Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, President of the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association (PPPBD), yesterday launched the Girl Guides Wakaf and officiated at the opening of the Al-Wakaf Guides Shop. The event was held at the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association's headquarters in Kampong Anggerek Desa, Berakas.

The event began with the national anthem, World Girl Guides song, Asia-Pacific Region song, followed by the recital of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Dayang Hajah Fatimah binti Haji Abdul Ghani, Assistant Head Commissioner of PPPBD.

According to Dayang Hajah Siti Hasfah binti Haji Abdul Halim, Head Commissioner of PPBD and Chairperson of the event, the Girl Guides Wakaf was created two years ago but has only been utilised beginning this year.

The aim of establishing the Girl Guides Wakaf is to assist orphans and less fortunate children to buy uniforms and Girl Guide equipment such as badges, activity record book as well as other tools for Girl Guide activities.

"In line with the WAGGGS mission, which is to enable girls and young women to develop to their full potential as responsible citizens of the world, this will give better opportunities to all girls in the country to be a member of the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association," said Dyg Hjh Siti Hasfah.

The Girl Guides Wakaf is also a continuation of the PPPBD Action Plan 2007-2009 in which one of the objectives is leadership development - capacity building, which is to introduce a mentoring system for membership retention and succession.

The event also witnessed HRH Princess Hajah Masna present Girl Guides Wakaf to 32 Tunas Puteri, 15 from Brunei-Muara, two from Belait and 15 from Tutong; while seven Girl Guides, one from Brunei-Muara, four from Belait and two from Tutong also received the wakaf.

The event continued with the opening of the Al-Wakaf Guides Shop by HRH Princess Hajah Masna. The Al-Wakaf Guides Shop hopes to collect more donations for the Girl Guides Wakaf. Items such as uniforms, sports attire, towels, jackets, sashes and scarves are sold at the shop.

The Al-Wakaf Guides Shop was set up in response to the WAGGGS Partnership Visits Reports 2007 for the PPPBD to generate an income. - Borneo Bulletin (17th May 2008)