James Kon
To encourage youth involvement in entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) will be introducing an entrepreneurship grant known as Belia Membangun (Developing Youth).
The grant is a form of a development grant, which is specifically intended for entrepreneurs registered under mukim and village consultative councils that have successfully implemented economic projects showing potential and resiliency towards achieving Brunei Vision 2035.
This includes projects undertaken by youths under the Tutong District’s Village Consultative Council K3K (leadership, community and entrepreneurship) Programme. The winner of the K3K Programme will be given priority to receive the grant.
The initiative was announced by Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong during a prize presentation ceremony for the Tutong District Village Consultative Councils K3K Programme, at the Tutong District Civic Centre yesterday.
He said, “The grant is aimed at fulfilling its objective as encouragement for entrepreneurs to be active in mukim and village consultative councils activities which focus on entrepreneurship and economy, as well as empowering mukim and village consultative councils entrepreneurs with guidance and financial support in implementing projects that can provide employment opportunities, to further enhance quality of life for the community.
“The amount of monies available will depend on the type of application submitted, and the maximum amount of the entrepreneurship grant is not more than BND2,000 for each application.
“It is hoped that the availability of the entrepreneurship grant will provide the catalyst for an increase in the number of potential economic projects, which will then improve in terms of quality, to be promoted as One Village One Product (1K1P) projects that represent their respective villages.”
Earlier, the minister said, “The Tutong District Village Consultative Councils K3K Programme is the result of cooperation between the Tutong District Office and Tutong District Mukim and Village Consultative Councils, and is a follow-up to the Youth Convention of the Tutong District Village Consultative Council, which was held on February 26, 2020.
“The participation of youth in mukim and village consultative councils was also highlighted during my dialogue with penghulus and village heads several years ago. It was also raised during the Legislative Council (LegCo) session. Several LegCo members have voiced views for the youth to be active in mukim and village consultative councils as they believe youth membership will mobilise the mukim and village consultative councils through various programmes.”
He added, “Alhamdulillah, the recommendation for youth to be active and participate as members of mukim and village consultative councils was well received. So far, we have seen an increase in youth who are not only involved as council members, but also as leaders of the bureaus under the mukim and village consultative councils.
“Such efforts are in line with the aspirations of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, to produce quality youth as a ‘future roofing’ towards future leadership of the mukim and village consultative councils. I hope there will be a further increase in such efforts from time to time.
“I also hope that mukim and village consultative councils will continue to further develop the knowledge and skills of youths in the aspects of leadership, which is the basis of the existence of an organisation, such as mukim and village institutions. It is the foundation which leads to the objective of uniting the community, and the key to entrepreneurial success.”