FIFTY students from various learning institutions took part in a pilot workshop jointly conducted by a local eco-awareness non-governmental organisation and a Singaporean-based youth development organisation.
Green Brunei an organisation that promotes environmental education and awareness, and Envisage Education Pte Ltd (Envisage) conducted the workshop aimed at creating awareness about the complex link between the economy, the environment and societal needs with a focus on sustainability.
The Eco-Socio Entrepreneurship Seminar was held at Pusat Belia (Youth Centre) in the capital yesterday. It saw students from public and private education institutions, including Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Institut Teknologi Brunei, Politeknik, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Seri Mulia Sarjana Secondary School, St Andrew’s School and Tutong Sixth Form Centre.
The students played games designed by a three-person team from Envisage a social organisation that aims to provide students with a holistic learning experience and an understanding of sustainable development. The activities addressed topics such as waste production, commodity trade, natural resources and growth of human populations.
The founder of Envisage and the director of Collegify Pte Ltd, Stanley Chia, made a keynote presentation titled “What is Eco-Social Entrepreneurship”, and led discussions on how the Sultanate could pilot eco-socio entrepreneurial initiatives.
According to the facilitators from Envisage, the organisation wished to use the event to spread awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and social entrepreneurship.
“We believe that the participants will be able to gain empathy and discover the joy and the need to be a contributing member of a bigger society. The curriculum aims to empower each individual student and inspire them to become a change-maker.”
When asked about the outcome of the workshop, Stanley and the rest of the team said they were surprised by the positive reception they had been given.
Envisage also urged participants to sign up to the Envisage Eco-Socio Enterprise Experience Programme, which aims to cultivate a generation of young people eager to contribute to sustainable social and environmental development.
Envisage was the winner of the 2011 Rotary Youth Social Enterprise Competition.
Source: The Brunei Times