SEVERAL non-governmental organisations are calling on young people who are passionate about volunteering to either join them or set up their own volunteer groups.
Rizan Latif, president of Beach Bunch, an NGO that focuses on protecting Brunei’s beaches from pollution, told The Brunei Times that nearly 90 per cent of their activities are driven by volunteers who are keen to contribute to society and make a change.
“I think if youths would like to get engaged, at the end of the day, it is their own beliefs and values that will determine whether they want to contribute back to society,” he said.
Volunteering, Rizan said, is not something that can be learned in school.
“Volunteering also depends on how passionate a person is. If they are really (keen on volunteering), they can form a small group of as little as two people or as big as a few hundred volunteers,” he said.
For Beach Bunch, Rizan said it is usually their volunteers who take the initiative and suggest what activities they should undertake.
“We want people (who are sincerely interested) to come forward instead of telling them what to do. If volunteering is not from the heart, there is no point forcing them to believe in something else,” he said.
Green Brunei’s community engagement director, Khairunnisa Ash’ari, who is also a member of the Brunei Youth Council, shared similar views on having their volunteers lead their programmes and activities.
“We really appreciate the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports’ efforts in highlighting the work of volunteers, and we hope more individuals will come forward (and offer) their time and efforts in volunteering,” she said.
She said individuals can choose to volunteer in any field, whether it be the environment, healthcare or even humanitarian work.
Khairunnisa said she has been an active volunteer for five years and has never regretted it.
“It is only through volunteering that one can open up their mind and gain valuable skills and experience along the way,” she said.
“From a young person to another, I encourage young people to be active in volunteering if they haven’t started, as there are plenty of opportunities for you to contribute to society,” Khairunnisa added.
Being an active volunteer has also been beneficial for her own capacity building in terms of personal development and growth, she said.
“I urge others to consider volunteering as well for their own capacity building.”
Last week, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah said volunteering is not a choice but a responsibility for every individual in the community, especially the younger generation.
At the opening ceremony of the Volunteering Festival, he said volunteering activities contribute to both the development of the nation and to world peace.
“Volunteerism can lead to a personal transformation and benefit the society by means of strengthening the social fabric and mutual trust while also elevating the national image of a country with a higher quality of life and prosperous people,” he said.
He added that in the context of Brunei, volunteer work helps contribute to reaching the goals of Vision 2035, as it is an integral part of the nation’s development that needs to be given attention, making it resilient in the long term.
Source: The Brunei Times