| Ishan Ibrahim |
LOCAL members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) received a boost in their efforts to help children with autism, with the launch of an awareness project headlined ‘YSEALI YOUnified’ yesterday at the Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam (Pusat Ehsan).
This achievement was acknowledged in a speech by Catherine Muller, the Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, at the launching ceremony.
“The US Government is proud to help build the capacity of young leaders through the YSEALI programme,” she said.
“This year alone has seen the US government sending 30 young Bruneians to various YSEALI exchanges, fellowships and workshops with additional follow-on activities – often voluntarily – which are designed to foster community and solve challenges they encounter in neighbourhoods.
“The areas of interest have included entrepreneurship, poverty reduction, environmental awareness and others.”
The project, an early intervention awareness workshop on autism, is one of four that have been chosen to mark the third anniversary of the YSEALI programme.
“The YSEALI YOUnified celebration encourages young people to civilly engage, with a firm emphasis on the power of youth, to develop solutions to pressing local, national and regional issues,” she added.
The Executive Trustee of Pusat Ehsan, Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini binti Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin, launching the event. – PHOTOS: ISHAN IBRAHIM
Catherine Muller, Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, delivers her speech as Project leader Awangku Mohd Izwan Shafuan bin Pengiran Md Daud looks on.
Some Lego activities during yesterday’s ceremony.
Among the collaborative partners involved in the project are the US Embassy, Autism Advocates Brunei, Pusat Ehsan, Brunei-US Alumni Association (BUSA), Early Autism Project Malaysia, and the AC-ACE Creative Tuition School.
Project leader Awangku Mohd Izwan Shafuan bin Pengiran Md Daud also gave a brief address at yesterday’s event.
“Four projects are happening within two days, including this programme on autism awareness, sustainable farming, ocean conservation and safe migration practices,” he said.
Four team leaders, six YSEALI alumni, and over 70 volunteers are taking part in the round of activities.
The launch was also attended by Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini binti Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin, the Executive Trustee of Pusat Ehsan; and Haji Ahmad bin Haji Abdul Rahman, the Policy and Planning Trustee from the Board of Trustees at Pusat Ehsan.
YSEALI was launched in 2013 as a US signature programme, with a focus on strengthening partnerships among emerging young leaders in Southeast Asia and expanding their skills in a bid to solve regional challenges.
Brunei has 1,050 registered YSEALI members and 70 alumni of the YSEALI programme.
The post YSEALI’s autism awareness project commences at Pusat Ehsan appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.