By Lyna Mohamad
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah, who is the President of the Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam, graced the First Community Day event yesterday and officially launched the HRH Princess Hajah Rashidah Community Service Awards at the headquarters of the Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam in Anggerek Desa.
In her sabda, she called on members and volunteering supporters of the association to wisely benefit from the facilities available at the headquarters.
She also added that change is not a choice but a requirement, therefore, a change in attitude is imminent and should be used as a platform to succeed and carry out better responsibilities.
Also present at the ceremony were HRH Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah and HRH Princess Hajah Masna, who is also the Vice President of the association.
HRH further said that since its members consisted of students and teachers, therefore, education outside the school grounds is also considered crucial in order to gain more knowledge.
To instil interest among the young members, there is a need to think out of the box in order to face the challenges in the national as well as global arena.
Apart from carrying out community activities, there is also a need to urge young children and youth to always contribute ideas, energy and time voluntarily.
Members of the association are the government's development agents and are an asset. With the association reaching its 60th anniversary next year, HRH believed that it was time for them to equip themselves with knowledge in order to be competitive.
HRH also said that contributions and strong support from all members and volunteering supporters are needed at the headquarters.
The association has several facilities in order to advance and develop itself to be on par with members of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and also contribute to WAGGGS global Action Theme and Millennium Development Goals.
Following the sabda, HRH cut a birthday cake and received a "pesambah" from the association. Later she presented the HRH Princess Rashidah Community Service Awards report book to representatives from secondary and primary schools.
The community service award was introduced to honour the young girls and women on the services they had rendered voluntarily based on their educational programme with the objective to develop young girls and women to be actively involved in community projects.
It also aims to raise awareness on the importance of healthy living, conservation of environment, energy saving and public health.
Awards will be given to the Best Brownie Pack, Best Girl Guide Company, Best Ranger Guide Patrol, Best Young Leader Unit and Best Guide.
They will be judged based on the progress report book, content and delivery of the presentation, originality of the content and pictures, hours spent on conducting the project, making and distributing flyers to school, members of the public, giving talks to friends in schools on certain group of students and others.
A variety of activities were lined up at the First Community Day, which carried the theme "Plant, Grow and Share". Her Royal Highness and other members of the royal family also toured the event.
- Borneo Bulletin
(27th July 2010)
