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THE International Relations Student Society of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (IRiss UniSZA) is looking forward to collaborate with Bruneian organisations and institutions in advancing volunteerism programmes in both countries. Head of the IRiss UniSZA’s delegation, Ahmad Sharif Heron said this on the sidelines of a welcoming ceremony for the Malaysian delegation at Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College (KUPU SB) yesterday. Since its arrival in the country last Saturday (February 20), the UniSZA’s group comprising two lecturers and 18 students has been visiting Tamu Kianggeh and Kampung Bebuloh to carry out its volunteerism programme, said Ahmad. He told The Brunei Times that the group has been collaborating with Green Brunei — a local NGO — to deepen their understanding of volunteerism in Brunei and jointly conduct volunteering activities in the…

On 19th February, Green Brunei members, Firdaus Ismail and Yasmin Jamal conducted an eco-awareness activity with year 7 and year 8 students of Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (Maktab Sains). About 400 students started their morning with a warm up aerobic session conducted by a group of teachers before proceeding to the gymnasium for their session with Green Brunei. The students were grouped according to their respective school houses ( Pahlawan, Panglima, Laksamana and Hulubalang ) before Firdaus Ismail led a brief talk on the 3R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle), mainly focusing on the importance of recycling. The aim was to raise awareness in the young minds on how pollution could easily affect the environment and to take initiative action for a greener lifestyle. A group of ten students from…

AS VOLUNTEERISM continues to grow in the sultanate, various volunteer platforms believe they should shape positive self-development skills for the participants. One of the various volunteer platforms is the non-government organisations (NGO) as they offer various skills and knowledge for the youth to further develop them, while taking part in community work. President of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC) Iswandy Ahmad said letting the volunteers take control on events and programmes is one of the strategies for the council to improve for its members. The members and volunteers can organise and run their own programmes and activities which BDAC will assist and guide them to run a successful event. He explained BDAC allows the volunteers to speak out their ideas and requests which BDAC will assist them in achieving…

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 18 Jan – Sekolah-sekolah di negara ini diseru agar mendapatkan pengiktirafan daripada pertubuhan serantau dan antarabangsa atas inisiatif yang dijalankan seperti ASEAN Eco Schools Award dan SEAMEO-Japan Education for Sustainable Development Award. Pemangku Ketua Pusat Kerjasama Sains, Teknologi dan Alam Sekitar (STEP), Dayang Sarimah binti Abu Bakar turut berkata, Kementerian Pendidikan melalui Pusat STEP mengalu-alukan sekolah yang bergiat aktif dalam menjalankan program yang bertemakan pendidikan alam sekitar. Bagi sekolah yang belum memulakan atau yang ingin memperbaiki lagi inisiatif berkenaan, beliau menyarankan supaya merujuk buku panduan yang telah diterbitkan oleh Pusat STEP, bertajuk ‘Guidebook For Initiating Green School in Brunei Darussalam’. Beliau membuat seruan ini semasa menyampaikan ucapan selaku tetamu kehormat pada Majlis Penyampaian Hadiah Green Brunei Eco Drive, yang berlangsung di Sekolah Menengah Sayyidina Hasan, hari ini.…

THE Green Brunei Eco Drive yesterday crowned Jerudong International School (JIS) as the winner of its four-month recycling initiative. JIS collected over six tonnes of recyclables in the competition, surpassing Mahad Islam Brunei’s two tonnes of recyclables and Jerudong Primary School’s 1.8 tonnes of recyclables. Meanwhile, Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School received the consolation prize for raising 1.4 tonnes of recyclables. An awards ceremony was held at the Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School, where the winners were announced in front of government officials and supporting partners. “We hope that the students will continue to practise recycling in their schools and their homes as waste management has always been a lingering issue that is yet to be solved,” said Khairunnisa Ash’ari, co-founder and community engagement director of Green Brunei. She also hoped the…

FUNDING problems continue to hinder non-governmental organisations in Brunei from carrying out effective programmes that fight for the causes they believe in. There has never been a study on the effectiveness of Brunei NGOs in contributing to the community or shaping national policies. No research has also been published on the number of NGOs that did not stay afloat because of financial issues. According to United Nations policy watchdog Global Policy Forum, often what an NGO can and cannot do is tied to where the money comes from, dramatically affecting the effectiveness and neutrality of NGOs. It added that NGOs rely on money from various sources, including individual donors, foundations, corporations, and governments. Iswandy Ahmad, the president of Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council, said there is a misconception in Brunei that…

YOUTH involvement in national development goals this year gained royal praise during the 10th National Youth Day celebration with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, commending the youths on their valiant efforts. During the event held at the Hassanal Bolkiah Indoor Stadium last September, His Majesty lauded the youths who ventured into the creative industry to those who made the effort as well as those who successfully broke into the international market. He also praised those who chose to venture into less popular fields such as farming and heavy machinery, just to name a few. In the past 12 months, a tremendous number of aspiring young leaders and youth groups in the country have stepped up in terms of being…