scare in your life. Can you tell us a little bit about that story?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, okay. I had um uh three years ago, in fact, in 2022, I had um gone for a holiday with my two boys. I've got two boys, and um when I came back, I kind of crashed. Um I drove out um just after coming back from the holiday, I drove out um because I had severe back pain. And then um uh the doctor basically gave me injection uh to ensure that uh the pain subsided. But then subsequently the following day, the pain was strobing, and I was rushed to the hospital. And uh when I was rushed to the hospital, um doctors informed me that uh my organs were failing and I had to be in an acute setup. So um then I had to do dialysis because both my kidneys had failed, and um and the process of me uh doing my dialysis uh two weeks after I've started my dialysis, I had a cardiac arrest, and then um I had I was induced to a coma. So I was in a uh comatose state for uh close to two weeks, and then um I had uh come out from it. But the fact is that um during that period I had uh lost a lot of it. Um today, in fact, what you see me was not how old I was then. I had lost 30 kg. Um and for close to to uh one and a half years, I spoke with a slur, with a heavy slur, and I could not uh even um um speak clearly, and I was very impacted the way I thought, the way I my motor skills were impacted. Um doctors thought I will not make it. Uh it was definitely a medical miracle. So I was um I had a lot of assistance from friends, realities, and um everyone.

SPEAKER_00:

So, how how with all of this experience that you've had now is Interact, Group Study Exchange as a youth, Rotoract, group study exchange as an adult, being a medical professional, and then going through what sounds like an absolutely terrifying and and horrific experience, but now coming out the other side. What do you see now is your driving force as your focus on the legacy of Kamal Kenny? What uh and tying this all back in with Rotary, what what do you see driving you forward to leave an impact on this world?

SPEAKER_01:

I think um the most fundamental question is that uh when a person goes through such a um um traumatic experience, uh you may want to slow down. But I uh thought to myself, uh in fact, um there were several incidents that took place during that process where doctors said that I will not be able to write anymore. Um I was then even teaching at the university. Doctors said that you will not be able to go back to the university to teach, you'll not be able to go back and do a lot of things. You have to accept that fact, and it's not going to be easy. But then I told myself, you know, I'm I'm gonna turn things around. And um, I was very determined to pan down my story and write and inform the world that if you are resilient, you can definitely uh turn things around. So that's how uh basically it came about. And I in fact um it was mad during COVID uh crisis. Um I had actually came back and with the with the NGOs that I'm attached with, I had drafted policies. I have seen how much I can actually render support for people with um issues pertaining to maternal health with adolescent health and issues like that.

SPEAKER_02:

Would you say that your experience as an interactor, a rotoractor, and these experiences that you had as a group study exchange um participant gave you some resilience as well as foresight and insight into how your story can help other people around the world once you share it?

SPEAKER_01:

Most definitely, most definitely. In fact, I had um always uh regarded as all my foster families back in state as being part of my family. So I had over the years kept in touch with them, and um I I thought that um um it's very, very important that I should speak to them occasionally. Uh all the issues I've gone through. And uh it was in fact the Rotary movement, uh, my family members back in States that initiated, that planted the seed, uh, that I should actually speak to the world and tell my story. So I I would definitely say that um my experience as a youth, uh, my experience being attached um at GSC had uh paved my way to do what I'm doing today.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I'm really excited that you came and uh shared your story here today, and that we'll be able to share it with our audience as we put this podcast out onto our channel. So thank you so much for getting up in the middle of the night and coming and sharing your story with us today.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_02:

Any final thoughts, Nyman?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, Kamal, I I'm just very excited to see that the power of Rotary through Interact, through Rotoract, through the group study exchange, etc., continues to impact the world, continues to drive you forward. And we're looking for your story to help inspire other youth to get involved and use the resources and benefits of Rotary to help direct their lives and leave a legacy as well. So we appreciate your getting up in the middle of the night and sharing your story with us.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, thank you so much. I do hope so too.

SPEAKER_02:

Awesome, thank you. So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope. We are so happy that we have an audience out there listening. We want you to subscribe, share, and tell your friends about the Rotary community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the word out about the impact we're having in this world.