THE founder of Green Brunei Khairunnisa Ash’ari has become the first Bruneian to be awarded the Queen’s Young Leaders Award, in recognition of her leadership in the community.
A statement by the British High Commission in Brunei said Khairunnisa was one of the 60 young individuals from across the Commonwealth nations to receive the Queen’s Young Leaders Award.
Winners of the award will receive training, mentoring and networking, including a one-week residential programme in the United Kingdom during which they will collect their award from Queen Elizabeth II, according to the award’s website.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, Khairunnisa said she was nominated online by a friend last August and had to write essays about activities she had done, while also going through a phone interview in November before finding out the results yesterday.
“I’m excited and amazed to be the first Bruneian to win the award. I was overwhelmed when I read the profiles of other winners, and I feel privileged and motivated that the work that I’ve done is recognised by the panel,” said the 27-year-old who works as a graduate research assistant at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
“Most of all I’m looking forward to the year-long mentorship and guidance to help develop my work, and of course, I’m thankful that my family and friends have been supportive in every way,” she added.
The founder of Green Brunei explained that she plans to focus on her studies while developing Green Brunei and contribute to promoting sustainable development in the country and region.
Khairunnisa, who was also previously awarded with the National Youth Service Award and ASEAN Youth Day Award, is also a member of the Brunei Youth Council and Society for Community Outreach and Training (SCOT).
The British High Commission said the award aimed to enable young people to step up as leaders and improve the lives of people across the Commonwealth.
The award is given each year from 2014 to 2018 to those aged 18 to 29. Winners are chosen by a panel and will only receive their award during their programme in the UK.
British High Commissioner to Brunei David Campbell said, “I congratulate Khairunnisa on this prestigious award. It is a tribute to the impressive work she has carried out in Brunei. I hope meeting her fellow award winners in London in June will further inspire her efforts.”
Source: The Brunei Times