TWO youth activists were awarded the Pingat Indah Kerja Baik (PIKB) or Excellent Service Medal by His Majesty’s government yesterday for their leadership and contribution to youth issues.
Khairunnisa Ash’ari, 28, and Iswandy Ahmad, 31, were recognised for their advocacy in environmental issues and HIV/AIDS awareness respectively, making them among the youngest recipients to receive the PIKB medal.
HRH Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, presented the duo with the honorary medals during a ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday.
“It’s pretty exciting. Honestly I did not expect to get it. I’ve always assumed it was for government servants,” said Khairunnisa, who founded the environmental NGO, Green Brunei, in 2012.
“It’s quite empowering being acknowledged as youth volunteers.”
She said she only received the letter a week ago explaining that she would be receiving the PIKB medal after being nominated by the Youth and Sports Department.
“To receive this a year after the Queen’s Young Leader Award it’s very exciting. I started volunteering in 2011, when I was 23. For so much to happen in five years is crazy.”
Khairunnisa, who is also a member of the Brunei Youth Council, was one of 60 youth chosen from Commonwealth countries to receive the prestigious award from Queen Elizabeth II. In the past five years, she has also been recognised with the ASEAN Youth Day Award and Brunei Youth Service Award.
The Green Brunei founder plans to pursue her master’s degree in Environment, Politics and Globalisation at King’s College, London this August.
Iswandy, the current president of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council, added that the experience and connections made through volunteering are invaluable.
“I started volunteering as a peer counselor in high school as a way to get certificates, but as you go along the experience you gain, and the network of people you meet really motivates you. I think it’s a calling,” he said.
The 31-year-old became well known for his advocacy in HIV/AIDS awareness and sexual health, but has also contributed his energy to several other NGOs, including the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association and Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation.
“Definitely, now there are a lot of young people out there leading the way… It’s nice to see volunteerism is being recognised and that young people can get this kind of recognition.”
Source: The Brunei Times